Gettuvadyam

Gettuvadyam is also known as Getchu vadyam or Gethu vadyam. It is a very rare instrument which is played in Southern part of India. Gettuvadyam is 2-3 feet long and is like a hammered lute. The Getchu Vadyam is like tambura which is supported at the neck and has four strings. Sometimes, it is used as the secondary instrument accompanying Mridangam.

The performers place it in their front and strike it with two small bamboo mallets. The performer strikes all the four strings simultaneously with the help of two light bamboo blades held in both hands. While the left hand of the performer strikes the strings with regular rhythmic beats, the right hand plays complex patterns that are remind one of the mridangam, another popular musical instrument of South India.