These wandering blind minstrels were divided into two groups -- bandurists, or "kobzars" who played bandura, and "lirnyks", who played the lira, which was a crank-driven hurdy-gurdy.
The band also utilized an array of unique instrumentation, including the tin whistle, violin, mandolin, banjolin, bouzouki, melodeon, and hurdy-gurdy, in addition to the standard guitar, bass and drums.
Much of the music available for the instrument was described as suitable for musette, hurdy-gurdy, recorder or transverse flute; or for all these plus oboe or violin.
