(Saraswathi) Veena (carnatic, string instrument)

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Veena is also called Saraswathi veena. Saraswathi veena is the instrument associated with Saraswati, the goddess of learning and the arts.

The Veena is a string instrument and is made up of three distinct parts. A bowl shaped body often carved from a single piece of wood i.e. jackwood, a long neck curved downward at the end with a gourd attached to the underside; the frets are made of brass and mounted on wax. There are seven strings in all - four main and the rest to maintain the drone and rhythm. It is played with wire plectra on the fingers. This instrument is common in south India and is an important instrument in carnatic sangeet.

Artists

Major artists in alphabetical order

• Emani Shankara Shastry
  
  
• Mysore Doraiswamy Iyengar
  
  
• S Balachander