An electronic hurdy gurdy for silent practice
DIGI-GURDY
Worldwide shipping including to the US
What is a Digi-Gurdy?
Background and inspiration
Inspired by seeing Nigel Eaton play hurdy gurdy with Led Zeppelin in 1996, I built my own Nerdy Gurdy kit years later. Wanting a way to practice quietly, I created an electronic hurdy gurdy keybox that can be played silently with headphones. It started as a fun side project — a way to practice quietly — but after sharing it online, interest exploded. Now it’s grown into a little micro-business bringing the hurdy gurdy into the 21st century.
So whether you’re a curious beginner, a travelling minstrel, or a pirate in disguise, the Digi-Gurdy lets you play anywhere, anytime — without waking the neighbours (or the cat).
Do Rock/Metal bands use gurdys then? Some do. Here is a Spotify playlist of bands that use Hurdy Gurdys:
Is there an online community group or anything? Yes, there is a thriving Hurdy Gurdy group on Facebook:
OK, so what is a Hurdy Gurdy?
Imagine a violin, a bagpipe, and a mechanical music box all had a jam session — that’s the hurdy gurdy.
It’s a centuries-old stringed instrument played by turning a crank instead of using a bow. Inside, a rosined wheel spins against the strings. The keys press against these melody strings at different points (much like frets on a guitar), while additional drone strings provide a constant harmonic background.
The earliest versions were large and needed two people to play — perfect for filling ancient churches with continuous “holy” tones, at least until pipe organs stole the show in the 1300s. By the 18th century, the hurdy gurdy had become the must-have instrument for the French nobility, complete with elaborate carvings and a buzzing bridge (or dog) that adds a built-in rhythm when you crank faster.
Yeah, that’s all very interesting but did pirates play them? Probably not — that’s more of a romantic myth. But you’ll definitely see hurdy gurdies sailing through pop culture in the Sea of Thieves video game and the Netflix series Black Sails…
Introducing the Digi-Gurdy
In 2022, I was invited to give a presentation about how the Digi-Gurdy evolved — from a rough 3D-printed box of keys and 24 notes into the refined instrument it is today. (You can watch the video above!)
Traditional hurdy gurdies are incredible instruments, but they’re also complex, time-consuming, and expensive to build. Many luthiers have multi-year waiting lists. My goal was to create an affordable, electronic alternative that still captured the unique feel and charm of the real thing.
Every Digi-Gurdy is built by hand — by me — with careful attention to detail. To keep costs down while maintaining quality, I focused heavily on efficient design and smart simplification. The beautiful woodwork is designed by Jaap Brand, the creator of the Nerdy Gurdy, and our collaboration brings together digital innovation and traditional craftsmanship.
Some players use the Digi-Gurdy as a MIDI instrument connected to digital audio workstations, while others simply want to practice quietly with headphones. To suit both, it features full MIDI output and an internal sound board with realistic sampled tones and a headphone jack — ready to play straight out of the box.
Do you have your own Digi-Gurdy Facebook group or anything? Yes:
The Digi-Gurdy — Features & Innovations
The Digi-Gurdy brings the sound and soul of the hurdy-gurdy into the digital age.
Built for versatility, it connects easily to synths, tablets, or headphones so you can play anywhere, any time.
Connectivity
MIDI-Out via USB
Plug straight into your synthesizer, computer, or tablet. Works well with Apple and Android apps like Bismarck bs-16i on iPad, iPhone or Android phone (Samsung for example).
Traditional 5-Pin MIDI-Out Socket
Prefer wireless? Add a Bluetooth MIDI dongle such as the WIDI-Master (not supplied) to this socket and connect cable-free to your iPad or other device.
Built-In Audio Board
Just power it up and play — includes a headphone socket for direct sound output, perfect for silent practice or quick demos. This is also a proper line-out so you can connect it to the AUX-in socket of most modern amplifiers.
Playability & Control
- 4 Preset Tunings – Quick-start tunings ready from the first menu screens after power-up.
- 4 User-Defined Tunings – Save your own custom tuning configurations for fast recall next time.
- Assignable Function Buttons – Engage or mute strings, adjust volume, or map your own functions.
- Auto-Crank Mode – Simulates a steady crank speed for left-hand only melody practice.
- Individual String Volume – Balance every string to your liking.
Octave Shift & Capo Buttons – Expand your range with a tap.
Mechanical Design
Every Digi-Gurdy is engineered for smooth, responsive play:
- Ball-Race Bearings throughout (even in the crank knob) for effortless motion.
- Adjustable Friction System with a replaceable felt pad acting on an aluminium wheel — mimicking the natural resistance of real strings.
- Crank Speed Control Knob for fine-tuning the buzz response.
- OLED Display provides crisp menus for easy setup and configuration.
Power Options
- USB Power Bank Ready – Supplied with a cylindrical USB power bank housing (battery not included due to shipping restrictions).
- Flexible Power Choices – Runs directly from your iPad, computer, or other USB source. The internal battery option is ideal for portable or wireless use.
From July 2025: The Web Interface
Connect your Digi-Gurdy to your PC or laptop with Chrome (Windows recommended) and open:
digigurdy.com/webgui
This evolving web app runs entirely in the cloud — no downloads, no subscriptions.
Features include:
- Play-Along Mode – Practice with well-known tunes.
- Tutor Mode – Slow tracks down to learn them note by note.
- Live Note Display – See every note as you play.
- Keybox View – Watch the virtual keybox react in real time.
- On-Screen Configuration – Adjust your Digi-Gurdy directly from your browser.
- Steampunk “Buzz-Radar” Visualiser – A playful crank speed monitor for rhythm practice.
And best of all — no subscriptions, no hidden costs.
Limitations (for Now)
The Digi-Gurdy is a living project — always improving, but here’s what to expect currently:
- Keys are on/off only (no pitch-bend).
- Drone recordings loop every 45–60 seconds, so you may hear a brief restart; longer loops (3–4 minutes) are in development.
- Crank realism is very close to that of a real hurdy gurdy but still evolving — four buzzes per revolution are comfortably achievable; eight is ambitious!
In Short
The Digi-Gurdy combines craftsmanship, technology, and playability — giving you the full hurdy-gurdy experience with MIDI control, tunable presets, and a growing online platform.
Just power up, play, and explore.
This was recorded on previous version of the Digi-Gurdy in 2024. The audio has been processed to enhance the buzz, as this aspect is the one I am asked the most questions about.
Quick overview filmed on the previous version of the Digi-Gurdy. The different ways of using it are covered. A more detailed video is available on the ‘ABOUT’ page of this website.
Recent changes to the design: The microswitches the keys previously acted upon have been replaced with a more solid-state system of magnetically triggered switches called Hall switches. In addition it has tangents that act on a dummy string to give a more realistic gurdy feel when playing. Every other aspect of design and use is as before.
This is my first attempt at a TikTok advert, also here as a YouTube short. My children tell me this is where it is all at these days!
**It also gives you a preview of the Web Based Graphic User Interface.
Enjoy!
John Dingley