--- url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-in/instrument/veena' title: Veena author: name: rajeevk url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-in/user/0f961cccc99524ed' date: '2026-06-21T00:58:36+00:00' updated: '2026-10-25T10:45:31+00:00' type: product summary: '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…' tags: - Chordophones - Veena image: 'https://files.kalasudha.com/styles/d12_standard/public/2026-02/Violin-Instrument-KalaSudha.jpg?h=d1cb525d&itok=tq_fXePi' published: true og: site_name: KalaSudha 'image:url': 'https://files.kalasudha.com/styles/d12_standard/public/2026-02/Violin-Instrument-KalaSudha.jpg?h=d1cb525d&itok=tq_fXePi' 'image:secure_url': 'https://files.kalasudha.com/styles/d12_standard/public/2026-02/Violin-Instrument-KalaSudha.jpg?h=d1cb525d&itok=tq_fXePi' 'image:type': image/jpeg 'image:width': '1200' 'image:height': '675' 'image:alt': Violin-Instrument --- [ Instruments ](/en-in/instruments) Veena 1. [ Home ](/en-in) 2. 3. [ Instruments ](/en-in/instruments) 4. 5. Veena Chordophones Chordophone: plucked lute (Hornbostel-Sachs 321.321) Advanced South India: Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka; Carnatic classical tradition Carnatic plucked lute Fixed-fret gamaka # Veena (वीणा) 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 ensemble playing. Price Range £350 - £3,000 Student veenas start around £350; mid-range instruments with refined jawari and a full resonator cost £800 to £1,500; concert-grade instruments from established Thanjavur makers cost £1,500 to £3,000, and elaborate carving can double the price. Check the build (ekanda or ottu), the bridge plate, the fret setting and the pegs. [ Request Quote ](/en-in/form/custom-instrument-quote?instrument_id=371) ## Explore the discipline Meet the musical tradition, its practitioners and ways to learn. - [ Veena · Carnatic Classical ](/en-in/instrumental/carnatic-classical/veena) ## History & Origins ### What is the Saraswati veena? The **veena**, formally the Saraswati veena, is the principal plucked lute of **Carnatic classical music**, and a KalaSudha veena, hand-made to order, suits the student and the concert vainika. Players also call it the Thanjavur or Raghunatha veena. Its main resonator, the kudam, is hollowed from jackwood, and a long neck carries **24 fixed brass frets** set in wax, with four main strings over them and three talam drone strings beside them. ### What makes a great veena A brass-topped bridge gives the **jawari**, a controlled, grainy bloom of harmonics. Because the frets are fixed, the left hand pushes each string sideways to approach the next note without lifting the finger, producing **gamaka**, the undulating ornament that carries Carnatic raga. Check the build (one-piece ekanda or joined ottu), the fret setting and the bridge. Thanjavur, whose veena holds a Geographical Indication, is the main making centre, and makers in Miraj and Kolkata also build to order. ### How it is played The player sits cross-legged, the small upper resonator on the left thigh and the main body on the floor beyond the right. The right index and middle fingers pluck the main strings and the little finger strikes the talam. The veena is linked with the goddess Saraswati and the Thanjavur and Mysore courts. It spans about three octaves and plays solo with mridangam. Start on one of our [veena](/instrumental/carnatic-classical/veena) study paths. The word vina appears in the Vedas and the *Natya Shastra* (about 200 BCE to 200 CE) for a range of string instruments. The Saraswati veena took its current form at **Thanjavur** under **Raghunatha Nayak** (r. 1600–1634), a musician-king after whom it is also named. Its movable frets became fixed in a set number and spacing, and it spread among court musicians. The later Maratha court consolidated it. Its status peaked in the 18th and 19th centuries. **Muthuswami Dikshitar** (1775–1835) of the Carnatic trinity played it, and his compositions carry its gamaka logic. Banis grew up: a Mysore bani linked with Veene Sheshanna, an Andhra school of varied plucking and fast passages, and masters such as the Karaikudi Brothers and Veena Dhanammal (1867–1938), whose Chennai students shaped the next generation. A distinguished player is called a vainika. In the 20th century the violin, the keyboard and the vocal concert gained ground; S. Balachander (1927–1990) took the veena to international audiences and Emani Sankara Sastry (1926–1996) widened its concert vocabulary. Today it is taught and played across South India, with strong lineages in Chennai, Bengaluru and Thiruvananthapuram and a growing number of students outside India. ## Construction & Craftsmanship ### Construction Process Thanjavur makers hollow the main resonator, the **kudam**, from **jackwood** (Artocarpus heterophyllus) and close it with a thin top board, the palakai. An **ekanda** veena carves kudam, neck and head from one block; an **ottu** veena joins them. The long neck, the dandi, whose fingerboard curves gently upwards to suit the fret height, ends in a carved yali head. Under it sits the small upper resonator, a lacquered bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria), papier-mache or plastic, adjustable on some instruments, which adds bass warmth. The **24 frets** are brass or bell-metal bars set in a ridge of beeswax and charcoal, at a height that allows the sideways gamaka push without buzz. A convex brass plate fixed with resin tops the small wooden bridge, the kudurai, and makers adjust its curve to keep the **jawari**. Rosewood or ebony pegs taper into the peg box. Main strings were once gut or steel; steel and wound nylon are usual now, with brass for the lowest two on some, and the three talam strings run from side pegs across a notch on the bridge. Lacquer and hand-painting make the Thanjavur veena among the most ornate Indian instruments. ### Maintenance & Care - The **frets** sit in beeswax, so keep the veena from heat and sun, which soften it. Have us reset any fret that drifts, since a displaced fret ruins intonation. - The **jawari** wears with playing; let us adjust it once or twice a year, and never file it yourself: a wrong profile cannot be undone. - Jackwood tolerates varied weather, but **humidity** swings below 40% or above 70% can crack the body or top. Use a padded case with a humidity sachet in dry or changeable climates. - Wipe the steel **strings** after playing and replace dull or kinked strings as a set. Before each session, check all seven, talam included, against your tonic: the talam slacken fastest, and loose talam blur the drone rhythm. - Keep the small **upper resonator** clear of hard surfaces; a crack changes the bass resonance and comes to us for repair. ### Quick Facts Category Chordophones Family Chordophone: plucked lute (Hornbostel-Sachs 321.321) Difficulty Advanced Origin South India: Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka; Carnatic classical tradition Tradition Carnatic classical music; the principal melodic veena of the South Indian tradition Body material Jackwood (Artocarpus heterophyllus): resonant, stable grain with fine pores that tolerate varying weather Fret system 24 fixed brass or bell-metal frets set in beeswax; the left hand pushes strings sideways on them for gamaka String system 4 main strings + 3 talam drone strings; no sympathetic strings Resonator Main jackwood body (kudam) with a small upper resonator of gourd, papier-mache or plastic under the scroll; the upper resonator adds bass warmth Key technique Gamaka: sideways fret push for ornamental pitch oscillation ### Price Range £350 - £3,000 Student veenas start around £350; mid-range instruments with refined jawari and a full resonator cost £800 to £1,500; concert-grade instruments from established Thanjavur makers cost £1,500 to £3,000, and elaborate carving can double the price. Check the build (ekanda or ottu), the bridge plate, the fret setting and the pegs. [ Request Quote ](/en-in/form/custom-instrument-quote?instrument_id=371) ## Technical Specifications Detailed specifications for the Veena Physical dimensions Body & construction String system Playing equipment Acoustic characteristics Physical dimensions Physical dimensions specifications | Specification | Value | |---|---| | Total instrument length | 100–120 cm | | Body length | 40–55 cm | | Body width (max) | 25–35 cm | | Neck length | 55–70 cm | | Weight | 3.5–5.0 kg | Body & construction Body & construction specifications | Specification | Value | |---|---| | Body material | Jackwood (Artocarpus heterophyllus) | | Soundboard | Thin jackwood or rosewood top board (palakai) over the hollowed kudam | | Frets | 24 brass or bell-metal frets fixed in beeswax and charcoal | | Bridge | Wooden bridge (kudurai) topped with a convex brass plate for the jawari | | Finish | Lacquer over jackwood, often hand-painted in the Thanjavur tradition; carved yali head and inlaid rosettes | String system String system specifications | Specification | Value | |---|---| | Main playing strings | 4 (steel or wound nylon; brass for the lowest two on some instruments) | | Drone strings (talam) | 3 | | Total strings | 7 | | Tuning (standard) | Sa-Pa-Sa-Sa (tonic-fifth-tonic-tonic in bass) | | String range | Approximately 3 octaves across main strings | Playing equipment Playing equipment specifications | Specification | Value | |---|---| | Plectrum | Index and middle fingers of the right hand (bare fingertip or nail) | | Talam technique | Little finger of right hand strikes talam strings as rhythmic drone | | Left-hand technique | Left-hand fingers or nails press and push the strings sideways across the brass frets for gamaka | | Playing position | Seated cross-legged; upper resonator on the left thigh, main body on the floor beyond the right thigh | | Gamaka types | Kampita (oscillation), jaru (slide), nokku (stress), odukkal (press), sphurita (hammer-on) | Acoustic characteristics Acoustic characteristics specifications | Specification | Value | |---|---| | Tonal character | Warm, sustained, with jawari harmonic bloom; prominent mid-register | | Tonal register | Mid to high; principal range c. Sa to three-octave Sa | | Sustain | Moderate to long (depends on bridge jawari and string gauge) | | Optimal use | Carnatic solo performance, kritis, alapana, kalpana swaras; ensemble with mridangam | | Projection | Moderate; suited to intimate sabha settings and studio recording | ## Available Instruments Browse our curated selection of Veenas Showing 1 instruments ### Veena £350.00 [ Request Quote ](/en-in/form/custom-instrument-quote?instrument_id=371&product_id=47) [Get Details](/en-in/product/47) ### Looking for Something Unique? Contact us for custom-made instruments tailored to your specific requirements [ Contact for Custom Order ](/en-in/form/custom-instrument-quote?instrument_id=371) ## Your Journey to Veena Mastery Follow this structured path from absolute beginner to accomplished performer 1 ### Right-hand plucking and talam technique Beginners start here, at Foundation, as the first step in KalaSudha's [courses](/courses). Sit cross-legged with the small resonator on the left thigh and the main body on the floor to the right, the right palm resting on the edge of the top board. Pluck the main strings with the right index and middle fingers and strike the talam with the little finger, building independent control of melody and drone from the first lessons. 20% 2 ### Gamaka fundamentals on fixed frets Develop the sideways push on each fixed fret, the movement behind gamaka, starting with the principal types: kampita (oscillation), jaru (slide) and nokku (stress). Fixed frets need exact lateral pressure where fretless instruments glide. 40% 3 ### Raga introduction and alapana Explore a raga through alapana (free-time improvisation) in gamaka-based phrases on the veena. Learn how fingerboard positions map to the characteristic phrases of the raga. 60% 4 ### Kirtana and varnam forms Study fixed compositions (varnams, kirtanas) in structured tala cycles. Develop the ability to maintain talam drone strikes while playing the composed melody, integrating right-hand independence into the performance of set pieces. 80% 5 ### Manodharma: kalpana swaras and pallavi Develop improvisatory skills within raga and tala: kalpana swaras (improvised solfa passages), niraval and pallavi (main theme with improvised development). These define advanced Carnatic performance and need full command of gamaka, tala and raga. 100% ## Frequently Asked Questions What is the Saraswati veena of Carnatic music? The **[Saraswati veena](/instrument/veena)** is a long-necked plucked lute with fixed frets and the principal veena of Carnatic music, named for the goddess Saraswati. Its main resonator is hollowed from jackfruit wood, and its 24 brass or bell-metal frets sit in a ridge of beeswax on the neck. Four playing strings pass over the frets, and three drone strings, the talam, run beside the neck. How can a beginner, a child or a returning vainika start learning the Saraswati veena of Carnatic music? Learn the [veena](/instrumental/carnatic-classical/veena) with KalaSudha online or in a workshop, starting at **Foundation** level. In the first lessons you pluck the main strings with the right index and middle fingers and strike the talam drone strings with the little finger. Children are as welcome as adults: ask us about a starting age and about a size for a younger learner. Players returning to the veena after a long break start again where they left off, because our [courses](/courses) run in levels. Your teacher first reviews where you stand. Where can I buy a Saraswati veena outside India, with safe international shipping and service after the sale? You can buy a veena from KalaSudha outside India: we sell it by quote or made to order, and we deliver worldwide. Your veena leaves us packed for international shipping, and we can advise on cases and insurance. We service and repair any veena, in any country, including one you bought elsewhere. You can order strings and spare parts from us as well. For help with your veena after it arrives, use the chat on any page or write to . Ask us about gift vouchers and class sets for schools too, or a flight case for travel. Where are Saraswati veenas made? Hand-made **[Saraswati veena](/instrument/veena)** production is concentrated in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, where workshops hollow the main resonator from jackwood sourced from Panruti. The Thanjavur veena received Geographical Indication status around 2012 to 2013 and is described as India's first musical instrument with GI status. In 2024 Thanjavur had about 10 full-time makers, producing around 30 instruments a month. How many strings does a Saraswati veena have? A **[Saraswati veena](/instrument/veena)** has seven strings and no sympathetic strings. Four main playing strings pass over the frets, and three drone strings, the talam, run from pegs on the side of the neck over a small curved bridge beside the main bridge. All seven are steel in common practice, though one craft source gives brass for the two lowest playing strings. How many frets does a Saraswati veena have? The **[Saraswati veena](/instrument/veena)** has 24 fixed frets of brass or bell-metal, set into a ridge of beeswax mixed with charcoal or lamp-black on the neck. The fixed 24-fret form evolved at Thanjavur during Raghunatha Nayak's reign, and Sambamurthy credits the design to Govinda Dikshita; earlier veenas had fewer, movable frets. Because the frets sit in wax, they can shift and need resetting by a maker. How is the Saraswati veena held and played? A **[Saraswati veena](/instrument/veena)** player sits cross-legged, with the small upper resonator on the left thigh and the main resonator on the floor beyond the right thigh. The right index and middle fingers pluck the main strings, and the little finger strikes the drone strings. The left hand stops the strings on the frets and pushes them sideways to raise the pitch, creating slides and gamaka. How old is the Saraswati veena? The **[Saraswati veena](/instrument/veena)** descends from earlier lute forms, the kinnari veena in Sambamurthy's account. Its fixed 24-fret form evolved at Thanjavur during the reign of Raghunatha Nayak, and Sambamurthy credits the design to Govinda Dikshita, a minister at the court. Earlier veenas had fewer frets, and those frets were movable. How does the Saraswati veena differ from the Rudra veena? 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. What is the difference between an ekanda and an ottu veena? An ekanda **[Saraswati veena](/instrument/veena)** has its resonator, neck and head carved from one block of wood; an ottu veena, also called sada or khanda, joins parts made separately. Retail and museum sources treat the ekanda as the higher grade. Makers hollow the main resonator from jackfruit wood, favouring trees of about 40 to 50 years. How do I book a Saraswati veena player for a Carnatic concert, an event or a recording? Through KalaSudha you can book a veena player for a concert, event or recording. In a Carnatic concert the veena plays solo with mridangam. Ask us through our page to [book Indian classical musicians](/book-indian-classical-musicians), and hear our artists before you decide in KalaSudha's [recordings](/releases) and [concert videos](/videos). Have more questions? Contact our support team and we'll be happy to help! Ready to start learning Veena? Get personalized quotes and explore courses [Request Quote](/en-in/form/custom-instrument-quote?instrument_id=371) Stay close ## Keep KalaSudha close. Receive news of concerts, learning opportunities, recordings and the work taking shape at KalaSudha. - Concert news - ·Learning opportunities - ·Recordings and stories We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.