ABOUT THE DIDGERIDOO
HOW TO PLAY
CIRCULAR BREATHING
DIDGERIDOO RHYTHMS
CHOOSING A DIDGERIDOO
CARING FOR YOUR DIDGE
ODDS AND ENDS
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HOW TO PLAY DIDGERIDOO
Introductiton to the cheeks-out drone
The 'drone' is the fundamental sound of the didgeridoo and this is the basic sound that is maintained throughout playing. The drone sound is the sound of vibrating lips which is being amplified through the didgeridoo.
The basic drone can be manipulated through tongue and mouth movements to create a wide variety of other didgeridoo sounds. These sounds are combined into rhythms to make didgeridoo ‘music’.
The basic drone is the first thing that needs to be learnt when learning how to play didgeridoo. Being able to make a clear drone easily and consistently is the foundation for didgeridoo playing. Just making the drone will create a satisfying experience as you start your didge playing journey.
The drone sound is created by vibrating your lips as you blow through the didgeridoo. As you blow through the didgeridoo and drone, your cheeks can either be puffed out, pulled in tight, or anywhere in between.
For beginner purposes, the first two lessons will explain how to make a drone with the cheeks puffed out and the cheeks pulled in. These different cheek positions make two distinct types of drone.
This will demonstrate firstly how to create the basic sound of the didgeridoo, but also how simple variations on the drone sound can be made by altering cheek positions.
The first lesson looks as how to make the drone sound with your cheeks puffed out. This is the fundamental technique to learn that will soon get you started making really cool didge sounds!
Make sure you click on the play button with each example. The sound file will give you an example of the sound you should be making for each step.
Note: You don't have to know how to circular breathe at this stage. In fact, we will get to that much later. All too often, students just rush into circular breathing, get frustrated, think they can't do it, and then give up playing didgeridoo altogether.
If you are just starting out, try these lessons in the 'How to Play' section first before worrying about circular breathing. I won't even mention circular breathing until later. Just get comfortable with these techniques first and you will have much more confidence to tackle circular breathing later on.
How to do the cheeks-out drone
STEP 1
Imagine a horse blowing through its mouth and flapping its lips. Do this yourself without the didgeridoo by loosening your lips and blowing with enough air to let them flap naturally. Keep your lips flapping evenly and constantly.
STEP 2
Place the didgeridoo to your lips with just enough pressure so no air escapes from the sides. Relax your lips and blow gently, allowing your cheeks to puff out as you blow. Your lips should start vibrating to produce a drone sound. If it helps, start your lips vibrating by moving your tongue as if you are spitting out a watermelon seed.
STEP 3
Try to sustain a constant drone for as long as you can with one breath (without getting dizzy!). Do this by blowing gently to conserve your air. If you can maintain the drone for a long time easily and efficiently, you will be ready to start trying other techniques.
Tips
You need to find the right amount of tension for your lips to vibrate properly. Too tight, or too loose, and they won’t vibrate to make the drone sound.
If you make a tooting sound, your lips are too tight.
If you make a whooshing sound, your lips are too loose.
Make sure your mouthpiece isn’t too wide or too small, and that you have a good didgeridoo. Go to the back of this book to learn about what makes a good didgeridoo and mouthpiece.
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Tips
A good way to get your lips vibrating is to lightly tap the back of your lips with your tongue, as if you are spitting out a watermelon seed. This ‘kicks’ your lips into action.
If your lips aren't vibrating in the didgeridoo, take a step back and get them flapping again without the didgeridoo.
If you make a tooting sound, your lips are too tight.
If you make a whooshing sound, your lips are too loose.