CARING FOR YOUR DIDGERIDOO

The mouthpiece

The purpose of a mouthpiece is simply to alter the diameter of the end of the didgeridoo so a players lips can comfortably vibrate without air escaping from the sides. Generally, if the natural diameter of the mouthpiece is too wide, it will need to be reduced with a wax mouthpiece to prevent air escaping from the sides.

Probably the number one reason why people can’t make the drone sound, apart from having a really bad didgeridoo, is because the mouthpiece isn’t shaped correctly. Having a mouthpiece that is too big or too small can prevent you from making any sound at all. You may think it's you that can't make the sound, but in reality, the mouthpiece may be the culprit.

An oversized mouthpiece

If your mouthpiece is big and chunky, like the one above, think about making a new one that ony uses the barest minimum of wax.

If you are having trouble with your mouthpiece, it may need just a few quick adjustments before you are playing again. Or, if the mouthpiece is in really bad shape, it can easily be removed and replaced until you are satisfied. An assessment of the existing mouthpiece should be made first before you do this though.

Adjusting the mouthpiece

If your didgeridoo has been professionally made, but you don't feel the mouthpiece fits quite right, it’s best just to try and adjust it first before replacing it. First, assess what is happening when you try to make a drone.

If air escapes from the side of your lips and you make ‘whooshing’ sounds and you feel you are not getting a good seal, the diameter of the mouthpiece is too big. If your lips are squashed tightly together and you make tight, tooting noises, the diameter is too small.

If either of these are the case, simply warm the mouthpiece up (while its still on your didgeridoo) with your hands or a warm source like a hair dryer or heater, until it is just a little soft and malleable. Playing it for ten minutes will be enough to warm it up for this purpose.

When the mouthpiece is soft enough, gently use your fingers to widen the diameter of the the mouthpiece, or close it in, depending on the result you need. You will be surprised at the difference a few millimetres in diameter can make to your ability to play.

As you adjust the mouthpiece, experiment with a slightly raised wax rim around the very edge of the mouthpiece hole. This will allow your lips to sit cleanly and firmly on the mouthpiece. If your lips sit on a fat, rounded mouthpiece, the vibrations of your lips will be absorbed into the wide surface area and will not vibrate cleanly. This may create a muffled drone. Generally, you will probably want more of a sharper edged mouthpiece than a blunt one.

As a general rule, the internal diameter of your mouthpiece should be somewhere between 25mm - 35mm. I prefer a smaller mouthpiece and play on mouthpieces around 27mm in diameter.

Feel free to make as many adjustments to your mouthpiece as you see fit. It can take quite a while when first starting out to understand the dynamics of different mouthpiece diameters and how it affects the tension on your lips. As you adjust your mouthpiece, settle on a diameter that gives you best playability and the clearest drone.  

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In summary

Didgeridoo tip Beeswax is used to adjust the diameter of the mouthpiece so air doesn't escape from the side of your mouth.

Didgeridoo tip You should spend some time ensuring that your mouthpiece is the right fit. A poor mouthpiece will really affect your ability to play.

Didgeridoo tip As you play, the mouthpiece will soften slightly. This is a good time to make minor adjustments to the mouthpiece for best fit.