HOW TO PLAY DIDGERIDOO

Introduction to basic tonguing

Tonguing is when the tongue strikes the teeth or the back of the throat to interrupt the flow and sound of the drone. This technique allows didgeridoo rhythms to become more rhythmic with the introduction of percussive-like effects.

This technique and other similar tonguing techniques are the driving force behind intricate didgeridoo rhythms.

How to do basic tonguing

STEP 1

Drone with your cheeks in and mouth ‘dah dah dah’. As the tongue movement hits the teeth, this interrupts the flow of air through the lips, briefly causing them to stop vibrating. This creates a momentary pause in the drone and breaks it into separate parts.

STEP 2

Now let’s try a tongue movement at the back of the throat. As you drone, move the back of your tongue as if you would be saying ‘kah kah kah’. Feel how your tongue makes the ‘k’ sound at the back of your throat to interrupt the drone.

STEP 3

Combine a range of overtones with the ‘d’ tongue movement. For example, mouth ‘dee dah daw’ while droning. Use this technique to start diversifying your sounds.

STEP 4

You can make an effective ‘doh’ sound with the tonguing technique. With cheeks in, strike your tongue hard against the back of your teeth (d) then allow your cheeks to puff out (oh), as if mouthing ‘doh’. You will make a sound similar to a bass drum, which is particularly effective in didgeridoo rhythms.

Rhythm practice

Try the rhythm ‘dee dah daw Oh’. Circular breathe on the fourth beat. Make your tongue movements sharp and snappy for best results.

Tips

Didgeridoo tip Substitute the ‘d’ tongue movement with ‘t’ for a slightly different effect.

Didgeridoo tip Substitute the ‘k’ tongue movement with ‘g’ for a slightly different effect.

Didgeridoo tip It can be quite hard to get any variation between ‘d’ and ‘t’ sounds, and the ‘k’ and ‘g’ sounds. However, you’ll eventually start to naturally differentiate between the two as your skills improve.

Didgeridoo tip In Step 3, I use the example ‘dee dah daw’ but you can also use ‘kee kah kaw’.

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

Didgeridoo tip Make a ‘doi’ sound instead of the ‘doh’ sound in Step 4. This makes a ‘bouncing’ sound effect that you might find fun to play in your rhythms.

Didgeridoo tip You will get more explosive sounds if you use a diaphragm pulse at the same time.

Didgeridoo tip You can also do basic tonguing with your cheeks out. With your cheeks out you will make a sound with more bass or ‘oomph’.

 

 

 

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Tips

Didgeridoo tip The action of your tongue hitting your teeth at first might make your lips stop vibrating so you lose the drone. If this happens, just do the action lightly at first so it doesn't affect the vibration of your lips. Then make it punchier as you get used to the feel.

Didgeridoo tip If you breathe a little more air out at the same time as you flick your tongue, it will help keep your lips vibrating as well as add more emphasis to the sound. Don't worry too much about this, it should come naturally.

Didgeridoo tip For a bright, crisp tonguing sound, make sure the tongue movement is sharp and snappy, and not lazy.

Didgeridoo tip You can substitute the "d" tongue movement for a "t" movement to get a slightly different effect. Typically, the “d” sounds are a bit more heavy and punchy than the “t” sounds, which are a bit more crisp and snappy. This "t" sound will be explored later in multi-tonguing.