Abstract: Interior braces for the soundboard of a stringed instrument having reduced mass and more flexibility. The weight of each of the braces is further reduced by apertures selectively formed therein. A standard brace having scalloped ends may be modified according to the invention by introducing apertures of circular or other shape crosswise through the brace, thus forming voids therealong thereby reducing weight and reducing stiffness while maintaining substantially its original strength when glued to the surface of a soundboard. An “I”-beam shaped brace is provided having circular or elongated apertures along the length of the center vertical portion of the brace. A similarly shaped brace is curvilinear in shape having a flat base, concave sides and a rounded apex and having circular apertures along the length of the thin center portion creating voids for reducing weight.