Types of Veenas

In the previous article, you would've read a little bit about the Veena. But the term 'Veena' refers to a group of plucked string instruments, with varying specifications. In fact, Veena is not just used in Carnatic classical music, but finds its way in other genres of Indian music. Of course, the type of Veena used in these genres are different and unique.
This post will talk you through some of the many types of the instrument, Veena.

The ancient Veena primarily came in two distinct types:

• The Harp-type Veena

The harp-type Veena consists of a series of strings stretched over an open frame. They were stretched across the vibrating sound board. Each string produced only one note and was set in vibration by plucking it.
This Veena did not come with frets, which means you cannot move your fingers across the open frame and produce different notes. Because of this, it had a large number of strings, each of which produced a unique sound. These strings when struck produced a long, continuous note, much like the piano.
It was played by placing it down on the ground and plucking the strings with your fingers or light wooden mallets.
Not only did it sound a little different from the present-day Veena, but it also looked very different.

An example of the Harp-type Veena is the Shata-Tantri Veena, which consists of 100 string. It is also called Santoor.

Santoor or Shata-Tantri Veena

• The Lute-type Veena

This came a little after the Harp-type Veena and marked its transition into what looks like the present-day Veena.

It has a large, hollow box which vibrates to produce the sound and an arm, across which the strings were laid. The most distinctive feature about this Veena is the number of notes a string can produce. The player plucks the strings with her right hand and moves along the arm with the left, producing a different note at each point. This effectively reduced the number of strings on the instrument.

Lute

A present-day Veena

The Lute-type of Veena can further be classified into the following categories:

• With Frets:

Fret:
These are small wooden/metal rods placed on the arm of a Veena to create separations between notes. The player moves her fingers along space between 2 consecutive frets.
You'll find this term used frequently throughout the blog.

Metal frets placed on the arm.

Each space between 2 frets produces a note.

       1.  Saraswati Veena

This Veena gets its name from Goddess Saraswati, who is said to have played it. It is primarily used in Carnatic music. In fact, if you hear someone refer to the term "Veena", they're probably referring to the Saraswati Veena!

It is held obliquely, with the small, supporting stand on your left lap and the large, hollow vibrating box down on the ground, towards your right.

It is played by moving your left hand over the frets fixed on the wax frame and simultaneously plucking the strings with your right hand. You rest your right wrist over the large, round box on your right.

The previous article you've read is actually based on the Saraswati Veena.

Placing your wrist and plucking the strings with your right hand

The Wax Frame and frets placed over it

Playing the Saraswati Veena

     2.  Rudra Veena

The Rudra Veena, also known as Bheen gets its name from Lord Shiva. It literally means "The instrument dear to Shiva". Rudra Veena is a Hindustani instrument and varies from the Saraswati Veena in subtle ways.

Firstly, it's held at a higher angle of elevation, i.e, almost vertically. It consists of two large vibrating boxes (unlike the former type which consists of one) that rest on the ground and a long arm between these with provisions for frets.

One of the round hollow boxes is placed on the ground and the arm is rested on the left shoulder. The second vibrating box hangs beyond the shoulder. The left hand is moved along the frets and the right hand plucks the strings.

Another point of difference is that the frets on the Rudra Veena rest on a wooden frame, unlike the Saraswati Veena.

Rudra Veena

Holding the Rudra Veena

A closer look - Two vibrating boxes

     3.  Mohan Veena

This Veena looks very different from the previous types of Veenas described. Visually, it resembles a Guitar but it's held and played very differently.

The Mohan Veena can be held in two ways, depending on the style preferred by the player. If held obliquely, the hollow, vibrating box rests on the right lap and the arm extends toward the left. The fingers wrap around the frets from the front rather than from behind, pointing downwards.

The Veena can also be held at a higher angle of inclination. The hollow vibrating box again, rests on the right lap but the arm is raised up. The fingers are wrapped around it from behind, pointing upwards.

Just like the former types of Veenas, this has a small, round stand towards the end of the arm that helps the instrument rest on the ground.

The Mohan Veena has 19 strings, with 12 main strings and 7 Tal strings. It is mainly used in Hindustani music.

A Mohan Veena

Oblique style of playing: Vishwa Mohan Bhatt

Vertical style of playing: Poly Varghese

• Without Frets:

     1. Chitra Veena or Gottuvadhyam

If ever you spot this Veena, you might have you second guess whether it's a Chitra Veena or a Saraswati Veena. Both Saraswati and Chitra Veenas look strikingly similar with a few, hardly noticeable differences.

It consists of the large, round vibrating box on one end and an arm that extends from it. The strings are laid on the arm. The description so far is nothing different from that of a Saraswati Veena. The differences are all in the playing technique, which will be explained now.

First of all, the Veena is not lifted off the ground. This means, you sit down behind the instrument at a desirable distance and play. Just like all the former types, you pluck with your right hand and the notes are created using the left. However, the player never uses her fingers to move over the arm. A slide is moved over the strings laid across the arm when they are simultaneously plucked. This feature sets the instrument apart from all other types of Veenas described so far.

It has 6 main strings that run over the arm and 3 Tal/drone strings.

Gottuvadhyam is played in the Carnatic genre of Indian classical music.

Chitra Veena

<Notice the striking similarity to a Saraswati Veena>

Playing a Chitra Veena

<Notice the slide and lack of frets>

     2.  Vichitra Veena

Just like the name, the Vichitra Veena is similar to Chitra Veena in most ways. It is placed on the ground and played with a slide.

There are only 2 real differences: This Veena is used is Hindustani music, unlike Chitra Veena which is a Carnatic instrument. The second point of difference is in the appearance. It has 2 large hollow round boxes between which the arm rests.
Apart from these, Vichitra Veena is similar in every way to Gottuvadhyam.

Vichitra Veena

Strings laid on the arm

<No frets>

Ragini Trivedi playing Vichitra Veena

<Notice the similarity in the playing technique>

• Instruments confused with Veena

There are a few Indian instruments that look similar to a Veena and are often confused with it. These are the instruments that may have been derived from the Veena but aren't Veenas themselves. Very often, I find people asking me, "Oh, so you play Sitar?" and it takes quite a while explaining to them that I don't.

If these instruments are structurally and visually similar, what sets each apart? The difference lies in the style of playing, layout of frets and plucking of the strings. 

     1.  Sitar

This beautiful instrument is almost 9 out of 10 times confused with a Veena. It looks just like a Saraswati Veena and even has the same number of main strings, but the frets aren't fit the same way. Each fret is individually tied to the wooden arm with a screw, which makes pitch adjustment slightly different from a Veena.

Sitar is said to be derived from the Veena and was brought to India by the Persians.

If you happen to be in a place where you find a Veena and a Sitar, please try to spot the differences!

Sitar

     2. Sarod

Sarod is quite a different instrument and isn't confused with Veena very often, but I decided to mention it anyway. It looks fairly similar to Saraswati Veena, like the round vibrating column, extended arm and supporting stand at the end but works nothing like a Veena, or even Sitar.

It is however, a derivative of Veena, like Sitar but unlike all the instruments you've read about so far, Sarod is not a plucked instrument; it is strum, like a Guitar. It a fretless instrument.

Sarod

     3. Tambura or Tanpura

In theory, this is the last instrument that should be confused with a Veena. This is because Tambura is a pitch setting/maintaining instrument, unlike the Veenas, which are definitely not used to maintain pitch. It is played throughout a concert to help the singer or instrumentalist maintain her pitch.

It has 4 strings that comprise 2 octaves of a particular pitch (Shruti).

Visually, it looks like a combination of Veena and Sitar. It is held upright with the large, hollow column on the player's lap and the arm extending upwards.

Tambura/Tanpura is extensively used in both Carnatic and Hindustani music.

Tambura/Tanpura

Hope this post was informative and helped you learn something about the Veena. I wasn't able to get into the details of every instrument because that would require some technical background of Veena. Apart from that, this article should've given you some idea about the vast variety of instruments present under the name, 'Veena'.

Thanks for reading!