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The SwarShala Indian music software includes Veena and over 100 other perfectly sampled virtual Indian instruments.
Veena can refer to different string instruments (chordophones) prevalent across India. This instrument's history can be traced as far back as 1700 BCE. The Veena is referenced in several ancient texts and scriptures, including the Ramayana, the Bhagavata, the Puranas, the NatyaShastra, the Sutra, the Aranyaka, etc. Traditionally, the Veena is likened to the one used by the Hindu deity Saraswati. Apart from the Saraswati veena, which has two resonators, there are several other veenas, such as Rudra veena, Vichitraveena, Chitra veena, etc. One of the earliest variants of Veena was from the times of the ancient Gupta Empire. At that time, the instrument was similar to that of the harp.
The Veena is about 1 to 1.22 meters long (3.5 feet to 4 feet). It has a big resonator, excavated out of a large block of wood, preferably from the jackfruit tree. The Veena contains a narrowing hollow neck with 24 brasses or metallic frets. These are set on wooden tracks in scalloped black wax. A small wooden bridge with the dimensions of 2 x 2½ x 2 inches is glued with resin. On the top board of the resonator, two rosettes are made of ivory. Currently, these rosettes are made of horns or plastic. Ekanda veena is the one that is carved out of a single block of wood.
The Veena contains 7 strings. The four primary strings produce a melody, stretching from the fine-tuning connectors. The remaining 3 drone strings run together with the instrument's neck. The strings in the modern versions of Veena are made of steel. The end of the Veena is usually shaped in the form of a swan, and its external surfaces contain decorations and traditional designs of Indian origin.
To play the Veena, the player needs to sit cross-legged and hold it in a tilted position slightly away from them. On the player's left thigh lies the small gourd of the Veena. The player's left hand ensnares the Veena from beneath the neck, so their fingers lie on the frets. The player places the palm of their right hand on the top plank's edge, allowing them to pluck the strings easily. The player uses their little finger to pluck the drone strings of the Veena. The large resonator of the Veena remains near the right thigh of the player. Although the Veena remains a popular musical instrument, the sitar has taken its place in most performances in the northern parts of India.