Elvik says that techniques used for playing the dombra is similar to that of playing the Russian balalaika. The dombra is mainly used to play dance music. Elvik recounts a legend about a khan who warns anyone against bringing bad news about his son on the pain of being executed by filling the messenger’s throat with hot lead. One day the prince dies during a hunting trip, and nobody dares to tell the khan the bad news. The royal servants send instead a dombra player who plays sorrowful tunes to the khan. After learning about the prince’s untimely death from the music, the khan orders that the dombra is filled with hot lead.