The balalaika is a Russian stringed instrument with a characteristic triangular wooden body. It belongs to the lute family and usually has three strings. Interestingly, two of the strings are tuned to the exact same note (E), while the third is tuned a fourth higher (A). The balalaika comes in several sizes, from the high-pitched prima to the massive contrabass, which must be rested on the floor with a wooden peg. The triangular shape is believed to have originated from a period in Russian history when playing music was discouraged or banned by the church and state. Folk musicians found that a triangular body was much easier and faster to construct using simple planks of wood than a rounded or carved body. Today, the balalaika is an iconic symbol of Russian culture and is played using a complex technique of rapid strumming with the index finger or a leather plectrum for larger versions.