DIDGERIDOO RHYTHMS

Rhythm styles

A brief word on traditional rhythms

According to the instructional CD, Djalu: Djalu teaches and plays yidaki, the sound of the didgeridoo is used to accompany a male singer in traditional aboriginal ceremonies. The songs performed are done as a series, called manikay, which reflect such subjects as sea, forest and wetland. Each series is comprised of short song items organized by subject, which has its own individual yidaki pattern or rhythm.

Traditional rhythms played by those communities of North East Arnhemland are characterised by fast flowing, ‘hard tongue’ rhythms of higher keyed didges, with frequent utilisation of the horn sound. The narrow-mouthed, tapering shape of the Yidaki is conducive to this playing style. This shape provides good backpressure for fast playing and the ability to make the horn sound on demand.

Traditional rhythms played by those communities of West Arnhemland are characterised by slower rhythms played on lower keyed didges, with the horn sound being generally absent. This playing style is probably also influenced by the shape of the local instrument, being the mago. This instrument is more cylindrical and has a wider mouthpiece.

Before white settlement, traditional aboriginal rhythms were taught orally and not recorded. In teaching, rhythms were vocalized by senior players before being played on yidaki.

Because of this, the western world has for a long time lacked information on traditional rhythms, however, this is starting to change as the didgeridoo increases in popularity and traditional custodians of the instrument start to spread information about its use and heritage. Instructional CDs by Djalu Gurruwiwi (Djalu teaches and plays yidaki) and Milkay Mununggurr (Hard Tongue Didgeridoo) have contributed to the spread of knowledge about traditional rhythms.

Without an inherent understanding of aboriginal culture it would be impossible, and wrong, to teach aboriginal rhythms here. The cultural foundations of rhythms go far beyond the capacity for any non-aboriginal person, such as myself, to truly understand.

As such, this web site does not attempt to teach traditional aboriginal rhythms. From here, it will be up to you to learn as you may about the origins and styles of traditional didgeridoo playing and rhythms. Researching the traditional makers and players of the didgeridoo, and the organisations that support these, will help, as will visiting them personally if possible.

The commercially available CDs mentioned above give an invaluable insight into traditional rhythms and their context. Furthermore, the instructional CD Balanda Yidaki Dhukarr by Jeremy Cloake offers a valuable perspective on how non-aboriginal people can learn traditional playing styles.

If you would like to know more about traditional rhythms or who to contact, a good source of information would be the Buku-Larrngay Mulka Art Centre, in North East Arnhemland, or the ididj Australia web site.

Contemporary rhythms

Contemporary didgeridoo rhythms are any that are not traditional. There are no fixed styles or formal methods of learning contemporary rhythms; this is only limited by the imagination and skill level of individual players. Contemporary rhythms can be played in simple solos in the lounge room, while busking on the street, or with a DJ at a dance party. Contemporary didgeridoo rhythms are whatever you want them to be.

Whatever your reason for playing, and however good you are, rhythms should act as the foundation of your didgeridoo playing. They will keep you on track and provide direction and purpose for your playing, as well as build mood and elicit response from your audience.

Probably the biggest mistake in learning contemporary didgeridoo is to think that there is a prescribed number of official didgeridoo rhythms out there that must be learnt in order to play properly. Nothing is further from the truth. Log onto YouTube and you will see a huge range of beginner to advanced didgeridoo players playing all kinds of improvised and unique contemporary rhythms.

While the ‘techniques’ for making various sounds in contemporary didgeridoo playing are quite well established, there are very few actual rhythms that have become cemented in contemporary didge playing culture. This is probably due to the fact that there still does not exist a traditional written notation for didgeridoo sounds and rhythms.

Also, the didgeridoo has only relatively recently established itself as an ‘instrument’ in the modern musical world, and so its playing techniques and rhythm conventions are still yet to be concertedly understood and documented.

As such, information on rhythms remain elusive in the contemporary didge playing world. The gathering of knowledge about rhythms relies largely on the innovation of contemporary players in teaching themselves and creating their own rhythms.

Rhythms provide the foundation for your playing; how you build on this foundation to make your own unique didgeridoo playing is entirely up to you. Once you understand the general idea behind rhythm playing, it is up to you, your thoughts, feelings and preference for sounds and styles to dictate how your didgeridoo playing takes shape.

While the didgeridoo does not have established conventions on rhythm playing, the next section offers some advice and examples on how to build and develop rhythms in your practice sessions. This should set you well on your way towards making your own didgeridoo solos.

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In summary

Didgeridoo tip Traditional didgeridoo rhythms are gaining more exposure through the release of some instructional CDs.

Didgeridoo tip Traditional rhythms are best taught by the traditional owners of the didgeridoo. For more information, see the web site of the Buku-Larrngay Mulka Art Centre, in North East Arnhemland, or the ididj Australia web site.

Didgeridoo tip Contemporary didgeridoo rhythms are any other rhythms played outside the context of traditional didgeridoo playing. The contemporary style is as varied as the individuals who play.

Didgeridoo tip There are really no didgeridoo-specific conventions for playing contemporary rhythms, so feel free to be unique and start adding to the mix that is contemporary style didgeridoo!