---
url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-in/faq/instruments-artforms/how-does-the-saraswati-veena-differ-from-the-rudra-veena'
title: 'How does the Saraswati veena differ from the Rudra veena?'
author:
  name: rajeevk
  url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-in/user/fdfe7927a034173f'
date: '2026-10-19T15:09:51+00:00'
type: website
summary: 'The Saraswati veena is a Carnatic lute with 24 frets fixed in wax; the Rudra veena of Hindustani music is a zither.'
tags:
  - 'Instruments & artforms'
image: 'https://kalasudha.com/themes/custom/music_agency/assets/icon/logo.svg'
published: true
og:
  site_name: KalaSudha
  'image:url': 'https://kalasudha.com/themes/custom/music_agency/assets/icon/logo.svg'
  'image:secure_url': 'https://kalasudha.com/themes/custom/music_agency/assets/icon/logo.svg'
  'image:type': image/svg+xml
  'image:alt': KalaSudha
---
  [  Help ](/en-in/help)     How does the Saraswati veena differ from the Rudra veena?  

1. [  Home ](/en-in)
2. 
3. [ Help ](/en-in/help)
4. 
5. Instruments & artforms
6. 
7. How does the Saraswati veena differ from…
 
 

 

  FAQ · Instruments & artforms

# How does the Saraswati veena differ from the Rudra veena?

 Updated 19 October 2026

 The **[Saraswati veena](/instrument/veena)** is a Carnatic lute, with a jackwood body and 24 frets fixed in wax, and it descends from earlier lute forms. The Rudra veena of Hindustani music is a zither. Players of both push strings sideways on the frets to raise the pitch, up to a fifth on the Rudra veena, so that technique does not separate the two.



 

 Was this answer helpful? [  ](/en-in/user/login?flag_anon=faq_helpful-922&destination=/en-in/faq/instruments-artforms/how-does-the-saraswati-veena-differ-from-the-rudra-veena)

 [  ](/en-in/user/login?flag_anon=faq_not_helpful-922&destination=/en-in/faq/instruments-artforms/how-does-the-saraswati-veena-differ-from-the-rudra-veena)

 

 Thanks for your feedback!

 

 ## Related pages

 1 page mentions this question

 

 ###  Instruments (1) 

- [   Veena The Saraswati veena is the plucked lute of Carnatic music: a jackwood body, 24 fixed brass frets in wax and gamaka technique define its sound, for solo and…     ](/en-in/instrument/veena)
 
  

 

 

   [     Previous question How does the rudra veena differ from the Saraswati veena?  ](/en-in/faq/instruments-artforms/how-does-the-rudra-veena-differ-from-the-saraswati-veena) [  Next question How is a ghatam made?     ](/en-in/faq/instruments-artforms/how-is-a-ghatam-made)