Playing Styles

   The Didjeridu is used with other instruments such as the Bull Roarer
   and Click (or Clap) Sticks.

   West Arnhem Land uses the quiet and uncomplicated patterns. Hummed
   notes are used in conjunction with blown notes to produce slower
   patterns. North-East Arnhem Land uses the first overtone, at about a
   tenth above the fundamental. Eastern Arnhem Land styles use the second
   pitch as well as a variety of techniques using manipulations of the
   tongue, lips and breath to create fast energetic rhythmic patterns.

   The Didjeridu is often used as an accompaniment to song and dance. It
   is also used in ceremonial functions. A large version of the Didjeridu
   called a Yurlunggur is used only in ceremonies.

   The Didjeridu is the center-piece of most of the Corroborees danced by
   the Northern tribes in the Territory and the East Kimberleys. A
   corroboree is an important ceremonial when all the various tribes of a
   region would come together to hear and recount the sacred stories.

   - The Australian Aborigines, A.P. Elkin


			     Didjeridu Tutorial

			      The Basic Drone

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   [INLINE] Lesson Objective

   In this lesson you'll get your first sounds out of your didjeridu !
   Your objective is to play a controlled drone. This should be the
   beginning of a long and enjoyable didj playing adventure.

   [INLINE] Technique

   To give you an idea what your lips should be doing, first practice
   making the lip buzzing without the didjeridu. Your friends will surely
   think you're nuts! Puff out your cheeks and push out your lips,
   drawing the corners of your mouth back a bit, allowing the center part
   of your lips to be loose. Blow air through your lips, allowing them to
   vibrate making a low pitched buzzing sound. This should be just like
   "blowing a rasberry". Your lips should be relaxed, and flap up and
   down making a sound which is not unlike pneumatic hammer.

   The next, and somewhat trickier step is to transfer this loose lip
   buzzing technique to the mouthpiece of the didjeridu. There are two
   styles for meeting the mouthpiece : straight on with the mouthpiece
   centered on the lips below the nose or to the right or left of center.
   Both methods are fine - use whichever seems natural to you.

   Take a deep breath in through your nose and blow evenly down the
   didjeridu while buzzing your lips. In the beginning you may well find
   that with your lips touching the mouthpiece, its much harder to get
   that buzzing going. It often helps to get them started with a burst of
   air. For some it helps to begin with a something like pronouncing the
   plosive "p". With a little practice you will be able to keep the
   portion of your lips which cross the cavity of the mouthpiece
   vibrating. This will produce the drone. If the sound is high pitched
   (like a trumpet note) relax your lips a bit so they vibrate at a lower
   rate.

   As you gain experience you will be able to begin the drone more and
   more gently, avoiding the initial strong air burst. If your note
   sounds flat and weak, try blowing a bit harder.

   [INLINE] Common Mistakes

     * Don't purse your lips as if you are playing a trumpet. Remember
       that the secret is to relax you lips so that they flap up and down
       freely.
     * Never press the mouthpiece tightly against your lips as this
       interferes with the buzzing. If you really press too hard, you'll
       end up cutting off the circulation to your lips ! Owww - that
       hurts ! Time and again you'll catch yourself pressing the didj too
       hard against your lips when you are trying to master something
       new. Remember that all you need to do is make a seal.
     * Beginner's often overblow. Once you have blasted out your first
       drone, relax and reduce your blowing. You'll be surprised to find
       that you can still keep a nice drone going with much less air.

   [INLINE] Difficulty

   This excercise should be fairly straighforward. Usually you get
   something in the first few tries. It will take a while longer before
   you can control the drone.

   [INLINE] Hints and Tips

   Try to relax and let the instrument show you how to do it. This
   exercise should be fun. Get to know your instrument. Look it up and
   down, inside and our. If its an original, feel the wood and appreciate
   the artwork. Remember that didjing can be a personal journey, open
   your senses to all that your instrument can show you.

   [INLINE] Sorry, no audio yet. [.au format]

   [INLINE] [INLINE] [INLINE] [INLINE] [INLINE] [INLINE] [INLINE]

   sb



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