Violins are traditionally made from tonewoods, which are specific types of wood that are known for their excellent acoustic properties. The most common tonewoods used for violins are spruce and maple, with spruce being used for the top (soundboard) and maple being used for the back, sides, and neck. Maple is a denser and harder wood than spruce, which makes it less ideal for the soundboard as it does not vibrate as freely and produce the same rich and resonant sound as spruce.