soundhole

A soundhole is a hole in the soundboard of a musical instrument, primarily used to project sound from the instrument’s body. It is most commonly found in acoustic guitars and other box-shaped or resonant-top instruments, and also appears in violin-family instruments as f-shaped openings.

The soundhole serves as the primary acoustic port through which vibrating air from the guitar’s air cavity escapes. The top plate’s vibrations couple with the enclosed air, helping to radiate sound outward and shape the instrument’s timbre. The size, shape, and placement of the hole influence volume, tonal balance, sustain, and projection. In general, the hole works together with the top braces and the back-and-front air cavity to determine how energy is transferred from the strings to the air inside the instrument and then to the outside world.

Shapes and variants vary by instrument. Round or oval soundholes are standard on most steel-string acoustic guitars, typically located around the central area of the soundboard and surrounded by a decorative rosette. Violin-family instruments use f-holes, which are elongated and stylized openings that also serve to ventilate and project sound. Some modern guitars feature additional soundports or alternate hole configurations to alter airflow and perception of volume for players.

Construction basics: the hole is cut into the soundboard, with a surrounding rosette that can be decorative and, in some cases, reinforce the opening. The hole is carefully sized and positioned to balance structural integrity with desired acoustic characteristics.