USING THE STOMACH

*The information below covers some abstract theory on playing didgeridoo. You don't have to know any of the information below to play the didgeridoo. If it's all too confusing, just come back later after you've learnt the basics and if you're interested!

You may have heard of the concept of 'playing through the stomach' or 'using the stomach' in relation to playing the didgeridoo. Sometimes cryptic clues such as this are left by advanced didgeridoo players or buskers in passing conversation, but the concept is rarely explored much to the frustration of the novice didgeridoo player. Below is my feeble attempt to explain what this strange inference may in fact mean.

While you can use the diaphragm (the muscle above the stomach) to make cool pulsing noises, a different set of muscles in that region can also be employed to assist with your didgeridoo playing.

The stomach muscles, or more accurately the abdominal muscles, can be used to give a sense of timing, and physicality to your playing, as you play didgeridoo.

Essentially, the concept is similar to when a musician taps their foot to keep in time with the music. Similarly, a didgeridoo player can raise or lower (or 'crunch') their ab muscles for the same purpose.

So when you play, you may like to experiment with crunching your abs in time with the rhythm you are playing. Crunch then relax your abs in time with what you are playing. Do this very quickly, so it is but a very brief and sudden contraction then release of the stomach muscles each time.

You can do this either in relation to the time signature you are playing your rhythm in, or just at the same time as you play your rhythmic elements (don't worry, you should just get a feel for it either way).

Just like tapping your feet when you listen to or play music, this technique might help free you up a bit, give you a better sense of the rhythm you are playing, help you keep in time with the rhythm, keep you disciplined to keep your rhythm in time (which is important) and give you a great ab workout at the same time!

How essential is this to didgeridoo playing? Not really! Unless you really want to start exploring everything about didgeridoo playing, that is. Do you really need to do it to play? Not at all. But will it help you improve your playing skills and sense of rhythmic timing important for playing didgeridoo rhythms? Yes, probably.

But don't feel like you really need to 'use the stomach' to play the didgeridoo. As long as you keep practicing, you'll keep on getting better, and techniques such as this and breathing in and out while circular breathing should come gradually over time as your body naturally adopts these techniques to facilitate a more intuitive and relaxed method of playing.

This is something that gradually became a part of my didgeridoo playing over time as I practiced. I did not consciously bring it into my playing, however when I discovered it happening, I started to encourage the movement as it helped me keep in time with the rhythm and gave me a sense of movement and heightened physicality to my playing.

I would have loved to have put an original video of this technique in action on this website, however having a full time job and family takes up a lot of my time! However the next best thing I could find is a YouTube video of the didgeridoo prodigy Jake Duncan. If you look closely, you can see Jake's stomach raising up and down every now and then in time with the amazing didgeridoo rhythm he is playing.

So unless there are some more profound ways to 'use the stomach' while playing the didgeridoo that I am not familiar with, I believe that is generally what is meant when people refer to 'using the stomach' when playing the didgeridoo.

Like I said, this was just my attempt to explain this abstract notion based on my own personal experience. I'm sure aboriginal players have a deeper understanding of this concept that goes beyond the simple idea of keeping in time.

Players more advanced than myself may have also gained further benefits and insights into this technique that I have not fully covered here. However can you find any more info on the web about it? Probably not! So I've done my best!

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Tips

Didgeridoo tip Try quickly crunching your ab muscles in time with the rhythm you are playing. It might help with your sense of timing.

Didgeridoo tip This can give you a great ab workout at the same time!