The national instrument of Norway, known as hardingfele in Norwegian. It is widely used in the southern and western parts of the country, while the 'ordinary violin' is most common in eastern and northern Norway.

It has a construction very similar to that of a conventional violin, but there are some important differences. It has 4 or 5 extra sympathetic strings which are made of thin steel and placed under the fingerboard through an opening in the bridge. These strings, which resonate as the fiddle is played, are generally tuned according to the key in which the melody is to be played. Also, the fingerboard is flatter and the bridge is less curved, making it easier to bow 2 or 3 strings at a time. Usually the Hardanger fiddle is extremely decorated with floral designs, a carved peg in the shape of a lion or dragon and an inlaid fingerboard.

The oldest Hardanger fiddle known dates back to 1651.

The instrument can be tuned about 20 different ways, the most common being ADAE.