All About The Didgeridoo DIDGERIDOO FACTS THE DRONE • The didgeridoo is an ancient instrument • One important part of didgeridoo created by the aboriginal, or native performance is producing a drone, or a peoples of Australia. very long sound. • A deep sounding wind instrument • To play a drone you use a special • One of the oldest musical instruments technique called circular breathing. still in use today • In circular breathing the player breathes • A wooden tube made from specially through his nose while still playing with chosen small trees air from his lungs. • The tube is hollowed out by termites, • This takes much practice and it allows who eat the middle of the wood. the player to play on for a long time • The smaller end of the tube has beeswax without running out of air. on it. • The wax is used for the mouthpiece for OTHER DIDGERIDOO SOUNDS the player to blow through. • The sound of the didgeridoo is changed • The pitch (high & low) is determined by in many ways, like by humming, singing, the length of the tube. or talking while playing, or tapping on • The longer the tube the lower the pitch the instrument. • The shorter the tube the higher the pitch • The sounds are used to imitate animals • The pitch is also determined by how like kangaroos, dingos, kookaburras, thick and wide the tube is. and frogs. • Many are painted with bright decorations and carvings. OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO PLAY THE DIDGERIDOO THE DIDGERIDOO • In most tribes, only the men and boys • It is a fairly simple instrument and can play the didgeridoo. play a variety of sounds. • Boys are taught to play from an early age. • The player places his or her mouth • Girls can play it too. tightly on the smaller end. • Traditional styles are different from tribe • The player buzzes their lips loosely in the to tribe. mouthpiece. • Many people from around the world play • Playing a didgeridoo is similar to playing the didgeridoo. a trombone or a tuba. • The didgeridoo is used in every style of music such as rock music, jazz music, folk music, and concert music of all types..