school Instrument String Tension & Resonant Calibrations
Every Carnatic musical instrument possesses an idiosyncratic acoustic tuning architecture designed to blend with the continuous vocal drone:
Saraswati Veena: The four playing strings (Sarani, Panchamam, Mandaram, Anumandaram) are tuned to Sa - Pa - Sa - Pa across three octave registers, while the three side rhythm strings (Talam strings) are tuned to Pa - Sa - Sa.
Carnatic Violin: Unlike the Western G-D-A-E tuning, the Carnatic violin is held against the chest and tuned to Sa - Pa - Sa - Pa (or Mandra Sa - Mandra Pa - Madhya Sa - Madhya Pa), providing rich symmetrical fingerboard geometry.
Mridangam: The right head (Valanthalai or Meettu) is tuned with wooden pegs to the exact Adhara Shadjam of the main performer, while the left head (Thoppi) provides the deep acoustic bass resonant an octave lower.
Saraswati Veena: The four playing strings (Sarani, Panchamam, Mandaram, Anumandaram) are tuned to Sa - Pa - Sa - Pa across three octave registers, while the three side rhythm strings (Talam strings) are tuned to Pa - Sa - Sa.
Carnatic Violin: Unlike the Western G-D-A-E tuning, the Carnatic violin is held against the chest and tuned to Sa - Pa - Sa - Pa (or Mandra Sa - Mandra Pa - Madhya Sa - Madhya Pa), providing rich symmetrical fingerboard geometry.
Mridangam: The right head (Valanthalai or Meettu) is tuned with wooden pegs to the exact Adhara Shadjam of the main performer, while the left head (Thoppi) provides the deep acoustic bass resonant an octave lower.