It was known to be used in the medieval ages when the King of Sweden kept both fiddle and harp players in his court.

Later in the 18th century, the Swedish explorer Uno von Troil visited Iceland in 1722, where he wrote about a langspil and fiddle and noted that both were played with bows.

Displayed in the National Museum of Iceland is a drawing of the famous fiðla player, Sveinn Þórarinsson.

Each of the tuning pegs which are about 13 cm long are at the bottom end of the instrument.

[1] One 19th century author described it as a "rudely fashioned instrument" having six strings of copper or brass wire.