The hardingfele
or hardanger violin originates from the southwest of
Norway. In common with the violin it has four playing
strings, but there are also four or five sympathetic
strings which run underneath the fingerboard. The playing
strings are often tuned in fourths and fifths, which,
coupled with the effect of the sympathetic strings, make
the instrument very resonant. The belly is raised and
highly decorated and the bridge is flat, making it
possible to play two or sometimes three strings at once –
a feature of traditional hardingfele
music.