The speed of sound increases as the density of the medium increases. Solids are denser than liquids, and liquids are denser than gases. So sound will travel fastest through a solid, then a liquid, then a gas.

Here are the speeds of sound in different media at room temperature (25 degrees Celsius):

* Steel: 5,960 m/s

* Water: 1,482 m/s

* Air: 343 m/s