Saraswati
Veena : Lesson 2

The
veena is a plucking string instrument. It has two tumbas
-- resonating chambers. The large tumba, which figures
on the right hand side of the player, is made of hollowed
jackwood. The upper and smaller one is made of papier
mache. Both the chambers are connected by a fret board
with 24 metallic frets on it.
The
fret board is also called the dandi or the neck of the
veena. These 24 metallic frets correspond to each semi-tone
of two octaves. The veena has four playing strings.
The three-side strings are the chikari strings, which
indicate rhythmic movements and also give the basic
tonic, which is sa. The instrument is played with a
wired plectrum, which is fitted over one or two fingers.
It is the equivalent of the mizrab in sitar.
The
player holds the veena from below; the left hand covers
the frets while the right hand rests on the big tumba
and gives the rhythm. The main strings are plucked downwards
with the help of the pointer and the middle finger on
which the plucker or the mizrab is worn. The co-ordination
of the movement of the right hand with the left hand
is very important and demands a lot of practice.
The
plucking can also be done with fingernails if not with
the mizrab. The little finger of the right hand is plucked
in the reverse direction to maintain the drone of the
rhythm, which is the chikari. Sometimes the veena is
ornamented elaborately with ivory and other kinds of
carvings.
Related
Instruments : Rabab ; Rudraveena ; Vichitraveena
; Chitraveena
Exponents
: One of the foremost musicians of India, S. Balachander
is the recipient of innumerable titles and honours.
This veena vidwan is an international celebrity and
is known for his pioneering work in popularising Carnatic
classical music. Born in Chennai in 1927, this child
prodigy first performed at the age of six. He has dedicated
himself completely and solely to the veena. He is an
entirely self-taught musician and is an excellent vocalist,
too.
A distinguished veena player, Chittibabu was
initiated into music by his father who sent him to Chennai
to be trained by the great maestro Emani Shankara Shastri.
Chittibabu imbibed his guru's technique well and used
his own imagination and expertise to evolve his own
style of playing. His sound technique is matchless and
highly evolved. He is capable of producing long, unbroken
melodic phrases. His playing is very graceful and melodious.
Upcoming and young Saraswati veena players Gayatri Narayanan,
a disciple of S. Balachander has cut many records and
cassettes. Another great musician in the making is Narayan
Mani.
Veena
: Lesson 1 Lesson 2
More
lessons on other instruments?