The Nyckelharpa

The nyckelharpa, meaning “key harp,” is a traditional Swedish instrument. The first clues of this instruments existence are from 14th century European relief sculptures. The nyckelharpa is classified as a bowed string instrument. It is played in much of the same way a violinists plays a violin with the exception of the 37 wooden keys which, when depressed, act as frets (pushing up from below the strings, changing the pitch).

Via ANA:

The modern chromatic nyckelharpa has 16 strings: 3 melody strings, one drone string, and 12 sympathetic vibration (or resonance) strings. It has about 37 wooden keys arranged to slide under the strings. Each key has a tangent that reaches up and stops (frets) a string to make a particular note. The player uses a short bow with the right hand, and pushes on the keys with the left. It has a 3 octave range (from the same low “G” as a fiddle’s 4th string) and sounds something like a fiddle, only with lots more resonance. Earlier forms of the nyckelharpa had fewer keys, fewer (or no) sympathetic strings, and fewer melody strings, but often made more use of drone strings.

Below: Video “Bach on Nyckelharpa”