# What instrument is this? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 27, 2019, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-instrument-is-this/844050 "2019-11-27T05:42:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-instrument-is-this/844050/1 "2019-11-27T05:42:07Z")
One of my friends showed me a youtube of _The Battle of Evermore_ that Page & Plant did with some Indian musicians. TBH, although I adore Indian music, I think this is a terrible arrangement and version of the song. Starting at 00:06 of the video linked below, there’s a guy playing a keyboard instrument with a hand crank. My friend was like, “Look at that! What is that?” I said, it’s a harmonium. But the wiki page on harmoniums (harmonia?) makes no mention anywhere of a crank. [So now I have to know. What is it?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jTo996XBbs) ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-instrument-is-this/844050/2 "2019-11-27T05:59:38Z")
Unless I’m completely high, I would say that’s a hurdy gurdy, man. ---
**Author:** ![Bag\_of\_Mostly\_Water](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bag_of_mostly_water/32/1029_2.png) [@Bag\_of\_Mostly\_Water](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bag_of_Mostly_Water)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-instrument-is-this/844050/3 "2019-11-27T06:00:40Z")
Looks like a [Hurdy-Gurdy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurdy-gurdy). ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-instrument-is-this/844050/4 "2019-11-27T06:19:23Z")
I just spent 45 minutes trying to figure this out only to be double ninja’d. It’s a Hurdy-Gurdy.🙂 (OK maybe 20 minutes) ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-instrument-is-this/844050/5 "2019-11-27T09:02:39Z")
Oh yeah! **Hurdy gurdy!** I knew it started with “H.” lol. Thanks everyone! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-instrument-is-this/844050/6 "2019-11-27T12:44:57Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > Unless I’m completely high, I would say that’s a hurdy gurdy, man. 😃 You made my day and I’m not even dressed yet. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-instrument-is-this/844050/7 "2019-11-27T13:26:13Z")
Hurdy Gurdy, as has been mention. IIRC, they were still using it (live) at the Page Crowes show. [Here’s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYJg9cLk1us) a really good explanation of how they work (a lot of this guy’s videos are really good). In short, it’s probably most comparable to a violin. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-instrument-is-this/844050/8 "2019-11-27T14:00:53Z")
[Moderating] Moving from GQ to CS. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-instrument-is-this/844050/9 "2019-11-27T14:36:26Z")
Want to make your own? A cool company (US Gears) makes a [laser-cut model you can assemble](https://imgur.com/gallery/x6TxEjw). Sounds pretty tinny, but it works… and looks cool! ps: Thanks, Donovan. I can’t type the word _Hurdy Gurdy_ without hearing it with way too much vibrato… ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-instrument-is-this/844050/10 "2019-11-27T16:30:53Z")
Soupy Sales joke: What do you call a strong canary cranking a music box? A sturdy birdie with a hurdy-gurdy. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-instrument-is-this/844050/11 "2019-11-27T17:44:12Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Want to make your own? A cool company (US Gears) makes a [laser-cut model you can assemble](https://imgur.com/gallery/x6TxEjw). > > Sounds pretty tinny, but it works… and looks cool! To be fair, you’re not exactly going to confuse a regular sized hurdry gurdy with a hammond organ. They’re pretty tinny to begin with.