Tirumakudalu Chowdiah ( Kannada: ಸಂಗೀತ ರತ್ನ ತಿರುಮಕೂಡಲು ಚೌಡಯ್ಯ ) (1895 - 19 January 1967) was a violin maestro from India in the Carnatic classical tradition. He designed the seven-stringed violin to ensure that the accompanist could match the vocalist (the need for this was felt especially in the early and mid-20th century when no amplification devices were available). He was known as Piteelu Chowdiah - Piteelu being the word for violin in South Indian languages such as Kannada and Telugu.