An Introduction to the Didgeridoo
Written by admin on December 17, 2009 – 6:48 am -The didgeridoo is possibly the oldest instrument in the world with many experts believing it to have been played for at least the last 40,000 years. Cave drawings dating back at least 2,000 years show the didgeridoo being played and it is known that the Aborigines across the top of Australia have been using this instrument at ceremonies and corroborees for thousands of years. It is believed that the playing of the didgeridoo keeps them in touch with their shamanistic beliefs through the induction of an alpha state.
The traditional Aborigine didgeridoo is made from branches of the eucalyptus tree that have been hollowed out by termites. A didgeridoo produced in this manner can take up to twelve months and a skilled didgeridoo maker will know if a branch is ready from just tapping on it with their fingernails. The branch walls need to be a certain thickness to produce the proper sound and it is the length of the log that determines its key, with longer lengths giving a lower pitch.
The origins of the didgeridoo are told in an Aboriginal legend which starts with three men camping by a log fire on a cold night many many moons ago. One of the friends gathered up a eucalyptus branch so that he could throw it onto the fire for extra heat but hesitated when he felt how light it was. He took a closer look at the log and found that it was covered in termites. His friends were complaining about the cold and asking him to throw the branch onto the fire, not wanting to kill the termites he scooped up the ones from the outside and put them with the rest inside the hollowed out branch. The man then put the log to his lips and blew out the termites. The termites blown into the night sky became the stars and the first didgeridoo was created.
Playing a didgeridoo is different to other wind instruments. You breathe down the tube while your lips remain loose making a vibration that will echo as it travels down the tube. At the other end, it comes out as an amplified drone. It is somewhat similar to playing a tuba, but the lips are more relaxed. If you are unsure how to create loose lips, think of what it is like to blow a “raspberry”. Once you have mastered the drone, you can practice making other sounds by moving your tongue or cheeks while blowing into the instrument.
Although not necessary, to play the didgeridoo like a real pro you have to learn circular breathing, and this takes practice. With circular breathing you need to simultaneously breathe air in through your nose whilst you are releasing it from your mouth. If you want to be able to make a non stop drone like a professional then there is no two ways about it, you are going to have to learn to circular breathe.
Today termites are not a necessity and a number of other materials have been found to make excellent modern didgeridoos. Very popular at the moment is the bamboo didgeridoo whilst teak is known to work a treat with excellent sound quality and even PVC didgeridoos have became the favored choice by many in recent years.
Should you take the time to learn the didgeridoo, then you could find that there are some unexpected benefits. In a study conducted in Switzerland they measured what effects didgeridoo playing may have on the conditions of sleep apnea and snoring. The study following people who are learning to play has found that those mastering the art are, after a few months, experiencing fewer incidences of these conditions. It is thought that the breathing required to play the didgeridoo is actually training the upper airways to function better.
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