Guilt: description of the instrument, composition, sound, use

The Indian goddess of beauty, wisdom, eloquence and art Saraswati is often depicted on canvases, holding a stringed musical instrument resembling a lute in her hands. This veena is a common instrument in South India.

Device and sound

The basis of the design is a bamboo neck more than half a meter long and about 10 cm in diameter. At one end there is a head with pegs, the other is attached to a pedestal – an empty, dried pumpkin that acts as a resonator. The fretboard can have 19-24 frets. The veena has seven strings: four melodic, three additional for rhythmic accompaniment.

The sound range is 3,5-5 octaves. The sound is deep, vibrating, has a low pitch, and has a strong meditative effect on the listeners. There are varieties with two cabinets, one of which is suspended from the fingerboard.

Using

The complex, cumbersome device played an important role in the formation and development of Indian classical music. The instrument is the progenitor of all lutes in Hindustani. It is difficult to play the wine, it takes many years of practice to master it. In the homeland of the chordophone, there are few professionals who can fully master it. Usually the Indian lute is used for deep study of Nada Yoga. Quiet, measured sounding is able to tune ascetics to special vibrations, through which they enter deep transcendental states.