Veena
Veena
The South Indian veena design, used in Carnatic classical music, is a lute. It is a long-necked, pear-shaped lute, however, as a substitute for the decreased gourd of the North Indian design, it has a pear-shaped wood piece. However, it, too, has 24 frets, 4 melody strings, and three drone strings, and is performed similarly. It stays a vital and famous string instrument in classical Carnatic music.
Veena is one of the three fundamental musical contraptions referred to in Vedic literature, the different two being the Venu (flute) and Mridanga. Veena is stated to be in existence from the time of Rig Veda and can be referred to as the queen of all devices barring a 2nd thought.