The Sanskrit word veena ( वीणा) in ancient and medieval Indian literature is a generic term for plucked string musical instruments. A Kinnari holds an ālāpīni vīnī, a type of stick-zither with a half gourd used for the resonator. A veena improvisation (2004) A veena kushree Etymology and history See: Ancient veena : See: History of lute-family instrumentsĮmbekka Devalaya temple, Sri Lanka. It has been a popular instrument in Indian classical music, and one revered in the Indian culture by its inclusion in the iconography of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of arts and learning. The long, hollow neck design of these Indian instruments allow portamento effects and legato ornaments found in Indian ragas. Īs a fretted, plucked lute, the veena can produce pitches in a full three-octave range. It remains an important and popular string instrument in classical Carnatic music. However it, too, has 24 frets, four melody strings, and three drone strings, and is played similarly. It is a long-necked, pear-shaped lute, but instead of the lower gourd of the North Indian design, it has a pear-shaped wooden piece.
The South Indian Saraswati veena, used in Carnatic classical music, is a lute. In modern times the veena has been generally replaced with the sitar in North Indian performances. The musician stops the resonating strings, when so desired, with the fingers of the free hand. To play, the musician plucks the melody strings downward with a plectrum worn on the first and second fingers, while the drone strings are strummed with the little finger of the playing hand. It has four main strings which are melodic, and three auxiliary drone strings. About 3.5 to 4 feet (1 to 1.2 meters) long to fit the measurements of the musician, it has a hollow body and two large resonating gourds under each end.
The North Indian rudra veena, used in Hindustani classical music, is a stick zither. The many regional designs have different names such as the Rudra veena, the Saraswati veena, the Vichitra veena and others. Ancient musical instruments evolved into many variations, such as lutes, zithers and arched harps. The veena, also spelled vina ( Sanskrit: वीणा IAST: vīṇā), is any of various chordophone instruments from the Indian subcontinent. Ĭhitra veena, Harp-style veena, Mohan veena, Rudra veena, Saraswati veena, Vichitra veena, Sarod, Sitar, Surbahar, Sursingar, Tambouras, Tambura, Instruments using the name have included forms of arched harp and musical bow, lutes, medieval stick zithers and tube zithers, bowed chordophones, fretless lutes, the Hindustani bīn and Sarasvati veena. Veena has applied to stringed instruments in Indian written records since at least 1000 BCE.