instruments Tantu      Been      Chikara      Dilruba      Ektara      Esraj      Gottuvadyam      Rabab      Santoor      Sarinda      Sitar      Surbahar      Swarmandal     Tanpura      Veena      Vichitra Veena      Violin Avanada Ghana Susir

that of the veena. The gootuvadyam is also called the Mahanataka veena gourds, one, larger than the other. Of the seven strings, which pass over the ivory bridge, four carry the melody while the other three side strings are used for rhythm and to provide the drone. The veena is played either horizontally resting on the two gourds, or the smaller gourd is rested on the left knee of the seated player. Occasionally, the fingerboard slopes diagonally across the player's body so that the smaller gourd is over the left shoulder. The strings are plucked with either one or two fingers, each with a plectrum.

Been :
This is the north Indian veena. It has two large, equal sized gourds, which support a wooden or bamboo fingerboard. This carries the wooden frets, topped with metal, which used to be fixed but are now often movable. The strings pass over two bridges. The playing position is similar to that of the sitar with one gourd over the left shoulder.

Vichitra Veena :
This again has two equal sized, but detachable gourds, which rest on the floor. The fretless fingerboard has four main strings and three for the drone and the rhythm. There are, in addition, eleven to thirteen sympathetic strings. The instrument is played by plucking the strings with a plectrum worn on the index finger of the right hand.