A variety of musical instruments contribute to the rich variety of Puerto Rican music with roots in the cultural melting pot of Puerto Rico's Taíno, Spanish, and African traditions.

Many of these instruments are well known in Western music today and are relatively "modern". These would include stringed instruments such as the violin and cello; brass instruments such as the trumpet, trombone, and saxophone; and others like the piano. These instruments are not described here since there is a wealth of excellent descriptions elsewhere.

However, other musical instruments typically used in the various genres of Puerto Rican music may not be as well known. Some were used by the native Taino indians while others were invented in Puerto Rico. These are described on our various Instruments pages so that the descriptions of the artists that use them and the genres they play, can be better appreciated.