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I BUILT A HURDY GURDY
This video explains the build and how it makes sound and music and gives a demonstration of how this instruments performs with a backing of strings and percussion.
Well technically its a hurdy gurdy shaped instrument based on the body of an old mandola.
I wanted an instrument that could provide sound and music for my videos and decided to give it a go. I had no plans or drawings but figured it out as I went along.
It works well but there is ALOT of getting to know it, adjusting and fine tuning constantly as I play. I am still learning it but it is starting to behave relatively nice.
Hurdy Gurdys dates back far into the medieval times or even further from eastern Europe and further west. Depctions of simple versions can be found on Psalters from the 11. century.
This instrument is in the key of C. The main drone string is tuned to a C and the melody string to a G. I used strings from an octave violin. The melody string is the violin A string tuned down to G. The C drone is the violin D string tuned down to C. The A drone is the violin G string tuned up to an A. So there is a little strech to make things work out with the strings I had availible.
The keys of the melody G string is whole step notes from open G to ABCDEFGA.
This allows me to play most melodies in the key of C.
The other drone string is tuned to an A and when switching from the C drone to the A drone I can play music in the key of A minor. C major and A minor share the same note steps. I have experienced with tuning the the A drone down to G and playing in some sort of G scale with the melody string. There is plenty of options and it its possible to tune some of the keys half a step up or down to fit other scales - but then things gets even more tricky. So I tend to stay in C major and A minor.
This i NOT a VIKING instrument, but its ancient sound fits the bill in my opinion.