The hurdy-gurdy is a stringed instrument in which the strings are rubbed by a rosined wheel instead of a bow. ... A small movable bridge on one of the drones can be made to vibrate rhythmically by cranking the wheel harder, and this buzzing is used for a rhythmic accompanyment to the tune.

How does a hurdy-gurdy instrument work?

The hurdy-gurdy is a mechanical string instrument that produces sound by a hand-crank-turned, rosined wheel rubbing against the strings. ... Melodies are played on a keyboard that presses tangents—small wedges, typically made of wood—against one or more of the strings to change their pitch.

Is a hurdy-gurdy hard to play?

The hurdy-gurdy, like many other instruments is very easy to play some good sounding music on, but also provides years' worth of learning if you want to delve deeply into it. It is easier than fretted instruments to get started on because you don't have to learn to press down the strings.