Balalaika tuner – Tenor (AAD)
A-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 Tenor (AAD) tuning (A-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 Tenor (AAD) tuning
Compared with Prima Standard (EEA), Tenor (AAD) moves 3 strings. Every change is downward, the largest by 19 semitones, so the instrument sits at lower tension than in Prima Standard (EEA).
| String | Prima Standard (EEA) | Tenor (AAD) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E4 | A2 | down 19 semitones |
| 2 | E4 | A2 | down 19 semitones |
| 3 | A4 | D3 | down 19 semitones |
Played open, the strings sound A-A-D – from A2 at the bottom to D3 at the top, a span of 5 semitones.
Strummed open, the strings spell D5 – root and fifth with no third, so the tuning stays neutral between major and minor. See D5 shapes in this tuning →
History
Where the Tenor (AAD) tuning comes from
A-A-D, an octave below the secunda, is the tuning of the tenor balalaika, one of the orchestral sizes added in the 20th century. It is less common than the others.
Other Balalaika tunings
Standard
Chords for this tuning
How do I tune my Balalaika to Tenor (AAD)?
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 (A-A-D).
Which notes are used in Tenor (AAD) tuning?
Tenor (AAD) tuning for Balalaika uses the notes A-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.