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An attempt is made to establish the dependence of the timbre of the Sarasvati veena, a South Indian string instrument, on its extended bridge. The equation of motion for a plucked string vibrating against the extended boundary at the bridge is solved numerically. The solution is analyzed for timbre characteristics, which show energy redistribution among the higher harmonics, as well as revival of higher harmonics with time. The variation of timbre with bridge slope and curvature are analyzed. These results are validated by comparison with corresponding analysis of acoustic data gathered from experiments performed on a sonometer, whose knife edge is replaced by the bridge of the veena.

This study aims to characterize and standardize the Sarasvati Veena of South India. The instrument is very unique in the way in which it is manufactured and played. This instrument is often tuned relative to the accompanying instruments. The aim of the study was to find out the optimum tuning frequency for a particular Veena. The natural frequency of the body of the Veena was determined by conducting an impact test. The strings of the Veena were tuned to the corresponding body frequency to obtain resonance and FFT plots were generated to see the frequency variation. The optimum tuning frequency for a given Veena was obtained such that the body undergoes conductive resonance when tuned to that particular frequency. Acoustic readings were taken using a sound level meter to confirm on the results obtained by impact test.