HOW TO PLAY DIDGERIDOO

Double & triple tonguing

Once you have started to use pulses to add some beats to your playing, you will want to expand your repertoire of techniques to increase the complexity of your rhythms.

This technique allows you to add strong rhythmic elements to your playing. This refers to when the tongue alternately strikes the back of the teeth and back of the throat to sharply interrupt the drone a create a crisp 'taka' sound. Many variations and repetitions of these sounds can also be made using the tongue.

This technique is used in creating fast, intricate rhythms because the tongue can move back and forth very rapidly to create quick, staccato beats. This helps to accentuate parts of the rhythm and help build its structure.

Learning this technique will open up a whole new range of powerful sounds and rhythmic effects to really enhance your didgeridoo playing and diversity.

How to do double and triple tonguing

STEP 1

Double tonguing is when the tongue alternately performs combinations of 't' and 'k' tongue movements to make a ‘taka’ pattern or similar. Mouth this pattern while droning with your cheeks in.

STEP 2

Triple tonguing is when the tongue uses combinations of 't' and 'k' tongue movements to form a three part ‘takata’ pattern. Mouth this pattern while droning with your cheeks in.

STEP 3

The single tongue movement ‘tak’ can also be used in didgeridoo playing. This is less common but still useful to practice. Move your tongue as if you would be saying ‘tak’ and make the movement strong and sudden as you drone.

STEP 4

Double and triple tonguing patterns can also be done the other way round, as in ‘kata’ and ‘kataka’. This is less common, but practice this to further increase your sounds and rhythm patterns.

Rhythm practice

Practice the rhythm ‘Oh-taka-takatah’. This is a faster rhythm which suits this playing technique. The breath is on the first beat this time. Experiment with your own patterns as your tonguing improves.

Tips

Didgeridoo tip There are many variations you can make on these tonguing patterns using different combinations of basic tonguing movements (t/d and k/g) and overtones (a,e,i,o,u). For example, instead of ‘taka’ you could try mouthing ‘teke’ or ‘doki’. The difference will be subtle but they will allow you to explore slight variations for different effect.

Didgeridoo tip Double and triple tonguing patterns are great for fast rhythms. The ‘ta’ and ‘ka’ actions complement each other so they can alternate at a very fast pace.

Didgeridoo tip You can always start or end a double or triple tongue with a single tongue sound, for example ‘tak-taka’ or ‘takata-tak’.

Didgeridoo tip Tonguing allows you to start adding strong beats and percussive sounds to make comprehensive didge patterns and rhythms.

 

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Tips

Didgeridoo tip You can also do tonguing with your cheeks out, but the sound will be less sharp and have more bass. This is fine though if you are looking for a beat with more 'oomph'.

Didgeridoo tip The more emphasis you put on your tongue movements, the greater effect you will get.

Didgeridoo tip Tonguing is great for fast rhythms and allows you to start adding beats to make more complex didgeridoo rhythms.

Didgeridoo tip Strike the tongue hard against the teeth for best effect.

Didgeridoo tip You can practice multi-tonguing rhythms wherever you are, without the didgeridoo. Just practice them in your head, or out loud, and move your tongue as you would when playing didgeridoo. Check out my page on rhythms for more info.