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A hurdy gurdy is a stringed musical instrument played by a rosin-covered wheel. It dates back to the Middle Ages. The hurdy gurdy can create three types of sounds. The melody is played on melody strings by pressing keys on the side of the instrument. These press tangents against the strings. Hurdy gurdies can also have drone strings, which play one note continuously. Many hurdy gurdies also have a buzzing bridge. Turning the wheel faster causes this to make a rhythmic buzzing sound.
Elders playing an organistrum Santiago de Compostela, Galicia
Hurdy-gurdy player in Saint-Jean-des-Ollières, Puy-de-Dôme (France)
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Vagabonds with hurdy-gurdy (1887 drawing)
Hurdy-gurdy player
Two Hungarian-style hurdy-gurdies (tekerőlants)
Hurdy-gurdy in Museu de la Música de Barcelona
Major parts of a modern French-type hurdy-gurdy
Wheel and tangents on a French type hurdy-gurdy with three chanterelles (melody strings). The keyboard is visible on the right side of the picture.
Entire buzzing bridge system for a French-style instrument, with part labels
Slovak-style hurdy-gurdy (Ninera) made and played by Tibor Koblicek
French type buzzing bridge
Hungarian type buzzing bridge (on a bass tekerő)
