How are the curved sides of a violin or guitar made?

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Koto — stringed instrument A Japanese musician plucking the strings of a koto with the right hand to generate a pitch and pressing the strings with the left hand to alter the tone.

In the context of the violin family, the curved sides of the instrument are known as ribs. These ribs are made of thin wood, typically the same material as the back of the instrument, such as sycamore or maple.1

To create the instrument's characteristic shape, the ribs are bent and glued firmly to internal corner blocks and end blocks, which provide structural support and help the instrument resist the tension of the strings. The middle section, or middle bout, is indented to provide clearance for the bow, while the upper and lower bouts curve outward. To strengthen the internal corners where the ribs meet the belly and back plates, a narrow fillet of pine called a lining is glued between the blocks. The ribs are slightly inset from the edges of the belly and back, allowing the edges to overhang.1