Typically, musical instruments come with a hefty price tag, but 3D printing can make them more affordable while also bringing opportunities for creativity and personalization.
3D printed instruments, by nature, can’t produce the same quality of sound as traditional instruments. That’s because 3D printed objects are unlikely to be perfectly sealed and are usually made from thermoplastics, not wood or metal. For example, 3D printed woodwind reeds won’t ever perform as well as purchased ones, but they’re fun to experiment with!
In this article, we’ll go over some instrument designs that you can 3D print at home. We’ve found examples of woodwind, brass, and string instruments, as well as percussion.
If you see something you’d love to try playing but you’d rather leave the printing to the professionals, try Craftcloud by All3DP. You’ll get quotes and delivery estimates from 3D printing services around the world, so you’ll be playing along to “Wonderwall” in no time!
Now, let’s see the instruments!
Woodwinds
In this section, we’ll provide some 3D printable woodwind instruments such as a recorder, flute, whistle, and even a mini saxophone.
Whistle Pan Flute
This popular instrument has been a staple in many cultures around the world for centuries. The designer’s idea was to create a whistle-shaped flute with tubes to play different notes. It’s not a new idea, but it certainly has the potential to produce a lot of fun sounds.
The designer recommends printing this flute with 15% infill, a 0.2-mm layer height, and no supports. While some makers commented that they couldn’t make any sounds with their flute, others said it worked well. The designer left a note that the instrument is still evolving, and that they won’t stop until they have a well-tuned model that sounds like a real flute.
- Who designed it? dpmakes
- How printable/popular is it? 116 makes, over 11,000 downloads, and 34,000 views show that this flute is definitely popular. You can make one for yourself, too!
- Where to find it? Printables
12-Hole Ocarina
Even if you’ve never seen this instrument before, you’ve certainly heard its melody at some point. The flute-like sound of the ocarina is perfect for romantic themes with sweet, soft notes. The 12 holes guarantee a good variety of notes to help you play your favorite songs, like the one from the movie Titanic, as shown in this video.
The designer’s objective with this model was to reach the highest notes without losing quality or going out of tune in the mid-tones. Even though the model already demonstrates a great result, the designer notes that they still intend to improve the instrument in further iterations.
- Who designed it? RobSoundtrack
- How printable/popular is it? This beautiful instrument has an incredible 512 makes, 29 remixes, and over 458,000 downloads.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Whistles
This project consists of four different whistles: one single-tone, two tri-tones, and one slide whistle. The whistles were all designed in Fusion 360, and you can hear from the video below that they all make impressive sounds!
The maker printed these whistles in PLA and provided specific printing tips for each design, with particular advice about supports. While supports are optional for the single and tri-tone whistles, the slide whistle is printed in place with internal supports to keep the slide piece separate from the external chamber, so support removal for this one will be a delicate process.
- Who designed it? gzumwalt
- How printable/popular is it? This neat set has been downloaded over 1,500 times and has around 190 likes on MyMiniFactory.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Mouth Organ
For many, music is a form of therapy and an indispensable part of life. However, it’s not always possible to take an instrument with you while on the go. Here’s where this Prusa mouth organ will come in handy. It will fit into your pocket, so you can take it with you everywhere you go.
The reed plate is sensitive to material, printer, and slicer settings, so a good first layer and correct printing parameters are crucial, along with a well-calibrated printer. It’s recommended to print the plate with 15% infill in a gyroid pattern.
The creator provides detailed printing tips and assembly instructions on Printables to help. Keep in mind that the reeds must be completely free to vibrate up and down within their openings without coming into contact with the plate.
- Who designed it? YIbrahim
- How printable/popular is it? With over 680 downloads and 10 makes, it’s certainly possible to enjoy some good tunes with this mouth organ.
- Where to find it? Printables
Recorder
Bring back childhood memories (or trauma) by printing your own recorder! This recorder is an accurate replica of what you likely learned to play in school, and you won’t need any additional parts to make it a functional musical instrument.
This recorder prints in four pieces standing upright and each piece is designed to slot into the next for easy assembly. Internal supports will be challenging to remove, so if your printer can manage without supports activated, it’ll save a lot of post-processing.
- Who designed it? cymonsdesigns
- How printable/popular is it? This recorder model has over 20,000 views and nearly 1,300 downloads.
- Where to find it? Cults
Mini Saxophone
This mini saxophone is smaller than an average clarinet and works great with a tenor or alto saxophone reed. Designed in Tinkercad, the model is split into several parts for printing, including a separate ligature piece to hold the (not 3D printed) reed in place and a cap for the mouthpiece.
There are versions with both a curved and a straight bell. The curved bell is slightly trickier to print but gives a more traditional shape. The designer has also provided the fingerings of an F major scale to get you started playing your new sax!
The saxophone works well in PLA and PETG, with TPU recommended for the ligature. The designer also recommends printing the model with 2-4 walls.
- Who designed it? drcameron
- How printable/popular is it? This saxophone model has almost 7,500 views and over 800 downloads.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Brass
In this section, we’ll go over a few brass instruments that can be recreated in plastic. Why not 3D print your own horn section!
Trumpet
This instrument is a full-size, playable trumpet, and by all accounts it plays very well. The dimensions match those of the creator’s own Selmer trumpet, and it’s been designed with the standard three valves. The mouthpiece included in this project will work inserted into a regular trumpet, too!
This is the most complicated construction on our list so far, assembled from 29 3D printed pieces. You’ll also need some screws, springs, and other hardware to get it working.
One maker listed that they used a 0.15-mm layer height and a 100% infill to print this model in PETG, with supports activated.
- Who designed it? hobbyman
- How printable/popular is it? This full-size trumpet has 8 recorded makes, 2 remixes, and over 8,200 downloads. In spite of its complexity, other makers’ successes mean it should be printable!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Trombone
This DIY 3D printable trombone uses a collection of 3D printed parts and other hardware like PVC pipes to function. It was originally entered into a 3D printed instrument competition run by Lulzbot on Reddit, and the designer believes it to be the first ever 3D printed trombone!
You can check out the project page to find the full bill of materials and detailed instructions for building the trombone. There are nine parts to print, with as many parts as possible designed to be 3D printable. The designer recommends using a 3-5-mm brim for the taller pieces, but notes that supports shouldn’t be necessary.
- Who designed it? piercet
- How printable/popular is it? This trombone model has over 5,200 downloads.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Piccolo Trombone
Similar to the previous design, this piccolo trombone is much smaller but, of course, still has a slide. The maker states that it plays very low and isn’t airtight right after printing, so it might take some post-processing to get it playing.
Unlike the previous trombone, this design is entirely 3D printed. The trombone pictured above was printed with a 0.2-mm layer height, 15% infill, and supports activated.
The designer suggests post-processing the model to enhance its capabilities as a musical instrument, including oiling the slide and filling gaps to make it more airtight. Thankfully, detailed instructions are included that cover removing supports, sanding, and assembling the trombone.
- Who designed it? Washburn
- How printable/popular is it? This piccolo trombone has 1 recorded make and around 5,000 downloads.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Oval Horn
This beautifully simple horn was designed as part of the Open Brass project. There are 13 parts to print, and you’ll need to use a regular trumpet mouthpiece, which can be inserted into the narrow end of the tube.
There are no valves or keys, so the technique to play this instrument is similar to a bugle. The tone of the horn sounds fantastic when played, thanks to the maker’s focus on the acoustics of the design. Listen to it compared to a real brass trumpet in the video below!
- Who designed it? poulphunter
- How printable/popular is it? This oval horn has 3 remixes in different shapes and over 2,100 downloads.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Strings
This section includes a few popular string instruments like a guitar and violin. We’ve also found some more unusual selections, like a Balalaika and a Jinghu. Enjoy!
Guitar
This modern-looking guitar is almost 100% 3D printed, aside from a few small pieces of hardware. All you need is some super glue for assembly, strings, and tuning pegs to make it playable, and you’ll be set. This instrument is about three-quarters of the size of a standard acoustic guitar and is designed to be printed without supports.
The designer recommends storing the guitar with the strings loosened, as they experienced some warping in the neck of the guitar. This means you’ll need to re-tune it every time you play, but that’s not unusual even for “real” guitars!
Balalaika
A balalaika is a traditional three-stringed instrument played in Russia. Like other stringed instruments, they’re normally constructed from wood, but this model is almost completely 3D printed.
Depending on the size of your printer, you could print this in as few as four pieces, but there are joining pieces included if you need to print it in smaller parts. The maker has provided some assembly instructions on the project page, too.
The traditional configuration is two nylon strings and one steel, but you can use other types and combinations of strings and tuners, even classical guitar strings. The designer recommends printing each section of the instrument with different infill and perimeter settings, but all parts should be fine with a 0.2-mm layer height.
- Who designed it? DIYWontDie
- How printable/popular is it? This playable balalaika has over 9,800 views and around 230 downloads.
- Where to find it? Cults
Electric Violin
This 3D printed electric violin is a creative but completely playable interpretation of a violin. The designer wanted to pay homage to the beautiful shape of a Stradivarius while modernizing the instrument for the 3D printing era.
To build and make this violin playable, you’ll need some screws, nuts, and electronic components. The design also uses a wooden violin bridge and allows for standard shoulder and chin rests, or there’s a file for a 3D printed chin rest included. And don’t forget you’ll need a bow!
There are six main components to be printed, with two options for each. The parts are all interchangeable with the maker’s other violin designs, including five- and six-string versions, so there’s a great opportunity to make this your own.
- Who designed it? Jaxelsson
- How printable/popular is it? This electric violin project has 24 makes, and among the 218 comments it’s clear that many more makers are in the process of recreating it!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Jinghu
The Jinghu is another traditional instrument, known for its use in Beijing opera. It’s played with just two strings (you can use violin strings), and all other aspects of the instrument are 3D printed, even the tuning pegs! You will, however, need to supply your own (not 3D printed) bow – a violin bow will most likely work.
You can print the whole shaft at once, or there’s an option to split it into three pieces if you have a smaller printer. You can use glue to reassemble the shaft and attach it to the body, but make sure not to glue the bridges as they’re meant to be adjustable.
The designer recommends using 30-50% infill for the body and tuners, at least 50% for the shaft, and 100% for the bridges of the instrument. Other than that, it should be a straightforward, support-free print!
- Who designed it? DIYWontDie
- How printable/popular is it? This unusual stringed instrument has over 10,400 views and is approaching 275 downloads.
- Where to find it? Cults
Percussion
Saving both the simplest and most complex projects until last, in this section, we’ll go over some 3D printable percussion instruments. Get ready to make some noise!
Mini Marimba
The marimba is an instrument from sub-Saharan Africa that was brought to the Americas in the 18th century. Its sound is so unique and interesting that in Guatemala, for example, it’s the national instrument and often featured at social events. In other parts of the world, it typically appears as a complementary percussion instrument that stands out for its unique sound.
The marimba is definitely not an instrument for makers faint of heart. It may be easy to play, but making it will require a lot of patience, testing, and tweaking to get everything in tune with a satisfying end result. In addition to a specific filament, you’ll need fishing line, two floats, a small spring, and superglue. Detailed assembly instructions are available on the model page and in this helpful video.
- Who designed it? EqualsEnginee
- How printable/popular is it? This complex model has 1 make on Thingiverse and nearly 485 downloads.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse, Printables
Maracas
This is another instrument popular in Latin America that’s played all over the world. Traditional maracas use dry seeds, sand, and even stones to produce their “tcha-tcha” sound.
Different cultures may use a different technique to produce these instruments, but this set of maracas will be easily produced with filament on your 3D printer. It prints with 16 beads inside, which come loose after printing. You’ll just need to push them in with a pen or screwdriver, and then you’re ready to party!
- Who designed it? TripleGWorkshop
- How printable/popular is it? This instrument has over 375 downloads, around 200 likes, and 15 shared makes.
- Where to find it? Printables
Full Size Drum Kit
Drums are a formidable percussion instrument capable of rocking any party with cool rhythm, and they’re a staple in many different styles of bands and musical ensembles. Despite their popularity, drums aren’t a very cheap instrument most of the time, and therefore many people only dream of owning a drum set.
Even if you can’t afford the drum set of your dreams, you can still make your own in the comfort of your home. The coolest thing about this design is that you don’t need a huge 3D printer, as everything is divided into small parts that can be easily printed, even on the Prusa MK3. The creator crafted this design to enter Prusa’s 2023 Musical Instrument contest and ended up winning an award! You’ll just need the covers, pedestals, and some M6-70 socket screws.
- Who designed it? SyncPrinting
- How printable/popular is it? The beautiful set was published recently but already has over 160 downloads and close to 100 likes. Maybe you will be the first to post a make!
- Where to find it? Printables
Buka Drum
This mini drum is designed to be small and portable. Without any scaling, it only stands 14 cm tall! The whole drum prints in one part, and will need around 100 grams of filament to print.
If you print it with the wider end on the build plate, you should be able to print this without a raft or supports. This would make a fun toy to sit on a desk or for a young child who wants a drum their own size! The designer states that the model takes 6 to 10 hours to print and that a 0.2-mm layer height will work fine.
Boomwhackers
Here are some of the most fun and easy pipes to play! Boomwhackers are simple and light sticks that you can print with vibrant colors according to each note. They are also easy to hold and are therefore often used in schools, musical activities, and even therapies, encouraging interaction even for those who have never played an instrument before.
These models were designed at a smaller scale and almost fine-tuned, according to the designer. However, depending on your print material, there may be some variation. You can check them out in action in this YouTube video. Go ahead and make your own set of Boomwhackers and mount your set on a stand or wall if you prefer!
- Who designed it? Andor_Yoko
- How printable/popular is it? Even though this model has been recently shared, it’s already been viewed over 260 times and has 6 downloads.
- Where to find it? Cults
E-Drum
The E-drum is an electronic practice drum that uses some 3D printed parts, screws, a sound module (or an Arduino Uno), some card for the sides, and a few other components. The full list of necessary materials for this 8-inch drum can be found on the Instructables page.
Assembly and the electronics configuration are easy as the designer has provided pictures for each step. According to the maker, the 3D printable parts should be printed with 20-50% infill, supports, and a 0.2-0.3-mm layer height. If you don’t want to use card for the sides, there’s also a fully 3D printable version.
- Who designed it? Ryo Kosaka
- How printable/popular is it? The E-Drum project has 254 likes on Instructables, and 2 makes have been shared on Thingiverse.
- Where to find it? Instructables, Thingiverse
License: The text of "The Best 3D Printed Instruments (Incl. 3D Print Files)" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.