The balalaika has its origins in the oriental domra, a two-stringed, oval-faced instrument brought to Russia most probably by the Mongols in the fourteenth century. For centuries it was an instrument of the peasant class - at various timed during its history, the playing of it was banned by both the Orthodox church and the State, for as often as not the irreverent street musicians, or 'skomorokhi', poked fun at both of these institutions in their music.

By the mid-eighteenth century, the balalaika was easily the most popular instrument amongst the Russian people. Several factors contributed to the: earlier stringed instruments such as the 'gusli', 'domra' and 'gudok' - all of which may have rivalled the balalaika - had gone out of fashion, the guitar had not yet penetrated into the Russian life, and it was surprisingly easy to make a balalaika at home. It was the latter that also contributed to the change in shape from the oval to triangular - it was much easier to form straight sides that curved.