Balalaika tuner – Contrabass (EAD)
E-A-D · Alternative
Press “Start tuner” – the browser will ask for microphone access. Sound is analysed on this device and never uploaded.
This free online tuner listens through your microphone and shows how close each string of your Balalaika is to Contrabass (EAD) tuning (E-A-D). Play a string, watch the needle, and turn the peg until the meter glows green. If you prefer tuning by ear, tap any string card to hear its reference tone.
About Contrabass (EAD) tuning
Compared with Prima Standard (EEA), Contrabass (EAD) moves 3 strings. Every change is downward, the largest by 36 semitones, so the instrument sits at lower tension than in Prima Standard (EEA).
| String | Prima Standard (EEA) | Contrabass (EAD) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E4 | E1 | down 36 semitones |
| 2 | E4 | A1 | down 31 semitones |
| 3 | A4 | D2 | down 31 semitones |
Played open, the strings sound E-A-D – from E1 at the bottom to D2 at the top, a span of 10 semitones. Step by step across the neck the intervals are a fourth, a fourth, and that is what decides how chord shapes fall under the hand.
Left open, the strings together spell Asus4. That is a by-product of how the intervals are laid out rather than the point of the tuning, but it does mean some chords need very few fingers here. See Asus4 shapes in this tuning →
History
Where the Contrabass (EAD) tuning comes from
E-A-D an octave below the bass is the contrabass balalaika, the largest member of Andreyev's family. It rests on the floor on a spike and is played with a leather plectrum.
Other Balalaika tunings
Standard
Chords for this tuning
How do I tune my Balalaika to Contrabass (EAD)?
Allow microphone access, pluck a string, and the tuner will detect it automatically. The needle shows whether the string is flat or sharp – adjust until the reading is within ±5 cents (E-A-D).
Which notes are used in Contrabass (EAD) tuning?
Contrabass (EAD) tuning for Balalaika uses the notes E-A-D, listed from the lowest string to the highest.
Can I tune without a microphone?
Yes. Every string card plays a reference tone – tap it and match your string to the sound by ear.