How to Play a Basic Drone on the Didgeridoo

The didgeridoo (or yidaki) is a beautiful Aboriginal instrument that has spanned tens of thousands of years. It is the most basic wind instrument, and is crafted from hollowed-out branches or trunks from trees. While mother nature, time and termites help to build these instruments, you must be the one to produce the deep earthy tones. Here are some simple steps to get your first drone out of this fantastic instrument.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Didgeridoo
• Privacy
• Time

1. Sit on the floor in a relaxed position, cross-legged and with your back straight. Hold the didgeridoo so that one hand is wrapped just below the mouthpiece (where you'll be putting your lips) and the other hand is about a foot down the instrument. Relax the bell (other end) of the didgeridoo on the floor in front of you.

2. With your back straight, take a deep breath and hold for a second. Place half of your mouth against the mouthpiece and keep your lips pressed together.

3. As you begin to force out the air from your lungs and cheeks, vibrate your lips while keeping them tight. Remember, only half of your mouth is necessary to get this sound. While the other half of your mouth is not pressed against the mouthpiece, it still needs to be kept shut tight so that no air escapes.

4. The vibration of your lips and the air from your lungs will create a simple drone sound from the end of the didgeridoo. This is the first and most basic sound to learn. Once you have worked on the sound and gotten used to the feel, start to incorporate tongue movements behind your teeth and throaty growls as your lips vibrate.

Tips & Warnings

• If the mouthpiece feels to big for your lips, it probably is. Reform the beeswax on it with your thumb so that it becomes smaller and try again.
• A lot of the sound you hear when you play correctly comes from the noises in your head that the vibrations will produce. Your friends will hear the real result, so play for them and watch their surprise that you can produce such an amazing sound so simply.