DIDGERIDOO RHYTHMS

Introduction to didgeridoo rhythms

In the "How to Play" section of this web site, you can learn many of the techniques used to make a range of didgeridoo sounds. You can learn how all parts of your body, including your cheeks, lips, tongue, lungs and stomach work to create individual sounds.

While just playing these sounds individually can sound great and offer a satisfying experience, you may eventually want expand your scope of playing so it becomes more of an engaging experience and it feels like it has purpose and direction. Didgeridoo rhythms will help you do this.

Didgeridoo rhythms are patterns of didgeridoo sounds that combine to create a composition, such as when played in a didgeridoo solo. They are all important in giving didgeridoo playing a sense of structure, direction and flow.

The didgeridoo is not a melodic instrument, like a clarinet. Because the didgeridoo is in one key only, the didgeridoo is more of a rhythm instrument, like a drum. As rhythms are the foundation for playing drums, it is also the same for playing didgeridoo.

Didgeridoo rhythms are made up of all the different and contrasting sounds that can be made with the didgeridoo. You use your tongue, cheeks, jaw and lungs to make different rhythmic sounds. Essentially, you use different parts of your mouth to create different sounds coming out of the didgeridoo. These sounds can be combined in any manner to make didgeridoo rhythms, which then combine to create compositions used in solos.

This is similar to how a djembe player strikes the djembe in different ways, with different parts of their hand to create contrasting sounds. These sounds are then arranged in patterns to create djembe rhythms. Think of the didgeridoo similarly as a rhythm instrument, whereby you are using different mouth movements to arrange patterns of didgeridoo sounds to create a rhythm. Viewing it this way will aid your learning.

 

Didgeridoo is like playing a rhythm instrument

Think of the didgeridoo as a rhythm instrument, like a djembe. Similar to using your hands in different ways to make components of the rhythm, instead you use your tongue, cheeks and mouth.

Didgeridoo rhythms will allow you to structure your playing, give it purpose and give it character. This will engage your audience more, because they will be interested as to where your playing is heading, and they will be affected by the mood you create with rhythms. Didgeridoo playing is key to maintaining audience interest.

As you learn to play didgeridoo, remember that you should also learn to play rhythms. Don't get lazy and just play didgeridoo without playing rhythms, or you and your audience will quickly lose interest. Your playing should evolve around rhythm making.

A word on time signature

In Western music, rhythms are usually arranged according to a time signature, or meter. The meter specifies the ‘timing’ of the music and gives a point of reference to the rhythm. In simple terms, the meter informs where the first count ‘1’ of the rhythm falls in the beat. Some common time signatures will count out a beat like this: ‘1-2-3-1-2-3’ or ‘1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4’.

While having an understanding of time signature and its theory can be useful in understanding didgeridoo rhythms, it is not necessary to know when learning to play didgeridoo. Grounding didgeridoo playing in musical theory is not in the spirit of learning the instrument and could even be a hindrance.

Even advanced players playing complex rhythms do not concern themselves too much with the specific time signature of their rhythm, unless they are performing professionally or playing in coordination with a band.

In fact, one of the beauties of learning the didgeridoo is that it can be done without any knowledge of music theory at all. The sounds and rhythms of the didgeridoo can all come about from free flowing experimentation and self expression that can be very liberating.

This web site wishes to encourage this mode of learning. The most important thing is that you get a ‘feeling’ for playing rhythms and how they fit together to form a piece. This can all be done through dedicated practice without ever picking up a sheet of music.

Once you get this feeling and start producing rhythms, you will find that your rhythm already has a time signature without you even thinking about it! As your rhythms become more complex, and if you start to play with other people, you may then want to start learning more about music theory, time signatures and how it all relates to playing the didgeridoo.

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In summary

Didgeridoo tip A didgeridoo comes in one key only, so it can't play a melody. It can however, play rhythms and so should be viewed as a rhythm instrument.

Didgeridoo tip Didgeridoo rhythms are the foundation for playing didgeridoo and the creation of didgeridoo solos.

Didgeridoo tip You use your mouth to make different sounds that come out of the didgeridoo. These sounds are combined in patterns to make didgeridoo rhythms.

Didgeridoo tip Didgeridoo rhythms will give your playing purpose and direction, and engage your audience longer.

Didgeridoo tip The possibilities for didgeridoo rhythms are infinite, so there are always opportunities for you to learn more.

Didgeridoo tip Learning rhythms and learning how to develop your own will allow you to play more spontaneously; this can be a very satisfying experience.