The Balalaika 

My slav soul is very happy

This flying V looks strange,but it surely djents,

I bala-like- it a lot.

So you received a new instrument, figured out how to play it and recorded a badass original piece within a day? Huge respect man, you're an inspiration

На фоне ковра! // Sorry, untranslatable joke. Great jam. It does sound slightly different from traditional balalaika (to me at least), but I dig it.

You should DEFINITELY get a Hurdy Gurdy

Try to play "Kalinka-malinka". That would be awesome!

Is this the highest quality 2nd channel video EVER!?

there was no ducks. I am now quite upset.

I am Russian so I’ve heard balalaika on tv many times before coming to the US 20 years ago. I still think it’s an instrument that is pretty much browsing parts of other musical instruments. The mongols had similar instruments. And the western influence obviously introduced many instruments. It’s logic seems compensate for the note diversity with fast speed. Actually I think what defines the balalaika is not the shape or the material of the instrument, or even the number of strings. It’s the timing of those strings which somehow imprinted itself in the minds of people because it just fits with the history and suffering of Russian poor people over centuries because it sounds like someone crying tears, giving up on life, yet somehow pulling out happiness out of there.

Does anyone else realize he got it and in 1 day he wrote a song got it down, and recorded it. IN 1 DAY

I'm from Russia. We really need to know if this balalaika really DOES djent? Also, you're pronouncing its name quite right, thank you for that :) But the russian soul needs to hear balalaika djent. With some shovel additions maybe, I don't know. Thank you!

Badass : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balalaika#/media/File:Contrabassbalalaika.jpg

It's always fascinating to hear how you come up with the tune and the reasons why you use certain notes - loads of thanks for sharing your amazing skills, Rob.

in Russia we have a special faculties in the conservatories where students plays on thus stuff. by the way i am one of them :/ this is very awesome how easy did u learned to play on this!

просто П Р Е К Р А С Н О ! ! !

This is the worst second channel video mainly because its the best

Хороший инструмент

Balalaika solo in the next metal mad libs?

Thank you very much for everything you offer us. You are Amazing musician but most of all you are incredable nice person.

you got really creative within a very short amount of time. I hope you keep posting videos of this

The stuff is good. Informative insight. I’ve got a balalaika that’s been a decorative piece that I had to repair so I checked out how it’s tuned and I thought your little jam and explanation was great! Rock on!👍

now I know..... *I'M A BORN BALALAIKA PLAYER NOT AN UKULELIST!!!!!!!!!*

Do you balalike the instrument?

The second channel isnt garbage. I think I'm not the only musician interested in your composing that is so thankful to have it.

Do some musical theory videos!

whoa it sounds great !

Really interesting. So smart. I'm impressed. AGAIN.

I think we need a video of you talking about talking about your balalaika.

I need one of these!!!

Look for Alexey Arkhipovsky - the best balalaika player

That looks really fun to play

Роб, спасибо за видео! :)

Been listening to a lot of Whispered the last week, metal music with some classic japanese instruments. And that made me wonder if you ever played any japanese or chinese instruments? I'm sure you could do it though, maybe for a future video? I know there are tons of different stringed instruments from japan and china though.

Very Nice!

if this balalaika wasn't made in Russia, you should call it hu-i-nya, this will be more accurate.

Yeah. You are supposed to use the two E strings for a bassline. The traditional way to play it would be with your thumb around the neck playing the E strings and with the other fingers playing on the A.

Lovely, lovely stuff. I'm just about to start learning the balalaika, having inherited it from my Dad. (Basically, it's been on my Dad's wall for nigh on 50 years, having been given to him by a girlfriend who bought the instrument back from a trip to Russia.)

I just discovered your videos and I've only watched a few so far. But I love how quickly you're able to learn all the different instruments. Have you tried a veena? (Much better than a sitar, in my opinion) What about a kora? Nyckelharpa, shamisen, oud?

I have a balalaika, and when I saw your post on Instagram the other day, I lost my mind! I hope you play it again

This is the name of the character from that crime drama anime called Black Lagoon

Second channel is like the ugly friend of the beautiful girl but who actually is freaking hilarious and nice to hang out with.

actually tuned d d g

Damn dude, I need to know more about that right hand technique!

this is the coolest fucking thing i’ve ever seen

Balalaika it's a very famous alcoholic drink here in Brazil. It's fun when you make the relation

Восхитительно)

Красавчик )

Yep, almost everything you said is right! But the third string you need to pinch with your thumb (left hand) And of course, the balalaika has a lot of interesting techniques, I can tell :) I'm on FB - /dmitry.kalinin.370

This is so cool but unique

Your second channel is so cool

I know its a bit late here but i would love to see that strumming style

еее, Балалайка

has a real VIZA feel to it

I like your compositions but I honestly enjoy these 2nd channel videos more they're pretty interesting

I bala-like it

wish i could just sit down with you and talk about guitars for a day or two

Can you explain what you are doing to create that triplet strum? Or refer the video lesson(s) you found out about it from? It is quite different from triplet rasgueados that I am familiar with as it does not use the thumb at all, yet still appears to lead with the first finger? Anyway, really liked the balalaika tune, and would be interested to learn about that fingers only triplet strum. Cheers!

I'd be super interested to hear you play a Merlin Seagull.

BALALAIKA METAL!!!

I fucking love reverb, I'm buying parts for a guitar that I'm building on there, they have every thing there

As a Bulgarian slav, i approve.

Balalaika is interesting because of its natural overdriven sound. Triangle body makes similar to sound as transistor when it trims peak of sound wave. That's why balalaika sound slightly reminds overdriven acoustic guitar. BTW this "overdriven" sound is the reason why balalika doesnt fit into classic string ensemble.

that shit is tight

One of my old guitar teachers went nylon to steel to nylon strings on all his guitars

*Secoooond channeeeeel!*

Can you try playing the Alexei Arkhipovskiy? That sound always mesmerized me. I want to know how difficult it is to master for new players.

Rob, why don't you have a video about Gusli yet? Gusli is a Russian traditional folk music instrument, kind of harp. But the way of playing it is different. You pick all strings with right hand and mute strings that are not in chord with left hand. Well, it would be interesting to watch your video with gusli =)

You have to do a cover of "Korobushka" or some traditional Russian song with that!

dat Tone King on the right

You should totally get your hands on a kantele

Wow, can you do a comparison of Balalaika and Banjo sound?

biding on one as you speak. I live on Kodiak Island Alaska we have a large Old world Russian population here, (Pre American Purchase) So I should be able to get some pointers, Thanks for the vid.

please teach how do you strumming like that

PLS make tutorial on this awesome strumming technique Hello from SLovakia Koty

When will you get bass balalaika

can you teach us how do you learn these instruments so fast please

You should to watch how Alexey Arhipovsky`s (Алексей Архиповский) play on the balalayka. He is a famous Russian balalaika player. Just google him)

How are you strumming that, or whats the technique called?

Is there a video on how to play the jam on the balalaika

You should play metal on mandolin + a lot of tremolo

So you said it was tuned to E, E, and A, but the notes that were coming off the open strings were D, D, and G. I thought you said you didn't like to down tune?

I would REALLY recommend listening to "нейромонах Феофан"'s songs!!!

Pretty cool, I've wanted a Balalaika for years, might get round to one day...is the bridge fixed in that position or is it floating?

any chance of a vid on the strumming technique your using?

Rob Scallon, I must say I was impressed with this tune, it really sounds pretty nice to me, and your performance seems flawless.... That's when I realized that some people might say "Oh that's not how that instrument is supposed to sound/be played", and that's fine, I know you are actually pretty good even though you learned by yourself. I personally hated the way you played cello, but now I understand that you did that just for fun, and that I shouldn't be a butthurt for that, I was just a hater cause I play cello and it hurt me to see someone not doing it """"correctly""""", damn I was dumb and I feel sorry for that. I hope you continue doing new instruments and making your music cheers

Does anyone know of an antique folk instrument repairman near the west coast? I have an old Oud that needs repair and some parts.

You should try a Cuatro Venezolano

You should do a video with a shamisen. It's like a Japanese banjo with strings that kind of sounds like a sitar and you play it with this giant chisel like plectrum.

What is the Blue amplifier?

how's the strumming more precisely? Trying to learn this song!

Try Sitar. It's used in Hindu communities.

Красивый ковёр

want a balalaika

how do you do that rythm. I would love to learn it

"Purposely bad" **winks both eyes at the same time**

What is that triplet strum patter called and HOW DO YOU DO IT?

I like never play string instruments, but I REALLY want to learn how to play the balalaika. Would I be stupid to get one?

*You should get the Ukrainian instrument called "bandura". Ít has up to 68 strings*

You have to check out Alexey Arkhipovsky! He's actually like Yngwie.. on balalaika..