How to Play the Hurdy-Gurdy

Want to learn an instrument that's a little unusual? Try the hurdy-gurdy. It's a stringed instrument that's been around since the Middle Ages, if not before, also known as a "wheel fiddle." Read this eHow and learn how to begin to play the hurdy-gurdy.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Buy a hurdy-gurdy. Find them used in antique stores, yard sales, auctions, in instrument shops or by going online.

2. Bring your hurdy-gurdy to a hurdy-gurdy restorer if you buy it used. Find them online through sites such as Hurdy-Gurdy.com (see Resources below). Olympic Musical Instruments is an American company that specializes in restoration of hurdy-gurdies.

3. Look in instrument shops or online if you decide to buy new. Two American hurdy-gurdy makers are Olympic Musical Instruments and Matthew Szostak, most instrument makers are in Europe.

4. Buy wholesale. These hurdy-gurdies are less expensive than the custom-made hurdy-gurdies. An online wholesaler is Lark in the Morning.

5. Make your own hurdy gurdy. According to Dennis Havlena, it's possible to make a hurdy-gurdy for very little, based on the simpler rectangular instrument of the 1700s. Check out Havlena's site, and even listen to one of the instruments he made using this method, to find whether this is the route for you.

6. Take lessons to learn to play the hurdy-gurdy. Find lessons in the phone book, or by going online.

7. Attend the Over the Water Hurdy-Gurdy Association's Festival which offers classes for the beginning hurdy-gurdy player, playing the hurdy-gurdy in nontraditional settings, early music and more.

8. Teach yourself by going to Jon Hall's website, which offers a step-by-step for the beginning hurdy-gurdy player.

Tips & Warnings

• After you decide you want to buy a hurdy-gurdy, listen to as many as you can before choosing the one that suits you best.

Resources

• Jon Hall provides a how-to for the beginning hurdy-gurdy player.
• Hurdy-gurdy history.
• Over the Water Hurdy-Gurdy Association.
• Matthew Szostak makes custom hurdy-gurdies in Camden, Maine.
• Lark in the Morning sells wholesale hurdy-gurdies.
• Havlena offers information on making your own hurdy-gurdy.