Looking after a veena through the monsoon
Damp swells the wood and softens the fret wax. A few simple habits keep a veena in tune from June to December.
How to choose your first veena
Weight, fret height and size matter more than carving for a beginner. Here is what to check before you buy.
Most families buying a first veena look at the carving first. It is the least important thing for a student. Three things matter more: weight, fret height and how the instrument sits against the body.
A full concert veena weighs about 8 kg and is 4 ft long. For a child under twelve, or anyone who will practise every day, a lighter student veena of around 6 kg is easier to hold for an hour. The tone is a little softer, but a beginner will not miss it for the first few years.
Fret height decides how hard the left hand works. Frets set high in the wax give a fuller sound but need more pressure; frets set lower are kinder to young fingers. We can set them to suit the player, and raise them later as the hand grows stronger.
Sit with the veena before you buy. The resonator should rest on the floor and the neck on your left thigh without you leaning forward. If you are buying from another city, send us your height and your teacher’s preference, and we will make a short video of the instrument being played by someone of a similar size. Finally, ask your teacher. Many prefer a particular string gauge or fret style, and it is easier to set that at the start than to change it later.
