(also hardangerfele, hardingfela), a Norwegian folk violin. The Hardanger fiddle is smaller than the ordinary violin, with a more highly arched belly, a shorter neck, and a broader bridge. It has four melody strings that are tuned to the key of the music to be performed. The four sympathetic strings are tuned to the first, second, third, and fifth degrees of the key. Usually inlaid with silver and mother-of-pearl, the Hardanger fiddle is used to perform folk dance melodies known as slåtter.