EnSoul Rossebeck Balalaika User manual

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Instrument Care
Accessories
String Sets, Cases, Stands,
Humidiers and other
accessories are available at
www.ensoulmusic.com
Many of our musical instruments use a shellac or lacquer nish.
Here are some simple steps to care for these instruments:
- Avoid extremes of temperature and humidity.
- Avoid leaving in direct sunlight for long periods of time.
- Avoid solvents, such as alcohol or acetone.
- Avoid placing objects on top of your musical instrument.
- Avoid using abrasives that may scratch the nish.
- For regular dusting, a dry so cloth is best.
- Use a quality furniture polish or furniture oil when
needed.
- Store your instrument inside a carry case to help protect
against dust and accidental damage.
Instruments with unnished, or raw, wood parts require special
care. ese items may be more prone to damage from extremes
in temperature and humidity. Heat, sunlight, and overly damp
or dry conditions may cause warping or cracking. A clear or
neutral paste wax may be used to protect raw wooden parts with
minimal change to the sound quality.
– O’ G –
www.ensoulmusic.com
© Copyright 2017. Mid-East Mfg. Inc.
Balalaika

Our Prima Balalaika
measures approximately
27” (686 mm) in length
with the body having
the classical triangular
shape. e back is
slightly bowed and
made with solid-wood
stave construction.
e contrast between
the dark body and light
soundboard adds to
the striking look of this
balalaika. Familiarize
yourself with the
balalaika’s parts from
the diagram on the
right.
Before tuning, the proper bridge position must be located. First nd
the nut. e nut is the bar at the joint between the neck and the peg
box. Measure the distance from the nut to the 12th fret. Repeat this
distance from the 12th fret to the bridge location. e nut and the
bridge should be equal distance from the 12th fret. Position the bridge
at a right angle to the strings. e Balalaika strings are tuned above
middle C to: A, E, E (1st-3rd). e 1st string is the thinnest, and lays
over more frets than the 2nd & 3rd strings. Use a piano or electronic
tuner as a reference for tuning.
You may be most comfortable playing the balalaika while seated in a chair.
Hold the neck between the thumb and index nger of your le hand. Tuck
the body of the balalaika under your right arm and hold it close to your
chest. e corner of the instrument should rest between your knees. is is
a very similar position to playing the guitar.
Holding your
Balalaika
Playing your
Balalaika
e soundboard of the balalaika is a
relatively so unnished wood. Strumming
over the center of the soundboard can
disgure the wood. erefore, the balalaika
is strummed high on the soundboard over
the pickguard, called the pantsir’ or pancer. e pancer is decorative but
also protects the soundboard from damage. To play, the le hand notes the
strings while the thumb or index nger of the right hand sounds the strings.
e most common method of playing the Balalaika is Strumming. With the
balalaika correctly tuned, play some down strokes with the eshy part of the
right thumb. Be sure to stroke with your entire forearm, not just your wrist.
e thumb may be laid along the index nger for stability.
e Tremolo consists of fast up-and down beats with the right index nger.
It can be used to play all strings or just a single string. e beats must be of
equal power, up and down. e tremolo can be interrupted aer every note,
or combined with several notes. Rapid up and down strumming on long
notes produces the singing tone specic to this instrument.
With the Pizzicato, you use your right thumb to produce downward beats
and your right index nger to produce upward beats.
e Le Hand Pizzicato refers to plucking the strings with your le hand.
For more in depth information we recommend the Complete Balalaika
Book with Online Audio available at www.mid-east.com.
Balalaika
Tuning your
Balalaika
Before You Play
Tuning Pegs
Nut
Peg Box
Soundboard
Bridge
End Pins
12th Fret
Neck
Pancer