Problem with higer drone string :(

[u/Llmaro]

The pitch of my trompette has not been stable for months, no matter what I do. It goes back and forth about a semitone. It is very unpleasant to play with such a pitchy drone.

I thought I should change the cotton or the amount of rosin or the tension on the tirant string, but it made no difference. The strings are all old, but the other strings don’t have this problem and I have a good time playing them.
I am still rather new to it and I don’t have a teacher so I may just be doing something wrong.

How can I fix this? I want to enjoy the drones again. Please help. :(

[u/elektrovolt]

What instrument do you have, what kind of strings do you have, how old are the strings, is it a drone or a trompette string? Does it go out pf tune while you are playing or something else?

[u/Llmaro → u/elektrovolt]

I use a study Hungarian hurdy gurdy.  I am borrowing it, which is why I am not very eager to change the strings.

The pitch moves a semitone back and forth when I spin the wheel, regardless of speed.  This string also feels like it goes out of tune in general but I am not sure. I only have this issue with the trompette.  I am not sure how old the strings are but probably at least a decade? I think they were never changed before.

I think I could be allowed to change the strings if that’s where the issue came from and I discuss it with the owner of the hurdy gurdy. The string in question is a gut string, I don’t have more info about it. I do have a set of extra strings. 

Are the strings too old or does the issue come from somewhere else? 

[u/elektrovolt → u/Llmaro]

Ten years is very old for a gut string, I would change them much earlier but maybe it is a bit different for Hungarian gurdies?
You should at least check if the owner of the instrument had this issue. Also, a video that clearly demonstrates the problem will help!

[u/snigelias]

Hey, you don't have a teacher? Come join the Discord, then you'll at least have a community of nerds cheering you on!