String instrument rosin than players of lower-pitched instruments, who tend to favor darker, softer rosin. The ravanahatha is one of the oldest string instruments. Ancestors of the modern bowed string instruments are the rebab of the Islamic Empires, the Persian kamanche and the Byzantine lira. Other bowed instruments are the rebec, hardingfele, nyckelharpa, kokyū, erhu, igil, sarangi and K'ni. The hurdy-gurdy is bowed by a wheel. Rarely, the guitar has been played with a bow (rather than plucked) for unique effects. The third common method of sound production in stringed instruments is to strike the string. The piano and hammered dulcimer use
The Hurdy Gurdy Man The Hurdy Gurdy Man The Hurdy Gurdy Man is the sixth studio album (seventh overall) by Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the US in October 1968 (Epic Records BN 26420 (stereo)), but not in the UK, because of a continuing contractual dispute that also prevented "Sunshine Superman" and "Mellow Yellow" from being released there. A songbook of lead sheets to the album was nonetheless issued in both countries. Donovan wrote and recorded much of "The Hurdy Gurdy Man" in late 1967, not long after recording the songs that would form "A Gift from a Flower to a Garden".