The
hurdy-gurdy is a
stringed instrument that produces sound by a 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. 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. Like most other acoustic stringed instruments, it has a
sound board to make the vibration of the strings audible.