Balalaika

What it means

The balalaika is a Russian plucked string instrument with a distinctive triangular body, a long neck, and usually three strings. Its flat, slightly arched soundbox is typically built from several glued wooden staves, and the neck carries frets.

It belongs to the lute family and, alongside the domra, is one of the best-known symbols of Russian folk music.

Musical use

The balalaika comes in several sizes, from the small, high-pitched prima through secunda and alto to bass and contrabass; together they form the backbone of the Russian folk orchestra. The prima balalaika usually has two strings tuned to the same pitch and a third string tuned higher.

The balalaika should be distinguished from the domra, another Russian plucked instrument with a round rather than triangular body, and from the mandolin, which has a different body construction and usually paired strings.

Performance practice

Practice simple strumming patterns across all three strings with the index finger before moving on to more virtuosic tremolo techniques, which produce the balalaika's characteristic sustained sound. Brace the triangular body firmly against your body so it does not slip during fast strumming.