CHOOSING A DIDGERIDOO

Shape

Didgeridoos come in all shapes and sizes, but on average, they are generally tubular and between 1m and 1.8m long, with an internal bore of between 25 and 60mm. Didgeridoos with dimensions outside of these ranges can still be played, however they will be harder to play and sound less like a typical didgeridoo.

It is the length and width of didgeridoos that primarily affects the pitch, or key, of a didgeridoo. Long didgeridoos with large bores (greater than 60mm) will have a low pitched, warm and bass-like drone. Short didgeridoos with narrow bores will have a high pitched, bright and sharp drone.

Didgeridoos can vary from being entirely straight to curvaceous, depending on the shape of the tree branch it was crafted from or its method of construction. Most didgeridoos made from tree branches have some kind of natural curves, which usually does not detract from the sound being produced, but in fact adds to its uniqueness.

Straight or curved didgeridoos will both produce good sounds. Nicely curved didgeridoos with an upward facing bell end will have a little more ‘leverage’ of sound because the sound will be directed towards the audience rather than into the ground.  

Didgeridoos are typically either cylindrical in shape, with an even bore along the entire length of the instrument, or conical in shape, tapering from a narrow mouthpiece to a wider bell end. Generally, an evenly tapering, conical shaped didge with a narrow mouthpiece will be easier to play than a cylindrical shaped didge with a large bore and mouthpiece. Furthermore, the horn sound is much easier to produce on a tapering didge with a narrow mouthpiece.

Didgeridoos can be cylindrical or tapering

The didgeridoo on top is cylindrical with a wide mouthpiece, while the didgeridoo below has a narrow mouthpiece and tapers to a larger bell end. A tapering didgeridoo with a narrow mouthpiece will be typically easier to play.

Wall density and thickness

The density of the walls of didgeridoos differs depending on the material the didgeridoo is made from. Didgeridoos made from softwood trees, bamboo or cardboard will have soft walls. These didgeridoos often sound less crisp than those with harder walls, such as eucalypt or other hardwood didgeridoos.

Soft walled didges absorb sound waves, so the sound will be dampened. Hard walled didges reflect sound waves better and will generally provide stronger sounds.

The thickness of the didgeridoo wall also effects the quality of the drone and it will also affect the backpressure. Too thin or too thick and the sounds waves will not oscillate properly through the didgeridoo and the result will be a dampened drone and reduced backpressure.

Weight

The weight of a didgeridoo is related to its material, density and proportions. Didgeridoos can be light or heavy, on average ranging from 1 to 5 kilograms.

Heavy and light didgeridoos can both produce excellent sounds, so you shouldn’t judge a didgeridoo based on its weight alone. You may want to consider though why the didgeridoo is very heavy or very light. Is it because the walls of the didgeridoo are very thick, thin, hard or soft? Considering these questions will help you in your overall selection.

One thing you should consider with regards to weight is how you intend to use your didgeridoo. If you plan to travel with your didgeridoo, you might want to consider getting something light enough for convenient portability. A few hours of walking around with a heavy didge can be a tiresome experience. If you are looking to play the didge in a band or where it might get knocked around a bit, you might want to look for something a bit heavier and more robust.  

A balance occurs between shape, density and weight to create a good sounding didgeridoo. For the beginner, choosing a didge with these correctly balanced features will be difficult to do just by looking at it and picking it up. You should always rely on playing the didgeridoo to determine whether you have a good quality didge.

However, it is good to have an awareness of how a didgeridoo's quality is affected by these characteristics. Most importantly, just remember that if a didgeridoo appears too thick or too thin, too dense or too soft, too heavy or too light, its sound quality may be compromised. If you are just starting out, aim to make or buy a didgeridoo with well-proportioned features. This should provide an instrument with good playability and one that offers a good range of sounds.

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In summary

Didgeridoo tip Didgeridoos come in all shapes and sizes, but if you are looking for something easy to play, get one that gently tapers from a narrow mouthpiece to a wider bell end.

Didgeridoo tip Hardwood didgeridoos, like those made from eucalyptus wood, generally have the best sound quality.

Didgeridoo tip Softwood didgeridoos, like those made from bamboo, generally have a softer, more muffled sound and don't sound as bright.

Didgeridoo tip Be careful about getting a didgeridoo that is too heavy at first. A heavy didge can be a real burden and you may not want to take it anywhere.