Gardon / ütőgardon

The gardon is an ancient stringed percussion instrument of the Székelys of Csík and Csángós of Gyimes. Gauged like a trough from one piece of beech, maple or willow wood, its shape resembles a cello. The three strings tuned to one tone are hammered with a stick, while a thinner string is plucked simultaneously so that it recoils on the finger board. It sounds like the double bottom kettle drum. Together with the violin the gardon is used to make dance music. The band has two members: the husband plays the violin, the wife hits the gardon.