The three pegs for the side strings are fixed in the side of the stem just above the gourd.
The Vina has seven strings, four of which pass over the frets and constitute the main playing strings, and the other three of which are placed at the side of the finger-board, and are used to play a kind of drone accompaniment to the melody and to mark the time.
The two thinnest strings, which are on the side nearest the player, are of steel, and the other two main strings are of brass or silver. The three side strings are of steel. Each string has a distinct name, which are, beginning from the thinnest, SaranI, Panchama, Mandaran, Anumandaran. The three side strings are called Pakka-Sarani, and sometimes Chikari, a name common to all such side strings.
There are various ways of tuning the instrument. The following are said to be those generally accepted, beginning from the playing strings : —
Main Strings. Side Strings. {a) Sa Pa Sa Sa (C G C C) Pa Sa Pa (G C Gi) ib) Pa Sa Pa Pa (G C Gi Gi) Sa Pa Sa (G Gi Ci) (c) Ma Sa Pa Sa (F C Gi Ci) Sa Sa Pa (0^ C G) One at Rampur I noted was tuned thus : id) Ma Sa Pa Ga (F C Gi Ei) Sa Sa Pa or Ni or Sa (Ci Ci G or BorC) {e) Captain Day notes one at Miraj tuned thus : It only had two side strings. Ma Sa Pa Sa (F C Gi, Ci), Sa Sa (C Ci) (c) and (d) are the common ways of tuning in upper India.
The first two strings are always the ones played upon most, though expert players will use all of them easily.
The frets of the vIna are placed in different positions on different instruments. The tendency in South India to-day is to use the intervals of equal temperament. Mr. Ellis mentions testing a vina many years ago in the South and finding the intervals those of equal temperament. Captain Day mentions an old Tan j ore vina whose frets were placed at intervals, which were found to be slightly flatter than the notes of the tempered scale.
The vina may be held either in a horizontal position across the player's knees or else slanting against the shoulder. Different players have different styles. The
