Vina

Vina 

(Sanskrit), an Indian pizzicato stringed instrument. There are numerous varieties of the instrument. The vina is prevalent in northern India. In other regions, the rudra vina (southern vina)— a seven-stringed instrument with a rounded body made of hollowed wood or a dried gourd— is widely used. There is a resonator made of a small gourd in the upper part of the instrument’s long neck. The fingerboard is equipped with movable frets; the melody is played with four strings over the frets, while three lateral strings are used for accompaniment. The strings are plucked with special hooks (a kind of plectrum). The sound is soft and rich in nuances.