

I put some strings on it, but it has basically stayed in its original unplayable state ever since then. The balalaika is a stringed instrument that emerged in the 15th Century in Russia. It was in rough shape, but for 70 Hryvnas (maybe $15 at the time) I couldn't resist. I bought this particular guitar in 2008, from a pirate vendor selling his wares (mostly old plumbing and electrical odds and ends) from a card table by the streetcar tracks, just beyond the "official" market, in Odessa, Ukraine. The particular style of the early russian instruments may even have proved a decisive influence on Johann Stauffer's famous scroll-headed guitars, and not the other way around. Far from being a cultural dead end, the music was widely heard and appreciated across europe until the Russian revolution. One especially influential musician in Russia, Andrei Sychra, favoured seven strings, tuned DGBdgbd'. But it happened quickly, and for a brief period there were competing versions of what the guitar would be: 4-course, 6-course, 5-string, 6-string, or 7-string. Whether this was due to the social upheaval of the era's anti-monarchist revolutions or simply because of improvements in string-making technology, I couldn't tell you.
#3 STRING RUSSIAN GUITAR DOWNLOAD#
And I've got one.īy the end of the 18th century, the 5-course double-strung guitar of the baroque period was becoming rather unfashionable. The Russian Guitar 1800-1850 Brilliant Classics 740K subscribers 2.3M views 4 years ago GuitarMusic ClassicalGuitar BrilliantClassics Download & Streams. The Russian guitar has a long and distinguished history almost entirely unknown to modern western musicians. They are set up in pairs tuned to the same note to produce a harmonizing effect similar to the mandolin.Until Beatlemania hit, the default type of guitar played in Russia was quite different to those used everywhere else. A 6 stringed prima balalaika would be tune to EE-EE-AA. For example a 3 stringed prima balalaika is tuned to E-E-A. The higher-pitched balalaikas are used to play melodies and chords. Two strings are usually tuned to the same note and the third string is a perfect fourth higher. balalaika tuning E E A (high) or D D G (low) Russian (guitar) tuning D F A. The balalaika is a Russian stringed musical instrument with a characteristic triangular wooden, hollow body, fretted neck and three strings.
#3 STRING RUSSIAN GUITAR SERIES#
The difference with 6 string balalaikas is that they have two strings for each one on a regular. 3-string Russian balalaika Classic Series The traditional body shape is.

Basically they are tuned the same fashion that 3 stringed balalaikas are tuned. I mentioned earlier that there are some six string balalaikas. The Russian guitar is tuned to an open G chordD G B d g b d. No one else produces such kind of guitars in Russia, and if someone wants to - we can share our experience. With crystal bright sound like nothing on earth. They are tuned to EAD: (1st string: D in minor octave) - (2nd string: A in major octave) - (3rd string: E in major octave) Tuning 6 String Balalaikas We've created the original seven-string guitar - one that was made in Muller and Zimmermann’s factories, one, which was used by Arhuzen and Krasnoshchekov. The Bass and Contrabass Balalaika are tuned in the same fashion, just the Contrabass is bigger. The Alto Balalaika is tuned to EEA: (1st string: A in minor octave) - (2nd string: E in minor octave) - (3rd string: E in minor octave) The 2nd and the 3rd string are tuned to the same pitch. The Secunda Balalaika is tuned to AAD: (1st string: D in first octave) - (2nd string: A in minor octave) - (3rd string A in minor octave) The 2nd and 3rd string are tuned to the same note. Sometimes the balalaika is tuned "guitar style" to GBD (mimicking the three highest strings of the Russian guitar), making it a little bit easier to play for Russian guitarists, although balalaika purists frown on this tuning. The most common balalaika is the prima, which is tuned to EEA (The 2nd and 3rd string are tuned to the same note).
