Mahati vīnā

Mahati vīnā (great vīnā), classical vīnā of N. India, usually just called “vīnā.” The mahati vīnā represents the acme of *stick zither development, with round stick neck from which 2 large gourds are suspended; it has 4 or 5 melody strings of metal, 1 or 2 drone strings, and 20–24 movable frets. Nowadays it is rare. The drone strings are shorter (and higher-pitched) than the melody strings and are secured by lateral tuning pegs inserted in the stick neck. The very high frets are held in…