ABOUT THE DIDGERIDOO
HOW TO PLAY
CIRCULAR BREATHING
DIDGERIDOO RHYTHMS
CHOOSING A DIDGERIDOO
CARING FOR YOUR DIDGE
ODDS AND ENDS
FAQ
HOW TO PLAY PRO NEW!
OTHER SERVICES
CONTACT
LINKS
Would like a link? Contact me!
HOW TO PLAY DIDGERIDOO
The diaphragm & overblow pulse
Because the didgeridoo is played in one key only, the didgeridoo is an instrument that is played rhythmically, like a drum, rather than harmonically, like a clarinet. Therefore, didgeridoo playing often focuses on producing effects that enhance the rhythmic sound of the didgeridoos. One of these effects is the diaphragm pulse.
Pulses are short, sharp bursts of air from the lungs that are forced through the vibrating lips to create a quick, loud pulse over the top of the basic drone. Because they are loud, sudden and powerful, pulses are a good way to emphasize the beat in didgeridoo playing and help provide underlying structure to the rhythm.
Pulses are an exciting part of didgeridoo playing and add powerful accents to your didgeridoo playing. Use pulses when you want to add some beat into your rhythms and provide a little more impact.
How to do diaphragm and overblow pulses
STEP 1
Without the didgeridoo, push short, controlled bursts of air from your lungs, so that your breath comes out like ‘ha’. Feel the muscle above your stomach (the diaphragm) move up quickly to force this air out. Now do this while you drone, keeping your lips vibrating the whole time. Your drone should make a pulsing sound.
STEP 2
Your pulses can have different overtones depending on the position of your tongue as you pulse. As you drone, make diaphragm pulses while mouthing the rhythm ‘hee hah haw’. Make a diaphragm pulse with each tongue movement.
STEP 3
Increase the complexity of your pulses by mouthing ‘hee-hee ha-ha haw-haw’ as you pulse. Make sure your pulses and tongue movements occur simultaneously.
STEP 4
You can also try this technique with your cheeks puffed out. This will create a lower sounding diaphragm pulse with more bass. Make diaphragm pulses with your cheeks out, as if mouthing ‘ho ho ho ho’.
STEP 5
A variation on the basic pulse is the stronger ‘overblow’ pulse. To do this, quickly force a more powerful burst of air from your lungs so it almost causes the lips to ‘blow out’ and stop vibrating. A loud, punchy ‘whooshing’ pulse should be heard. Try this with your cheeks out for best effect.
Rhythm practice
Try the following rhythm: 'ee ha-ha hee-hee Oh'. Breathe on the ‘Oh’. Make each pulse sharp and strong so they are heard clearly.
Tips
Allow your diaphragm to naturally retract immediately the pulse for best effect.
Pulse with your cheeks in, out or anywhere in-between to create the effect you want to achieve.
You may find that you quickly lose the drone when you pulse. If this happens, just pulse gently at first, and then build up to more forceful pulses.
As shown in Step 3, you can position your tongue in any way to create different sounding overtones as you pulse.
Login to PRO
Tips
Be aware of how your diaphragm moves to push air in and out of your lungs.
To make really sharp, obvious pulses, allow your diaphragm to quickly, yet naturally retract immediately after a pulse.
You may find that you quickly lose the drone when you push a pulse of air from your lungs. Just do it gently at first, and then build up to more forceful pulses.