New Balalaika Day

[upside downer]

Picked this up from an auction the other day.

 

 

Usually the balalaika is 3 strings (I've got one but it's more of a decorative wall hanger than a player) but this is a 6-string model, 448mm scale length, it plays very nicely and is in good condition. The usual tuning is E-E-A which I've always found puzzling so I've got this one tuned to C-E-G at the moment but may go up to D-F#-B. It has no branding so it's hard to find out too much about its origins. Nice little instrument to muck about with and, for a bargain hammer price of only £15, I think I've done alright here.

[bass_dinger]

£15 is very inexpensive for any intact stringed instrument. 

 

Slightly worrying that you have two balalaikas though, and in different string configurations too! 

 

If you tune in fifths (C, G, D) you are ¾ of the way to a mandocello, for which you will find a lot of music, and chords.

[upside downer]

1 hour ago, bass_dinger said:

If you tune in fifths (C, G, D) you are ¾ of the way to a mandocello, for which you will find a lot of music, and chords.

 

I did try converting an old 6 string semi-acoustic into a mandocello a while back but the neck really struggled with the extra tension from the two additional strings. One day, I'll get around to changing it to a 4 string tenor guitar. Same tuning and, hopefully, no more neck issues.

 

1 hour ago, bass_dinger said:

Slightly worrying that you have two balalaikas though, and in different string configurations too!

 

I have terrible GAS for all stringed instruments!

[pete.young]

On 13/01/2025 at 21:25, upside downer said:

The usual tuning is E-E-A which I've always found puzzling so I've got this one tuned to C-E-G at the moment but may go up to D-F#-B.

£15 quid seems like good value for a functioning instrument. I don't know much about the balalaika but I think the idea is that you play the melody on the A and use the Es for accompaniment, either as drones or as a harmony below the top string. Similar in that respect to the DAD tuning used on the traditional Rebetiko Greek bouzouki.

 

I'd quite like a contrabass but I'm not sure where I'd keep it.

[Happy Jack]

An excuse to post an all-time fave of mine ...

 

 

[BigRedX]

Great stuff, but re-enforces the fact that once you stick any stringed instrument through a distortion pedal or overdriven amp it just sounds like an electric guitar.

[Beer of the Bass]

I just got back a balalaika from a friend I shared a flat with 20 years ago and had entirely forgotten about (the balalaika, not the friend!). Mines a fairly plain one with 6 strings, a paper label on the back of the headstock says Reghin, Made in Romania.

Looking around online, there are several tunings for the 6 string balalaika. I've just stuck the top three pairs of a mandolin set on and tuned it GDG, a fourth above trichordo bouzouki tuning. But it's mostly going to be a wall hanger.

Edited 5 hours ago by Beer of the Bass