The balalaika is a distinctively triangular lute with three courses, either single or double, and occurs in six registers.

Steel strings are most common but nylon-stringed versions also exist (and are not compatible, see guitar tunings).

Piccolo

(rare)

• b' - e' ' - a' ' (discord tuning)

Prime

(most common)

•  e - e' - a'  (balalaika tuning, standard)
•  e e - e' e' - a' a'
•  g - b - d'  (guitar tuning, based on the Russian guitar and frowned upon by traditionalists)

String gauges:

La Bella BL90 (steel): .008 .010 .012w

Second or Secondo

•  a - a - d'

Alto

•  e - e - a

There is also a four string alto.

Bass

•  E - A  - d

Contrabass

•  E ' - A ' - D.