The main difference between hard cases and soft cases is the material they’re made from. Hard cases are made of all-over rigid materials like molded plastics, acting as a shell to protect your instrument. They typically close with latches as you see on briefcases. Soft cases are made from heavy materials like a canvas stretched over a rigid skeleton that gives the case its shape. They usually use zippers for closures and provide the sort of protection that a wheeled suitcase would.