The hurdy-gurdy is a string instrument that produces sound by a hand-turned crank, rosined wheel rubbing against the strings. The wheel functions much like a violin (or nyckelharpa) bow, and single notes played on the instrument sound similar to those of a violin.

What is a Hurdy Gurdy? Where did it come from? How is it played? Tuned? Built? We sit down with a local Hurdy-gurdy expert to chat about this medieval instru...

What is a hurdy-gurdy? How does a hurdy-gurdy work? What are all the parts on a hurdy-gurdy? A complete explanation of the instrument for beginners.

The most popular questions we get are: “Where can I buy a hurdy-gurdy?” “How does a hurdy-gurdy work?” “How do I play the hurdy-gurdy?” and more! This complete FAQ is tailored towards beginners with basic questions to help you get started on your journey.

The hurdy-gurdy is a stringed instrument that produces sound by a hand crank-turned, rosined wheel rubbing against the strings. The wheel functions much like a violin bow, and single notes played on the instrument sound similar to those of a violin.

The hurdy-gurdy was first mentioned in the 10th century as the organistrum. It was then a church instrument played by two men, one fingering the keys, one turning the wheel. Secular , one-man forms, called symphonia, appeared in the 13th century.

Mar 7, 2025 · Hurdy-gurdy, squat, pear-shaped fiddle having strings that are sounded not by a bow but by the rosined rim of a wooden wheel turned by a handle at the instrument’s end. Notes are made on the one or two melody strings by stopping them with short wooden keys pressed by the left-hand fingers.

Apr 2, 2025 · A hurdy gurdy is a string instrument that is played by cranking a wheel, which rubs against the strings to produce sound. It is also known as a wheel fiddle or vielle à roue. The hurdy gurdy has several parts that work together to create its unique sound.

The hurdy gurdy is a string instrument that produces sound by a hand-crank-turned, rosined wheel rubbing against the strings. The wheel functions much like a violin bow, and single notes played on the instrument sound similar to those of a violin.

3 days ago · In 1968, Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan released Hurdy Gurdy Man – the influential title track of his The Hurdy Gurdy Man album from the same year, which featured the contributions of a rather high-profile session guitar player: Jimmy Page. Page was, of course, a successful session player before he rocketed to fame with Led Zeppelin, but ...