---
url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-in/faq/instruments-artforms/how-are-a-chitraveenas-sympathetic-strings-tuned'
title: "How are a chitraveena's sympathetic strings tuned?"
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date: '2026-10-19T15:11:32+00:00'
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summary: 'Chitraveena players usually tune the sympathetic strings to Shankarabharanam or to the raga they will develop, or to Sa and Pa.'
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 FAQ · Instruments & artforms

# How are a chitraveena's sympathetic strings tuned?

 Updated 19 October 2026

 

The sympathetic strings of a **[chitraveena](/en-in/instrument/chitraveena)** run below and parallel to the melody strings, over a smaller second bridge. Players usually tune them to the raga Shankarabharanam or to a raga they will develop at length, or set extra Sa and Pa notes for a tanpura effect. Some players leave this layer out altogether, as Budalur Krishnamurthy Shastri's disciples do.



 

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