What Is a Balalaika? Sizes, Tuning and How to Choose One

If you have heard the bright, shimmering tremolo of Russian folk music, you have almost certainly heard a balalaika. It is one of the most recognisable instruments in the world, yet very few people in the UK have held one. In this guide we explain what a balalaika is, where it came from, the different balalaika sizes, how it is tuned and played, and what to look for if you want to buy one.

What is a balalaika?

The balalaika is a plucked string instrument from Russia. Three things make it instantly recognisable:

• A triangular body. The soundboard (top) is a flat triangle, usually spruce, and the back is made from several curved strips of wood, often maple, glued together like the staves of a barrel.
• Three strings. Most balalaikas have three strings (or three pairs of strings on 6-string models). Two are tuned to the same pitch, which gives the instrument its full, ringing chord sound.
• A fretted neck. Like a guitar or ukulele, the neck has metal frets, so you play notes by pressing the strings down. Student instruments usually have 16 frets; professional ones often have 24.

Because the notes die away quickly, players use fast strumming and a rapid tremolo to sustain melodies. That shimmering effect is the classic balalaika sound.

A short history of the balalaika

The balalaika has been part of Russian life for more than 300 years. One of the earliest written mentions comes from a Moscow Kremlin guard's log in 1688, which records two men being stopped for playing it while drunk. For a long time it was a village instrument, played at festivals and dances and carried from town to town by travelling entertainers.

The instrument we know today took shape in the 1880s. Vasily Andreyev, a professional violinist, worked with instrument makers to standardise the design, add chromatic frets and build a whole family of sizes, from small high-pitched models to large bass instruments. He formed the first balalaika orchestra, and the tradition grew into the folk orchestras that toured the world during the twentieth century. Today the balalaika is taught in music schools and conservatoires and is used in folk, classical, film and even rock music.

Balalaika sizes: the six types explained

Andreyev's family of balalaikas means there is a size for every role in an orchestra. Here is how they compare:

Type	Approx. length	Standard tuning	Role
Piccolo	61 cm	B4 – E5 – A5	Rare, very high melody voice
Prima	66–69 cm	E4 – E4 – A4	The standard solo instrument – start here
Secunda	68–74 cm	A3 – A3 – D4	Plays chords and harmony
Alto	about 81 cm	E3 – E3 – A3	Lower harmony and counter-melodies
Bass	about 104 cm	E2 – A2 – D3	Bass line, rests on the floor
Contrabass	130–165 cm	E1 – A1 – D2	The deepest voice in the orchestra

Which size should you buy? Unless you are joining an orchestra that needs a particular voice, choose a prima. It is the size used for solo playing, it is the easiest to find strings and lessons for, and almost all tutorial books and videos are written for it. The bass and contrabass are played sitting down, rest on a floor spike and use a leather plectrum, so they are specialist instruments.

How is a balalaika tuned?

The standard prima balalaika tuning is E4–E4–A4. The two lower strings are tuned to the same E (the E above middle C), and the highest string is tuned to the A above it, which is 440 Hz – the same note an orchestra tunes to.

To tune your balalaika:

1. Clip a chromatic tuner to the head of the instrument. A clip-on tuner is far easier than tuning by ear when you are starting out.
2. Tune the highest string (the one nearest the floor when you hold it) to A4.
3. Tune the other two strings to E4. You can check them against the A string: the E strings pressed at the fifth fret should sound exactly the same as the open A.
4. Strum all three strings together. When they are in tune you will hear a clean, open chord with no wobble.

On a 6-string balalaika each note is a pair (a "course") of two strings tuned to the same pitch, so you tune six strings to E–E, E–E and A–A. Some folk players use other tunings, such as G–B–D (like the top of a guitar) or the old folk tuning D–F#–A, but if you are learning from a book or video, stick with E–E–A.

3-string vs 6-string balalaika

Most balalaikas have three single strings, but you will also see 6-string models. Both have the same body and the same tuning; the difference is in the sound and feel.

• 3-string balalaika: the traditional choice and the one used in balalaika orchestras. It is lighter to press down, crisper and more percussive, and best for learning the classic tremolo technique.
• 6-string balalaika: doubled strings give a louder, fuller, chorus-like sound, similar to a mandolin or 12-string guitar. It is popular for accompanying singing and folk sessions, but it takes a little more finger strength.

We stock both from Ozark: the Ozark Balalaika 3-String (2158A) and the Ozark Balalaika 6-String (2158). Each is made in Romania with a solid spruce top and a solid maple back, a 680 mm overall length and a 440 mm scale – a true prima size. If you are not sure which to choose, we usually recommend the 3-string for a first balalaika.

How do you play the balalaika?

The prima balalaika is played sitting down, with the bottom corner of the triangle resting on your lap or between your knees and the neck angled up and to the left. A few basics:

• Right hand: traditional players strum with the side or nail of the index finger rather than a pick. Plucking with the thumb and fingers is also common, and some players use a plectrum.
• Left hand: you fret notes with your fingers, and because two strings share a note, the thumb is often used to press the lower strings when making chords.
• Tremolo: a fast, even back-and-forth strum that turns short plucked notes into a singing melody. It is the signature balalaika sound and is worth practising slowly from day one.
• First chords: because the instrument is tuned to an open chord, you can play simple folk songs with just two or three shapes, which makes early progress quick and rewarding.

If you already play guitar, ukulele or mandolin, you will find the fretting familiar. The bigger change is the right-hand technique, so look for a beginner method book or video series written specifically for the prima balalaika.

What to look for when buying a balalaika

There are not many balalaika makers selling in the UK, so it pays to know what matters:

1. Size: make sure it is a prima (around 66–69 cm long with a scale of about 44 cm) unless you specifically need another voice.
2. Solid wood top: a solid spruce top vibrates more freely than laminate and gives a louder, richer tone that improves as the instrument is played.
3. Playability: the strings should sit low enough to press down easily. All of our instruments are checked and set up before they are sent out, which makes a big difference with folk instruments.
4. Tuning machines: geared tuners hold their pitch far better than old-style friction pegs.
5. Accessories: budget for a clip-on tuner, a padded gig bag and a spare set of strings.

Caring for your balalaika

• Keep it in a case or bag away from radiators, fires and sunny windows – rapid changes in temperature and humidity can crack the thin top.
• Wipe the strings after playing to stop them corroding.
• Change the strings when they sound dull or will not stay in tune, usually every few months if you play regularly.
• Loosen the strings slightly if you are not going to play for a long time.

Balalaika vs other folk instruments

The balalaika is often confused with its relatives. The domra, the instrument it probably descends from, has a round body and is played with a pick. The mandolin has a pear-shaped body and four pairs of strings, and the bouzouki is a long-necked Greek and Irish instrument. If you love the bright, tremolo sound of the balalaika, a mandolin is a natural second instrument.

Frequently asked questions

What is a balalaika made of?

Most balalaikas have a spruce or fir top and a back made from several curved strips of maple. The neck is usually hardwood with a rosewood or similar fingerboard, metal frets and geared tuners.

How many strings does a balalaika have?

A standard balalaika has three strings. There are also 6-string versions, which have three pairs of strings tuned in unison for a fuller sound.

What does a balalaika sound like?

Bright, crisp and slightly metallic, with a quick decay. Played with tremolo, it produces the shimmering, singing sound associated with Russian folk music.

Is the balalaika hard to learn?

No. Because it has three strings and is tuned to an open chord, you can play simple tunes within a few weeks. Mastering the fast tremolo and virtuoso pieces takes much longer, as with any instrument.

Is a balalaika a Russian instrument?

Yes. It is most closely associated with Russia, but it has also been played for centuries in Ukraine and Belarus and is found in folk music across Eastern Europe.

Where can I buy a balalaika in the UK?

You can buy prima balalaikas online from our balalaika collection, with free UK mainland delivery. You are also welcome to book an appointment to see one at our Leicester showroom.

Ready to choose your balalaika?

For most people the right first balalaika is a 3-string prima tuned E–E–A with a solid spruce top. Browse our balalaikas, and if you have any questions about size, strings or set-up, get in touch – we are happy to help.

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About the author: Talha Malik is operations manager at Uke Universe, the independent instrument shop in Leicester. He works alongside the team that inspects and sets up every ukulele, guitar and folk instrument before it is sent to a customer, and he writes our buying guides based on the questions customers ask us most.