The Music and Musical Instruments of Southern India and the Deccan c11.73

c11.73

The chief peculiarity of this instrument, as will be remarked, is the tuning, which employs additional intervals to that of the Southern vina, and so renders the instrument less confined in its modulation. The tone is rather thinner than and not so pleasing as that of the vina of the South, on account of the greater tendency of the strings to jangle. The instrument is nevertheless very popular, and when found in Southern India is used chiefly by Hindustani musicians. Instruments of this kind are sometimes made with moveable frets, like those of a sitar, in consequence of the greater facility with which they can be played by less experienced performers.