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CARING FOR YOUR DIDGERIDOO
The mouthpiece
How to make a mouthpiece
It is likely that at some stage while learning to play didgeridoo you will need to apply a completely new mouthpiece. The mouthpiece you have may be too huge, it may become damaged, or most likely you are just not comfortable about how the mouthpiece feels and plays.
Replacing the mouthpiece is quite easily done, and I encourage you to try it if your current mouthpiece is not working for you. Of course, try as much as you can to adjust the mouthpiece first, but if you think there is something inherently wrong with it, just take it off and make a new one. Get comfortable with making some custom fit mouthpieces!
The following steps provide information on replacing your mouthpiece.
1. If the old mouthpiece is still on the didgeridoo, warm it up with a heat source like a hair dryer or heater until you can easily pull it most of it away from the didgeridoo with your fingers. Use a plastic knife or something similar to scrape the remaining wax away, being careful not to damage your didge. Do this until the natural mouthpiece is left exposed, free of old wax.
2. Try making a drone on the natural mouthpiece as it is. This will give you an indication of how much wax you will need for your mouthpiece. If you can get a good seal and can make the drone sound, you will hardly need any wax at all, if any. If you can’t get get a good seal and your lips won't vibrate because the mouthpiece is too wide, you will need more.
3. Get some new beeswax, or just use the old beeswax from your previous mouthpiece. You can get beeswax from the hardware store (unbleached), craft stores, honey stores or online.
4. Warm the beeswax so it becomes soft and pliable in your hands. Use a heat source like an oven, microwave or heater for this purpose. I use a microwave for a few short durations on a low setting. Make sure to check it regularly as it is warming up. When the beeswax is ready, it should have the consistency of play dough.
5. Roll the wax into an even ball. With a flat hand, roll the ball on a smooth surface until it becomes a long and thin stick. It should eventually have a diameter of between 3 to 10mm, depending on how much wax you need. The final length should be a little longer than the circumference of your natural mouthpiece.
6. Place the wax stick on the rim of the natural mouthpiece, curving it around to fit the entire circumference. Pinch off any remaining wax that is not needed. Aim to have an even amount of wax all the way round.
7. With your fingers, work the lower half of the wax stick down the sides of the didgeridoo, so it grabs onto the wood. Squash it down hard so it holds. Do this on the inside and outside of the didgeridoo, all the way round. Try to have the wax sit as close to the natural mouthpiece as possible. You don't want to have a lot of wax between your lips and the didgeridoo.
Note: At this stage, you probably have discovered that you've used too much wax. If this is the case, don't try and force it on, because you'll just make a bad mouthpiece. The trick is to use just enough wax, and not any more. If you've used too much wax, go back and roll a thinner stick of wax in Step 5.
8. As your mouthpiece starts to take shape, try making the drone to test it out. Keep adjusting and playing until you have made an appropriately shaped mouthpiece that fits best and provides the best sound. Read the criteria mentioned previously and in the section on choosing a didgeridoo to know what you should be aiming for.
Your didge is now ready to play! Feel free to adjust the mouthpiece over time as you play to suit your exact requirements.
More about mouthpieces
Try to limit the amount of wax you use for your mouthpiece. On most first attempts, too much wax will be used resulting in a fat and ugly looking mouthpiece. A mouthpiece that is too chunky and rounded will just get in the way and absorb the vibrations of your lips and reduce your ability to make a clear drone. You may have to try a few times to get the right amount of wax to use.
Remember that you don’t need a wax mouthpiece to play a didge if the natural diameter is good as it is. If this is the case, you may only want to apply a very thin layer of wax around the rim to make it a little more comfortable. You will be surprised at the effect stripping a mouthpiece down can have on your playing.
I feel that the best way to play a didge is to have your lips as close to the didge as possible. The traditional players rarely used large wax mouthpieces like we see today, and usually played straight onto the wood. I believe this gives a greater feeling of control over your didge, because there is no impediment between your lips and the instrument. Let’s say, it allows you to be more ‘in touch’ with your didgeridoo!
There are other options for creating more permanent mouthpieces such as using rubber or mouldable plastics that set hard. Some people like these materials because they are easier to clean, they don’t move about as they get warm and they don’t leave wax residue on your face. The only problem with these though is that once you’ve set it, there’s no changing it. I prefer wax mouthpieces because they can be adjusted over time as you come to know your didge better.
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In summary
If you don't feel comfortable with your mouthpiece, it can be easily replaced.
A mouthpiece can be fixed by removing the old one and applying a thin stick of soft beeswax around the rim.
Don't use too much wax as it will only get in the way of your lips making a clear, crisp sound.