4 Ways To Play The Didgeridoo - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Play the Didgeridoo PDF download Download Article Learn to master this ancient wind instrument Co-authored by Amy Chapman, MA

Last Updated: January 31, 2025 Approved

PDF download Download Article
  • Creating the Right Environment
  • |
  • Learning the Fundamentals
  • |
  • Mastering Circular Breathing
  • |
  • Refining Your Playing Skills
  • |
  • Video
  • |
  • Q&A
  • |
  • Tips
  • |
  • Warnings
|Show more |Show less X

This article was co-authored by Amy Chapman, MA. Amy Chapman MA, CCC-SLP is a Vocal Therapist and Singing Voice Specialist. Amy is a licensed and board-certified speech & language pathologist who has dedicated her career to helping professionals improve and optimize their voice. Amy has lectured on voice optimization, speech, vocal health, and voice rehabilitation at universities across California, including UCLA, USC, Chapman University, Cal Poly Pomona, CSUF, CSULA. Amy is trained in Lee Silverman Voice Therapy, Estill, LMRVT, and is a part of the American Speech and Hearing Association. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 80% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 274,680 times.

The didgeridoo, also known as a “didj,” is a woodwind instrument from Australia that was originally made out of trees hollowed out by termites. Now, you can purchase a variety of styles of didj that can produce a deep, calming tone when played. To learn to play the didgeridoo you will want to find a comfortable spot to practice. Work on improving your lip vibrations while refining your breathing techniques. Record yourself or take a class to elevate your skills even more.

Getting Started with the Didgeridoo

Stand or sit, and place one hand on the mouthpiece and the other on the barrel. Put your lips inside the mouthpiece so that they form an airtight seal. Then, while keeping your lips loosely together, blow a raspberry, and feel the didgeridoo vibrate.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 4:

Creating the Right Environment

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  1. Step 1 Get access to a didgeridoo. 1 Get access to a didgeridoo. Many players begin with a plastic didj. They are relatively inexpensive and you can find one online to purchase very easily. Others prefer to go directly to a wood didj. Even then you will want to consider your budget and the type of wood that you would like, such as agave. Wood didgeridoos are less likely to break and create a deeper, richer sound when played.
    • Some music stores rent didgeridoos and, if you take a class, you may be able to borrow one during the sessions. Be aware, however, that most serious didj players recommend purchasing a personal instrument to make regular practicing easier.[1]
  2. Step 2 Find a peaceful location. 2 Find a peaceful location. It is best to play and practice in an area where you will not be disturbed. This is especially important if you are practicing breathing techniques. You also need to be able to hear yourself play. This sounds easier than it is. The vibrations from the didj will muffle your hearing making it more difficult to identify particular notes or sounds.[2]
    • Some say that the bathroom is the ideal place to play the didgeridoo due to the amplified acoustics. The tile etc. helps to magnify the sound.[3]
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  3. Step 3 Choose a playing position. 3 Choose a playing position. You can stand or sit in a chair or on the ground. Most people prefer the sitting position as it is easier to maintain for long periods of time. If you are sitting on the ground you can rest your didj on the top of your bare foot. Try to avoid resting your didj directly on the ground. This helps to keep the sound clear and undistorted.
    • In all positions, make sure to maintain proper posture. Keep your back straight and your shoulder back. Slumping over can hurt your ability to move air effectively up from your lungs into your instrument.
  4. Step 4 Establish your hand grip. 4 Establish your hand grip. No matter which position you choose, your grip remains the same. Cradle the didgeridoo in the upturned palm of your dominant hand. Your index finger should be pointing away from you, leaving your thumb and remaining fingers to curl around the didj. Slide this hand down until it is a relaxed arm’s reach out. The other hand can be used to balance the didj close to the mouthpiece if needed.
  5. Step 5 Adopt a calm mindset. 5 Adopt a calm mindset. Playing the didgeridoo is often compared with meditation or spiritual experiences. Keeping your mind clear and focusing on playing the didj will allow you to reap all of the possible mental benefits. Tell yourself, “Be calm,” before sitting down and playing. And, if other thoughts intrude, put down your didj until you can re-focus.[4]
    • It might help to say, "This is my time to play," aloud if you feel distracted. You can also ask your fellow players to keep you on task by having them alert you if you seem unfocused.
    • You can also lower the lights a bit and maybe light some candles or incense to create a calming environment for playing your didj.
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Method 2 Method 2 of 4:

Learning the Fundamentals

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  1. Step 1 Develop and practice your base drone apart from your didj. 1 Develop and practice your base drone apart from your didj. The base drone is the foundation upon which all didj sounds are built. You will keep droning, even as you add other sounds to the mix. Relax your lips and blow through them causing them to vibrate. Some would liken this to “giving a raspberry” or imitating a horse blowing air out of its mouth.
    • This will be similar to, but not exactly, like a brass musician preparing to play. Your lips will need to be a bit looser than a trumpet players.
    • It may be helpful to practice in front of a mirror.
  2. Step 2 Place your lips on the didj. 2 Place your lips on the didj. When you feel like you can hold your drone for 20 seconds or so, go ahead and put your mouth against the opening of your didgeridoo. Your lips should lay firmly, but not inflexible, against the mouthpiece. They’ll need to move without letting any air out.
    • You don’t have to directly align your lips with the mouthpiece. Some people prefer to play from the side of their mouth.[5]
    • You can add beeswax to your mouthpiece to make it softer and to create a better seal. Warm up the wax until it is malleable, add it to the rim, and adjust to create an opening hole. Keep in mind that the larger the hole, the more air that is required to play. Most people learning using a 3cm diameter center hole.[6] You can continue to adjust the wax as you play.
  3. Step 3 Tighten or loosen your lips. 3 Tighten or loosen your lips. Once you begin your drone, you can alter the sound by consciously altering the tension in your lips. The sound will also give you feedback. For example, if your lips are too tight then the didj will emit a higher, trumpeting sound. Drop your jaw and move away from a smile to hear a more soothing tone in a lower register.
  4. Step 4 Engage your tongue and cheeks. 4 Engage your tongue and cheeks. Tap your tongue on your teeth. Quickly push your tongue against the roof of your mouth. Roll your tongue as if you are trying to say an extended “r” in Spanish. Wave your tongue from side to side in your mouth. Allow your cheeks to puff out a bit with extra air. Alternate cheeks for additional sound changes.
    • Be careful to continue your base drone as you make these adjustments.
    • Make all of these movements quickly and methodically. If you linger too long on any one movement, you could possibly kill off your drone by stopping the air flow.
    • Puffing out your cheeks will result in a more even sound whereas tightening them with sharpen it.[7]
  5. Step 5 Involve your diaphragm. 5 Involve your diaphragm. The diaphragm is a muscle that helps to push air in and out of your lungs. The diaphragm is powerful and can create short bursts of air that will, in turn, create a pulsing sound in your didj. To do this try making a “ha…ha…ha” or laughing noise without using your actual voice. You can do this softly or forcefully.[8]
  6. Step 6 Experiment with unique vocalizations. 6 Experiment with unique vocalizations. Keep a steady drone and then get creative with your tones and sounds. Form your mouth as if you were about to say a letter, such as “A,” then keep the drone going and see how that changes the harmonics. Try repeating various vowels combos, like “AOE.” This will require that you carefully monitor your breathing.
    • It is also quite common to make animal sounds on the didj. Try a bark for dingo. Or, maybe a more complex “Kuku” noise for the Kukubarra.
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Method 3 Method 3 of 4:

Mastering Circular Breathing

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  1. Step 1 Pay attention to your current breathing patterns. 1 Pay attention to your current breathing patterns. Sit down and take a handful of deep breaths. Focus in on how the air flows through your body and how you exhale. Do you naturally inhale with your mouth? Do you automatically exhale through your nose? As you head toward a nose-centered breathing technique this will help you to identify your strengths and weaknesses.[9]
  2. Step 2 Understand the mechanics of circular breathing. 2 Understand the mechanics of circular breathing. The goal is to maintain a continual, uninterrupted air supply while playing the didgeridoo. You will pull air in with your nose while simultaneously pushing air out through your mouth into the didj mouthpiece. You will also continue to drone throughout this process.[10]
    • With circular breathing you consider the air that you breath in and the air in your mouth as two different entities. They should both feel as if they are never empty and consistently in motion. Establishing a rhythm is important here.[11]
    • One of the keys is to resist blowing the air out of your mouth. That will empty your lungs and stop the drone. Instead, slowly push the air out of your mouth mimicking the same motion as you would when spitting out water.
  3. Step 3 Practice circular breathing with water. 3 Practice circular breathing with water. Before you are ready to hit the didj, you need to practice. Get a straw and a glass of water. Place the straw in the water and put your lips the tip of the straw. Inhale through your nose while blowing bubbles in the water. Try to keep the bubbles constant as they represent the constancy of your drone. Repeat this multiple times a day until it becomes easy.
    • Another way to practice is to drink and hold water in your mouth until your cheeks puff out. Then, slowly spit the water out of your mouth. Inhale through your nose as you do this. Your tongue should keep you from gagging or swallowing the water. It is easy to practice this one in the shower.[12]
  4. Step 4 Practice circular breathing with inflated cheeks. 4 Practice circular breathing with inflated cheeks. Without the didj, simulate your breathing movements. Breath in until your cheeks are full. Keep inhaling through your nose as you push the air out of your mouth. Be controlled in these movements.[13]
  5. Step 5 Find your breathing rhythm with the didj. 5 Find your breathing rhythm with the didj. Apply your circular breathing techniques when playing the didgeridoo. Keep up the inhale/push out rhythm while maintaining your drone. Avoid incorporating any extra sounds until you have a good handle on the breathing. If your breath is holding steady, the didj will sound steady and full of air as well.[14]
    • You should not expect to master circular breathing right away. It is generally one of the more frustrating parts of learning to play the didgeridoo. Keep working on your breathing but recognize that you can still play the didj without holding long notes.[15]
  6. Step 6 Enhance your lung capacity. 6 Enhance your lung capacity. Inhale in a controlled manner until your lungs feel full. Hold this air in for one second before exhaling slowing until your lungs feel totally drained. Pause for a second and repeat. Do this exercise for 10-15 minutes every day and you will see results.[16]
    • You can also improve your lung capacity by avoiding smoking and regularly exercising.
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Method 4 Method 4 of 4:

Refining Your Playing Skills

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  1. Step 1 Keep practicing. 1 Keep practicing. As it is with any instrument, practice is key when learning the didj. Play as often as you can. Challenge yourself with new sounds and holding positions. Gather up an audience and play for them and get feedback. Once you gain the confidence even an open-mic night becomes a possibility.[17]
  2. Step 2 Record yourself. 2 Record yourself. If you are not comfortable playing for others face-to-face, you can record your sounds and place them online at a didj forum. Find a forum such as this by entering “didgeridoo forum” into a search engine. If you post a clip you could receive feedback from other players. Or, you could record your playing simply for yourself as a way to self-critique.[18]
  3. Step 3 Take a class. 3 Take a class. To receive more in-depth instruction, enroll in an online class or take a course at your local college, if offered.[19] Some of these classes are offered by musicians for free and others require a fee so investigate before signing up. These classes often incorporate the history of the didj as well, which can add another layer to your experience.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question How do I apply a beeswax mouthpiece to the didgeridoo? Community Answer Community Answer Coil the beeswax around the mouthpiece, then mold the beeswax into a comfortable shape and it will harden, creating an airtight seal. You can adjust the size of the center hole depending on how much air you'd like to push through the mouthpiece. These adjustments can even be made mid-play as the wax will soften due to the heat from your lips. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 2 Helpful 8
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Tips

  • Playing the didgeridoo can improve your health if you suffer from sleep apnea or snoring by improving your ability to breathe deeply and freely.[20] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Before diving into didj practice, consider warming up your entire body to ensure you're physically prepared. Engage in light exercise, take a warm shower, or steam your face to relax your muscles and promote better airflow. Hydration and proper nutrition are also essential to optimize your energy levels.[21] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • You can combine your didj playing with other forms of music, such as beat boxing, if you want an extra creative edge. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

  • Remember to breathe! Take care not to get woozy or pass out. The way experienced players keep the drone going is by blowing out while breathing in, not forgetting to breathe in at all. Thanks Helpful 27 Not Helpful 12
  • Check your didgeridoo for cracks or any other damage. Some of the mass-produced models are poor quality and split easily. Cracking will impact the sound quality in a negative way. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0
  • Some people have problems playing the didj with a beard or mustache. If this is the case, try to keep your facial hair trimmed short to make rim contact easier. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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References

  1. https://lapaine.com/index.php/2010/11/30/enjoy-didgeridoo-more/
  2. https://lapaine.com/index.php/2010/11/30/enjoy-didgeridoo-more/
  3. https://www.didgeridoodojo.com/beginner-didgeridoo-lessons/
  4. https://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/38/42/dtg-didgeridoo-lessons-in-greenpoint-2015-10-09-bk.html
  5. https://desertmountaindidges.com/didge-playing-tips/
  6. https://www.didgeridoodojo.com/beginner-didgeridoo-lessons/
  7. https://desertmountaindidges.com/didge-playing-tips/
  8. https://www.didgeridoodojo.com/beginner-didgeridoo-lessons/
  9. https://didgeproject.com/didgeridoo-lessons/strengthen-breath-expand-lung-capacity-wind-instruments/
More References (12)
  1. https://desertmountaindidges.com/didge-playing-tips/
  2. https://didgeproject.com/circular-breathing/6-steps-to-mastering-circular-breathing-on-didgeridoo/
  3. https://desertmountaindidges.com/didge-playing-tips/
  4. https://didgeproject.com/circular-breathing/6-steps-to-mastering-circular-breathing-on-didgeridoo/
  5. https://didgeproject.com/circular-breathing/6-steps-to-mastering-circular-breathing-on-didgeridoo/
  6. https://desertmountaindidges.com/didge-playing-tips/
  7. https://didgeproject.com/didgeridoo-lessons/strengthen-breath-expand-lung-capacity-wind-instruments/
  8. https://lapaine.com/index.php/2010/11/30/enjoy-didgeridoo-more/
  9. https://lapaine.com/index.php/2010/11/30/enjoy-didgeridoo-more/
  10. https://www.didgeridoobreath.com/didgeridoo-dojo-learn-online-s/227.htm
  11. https://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2005/12/23/1537183.htm
  12. Amy Chapman, MA. Voice & Speech Coach. Expert Interview

About This Article

Amy Chapman, MA Co-authored by: Amy Chapman, MA Singing Coach This article was co-authored by Amy Chapman, MA. Amy Chapman MA, CCC-SLP is a Vocal Therapist and Singing Voice Specialist. Amy is a licensed and board-certified speech & language pathologist who has dedicated her career to helping professionals improve and optimize their voice. Amy has lectured on voice optimization, speech, vocal health, and voice rehabilitation at universities across California, including UCLA, USC, Chapman University, Cal Poly Pomona, CSUF, CSULA. Amy is trained in Lee Silverman Voice Therapy, Estill, LMRVT, and is a part of the American Speech and Hearing Association. This article has been viewed 274,680 times. 6 votes - 80% Co-authors: 32 Updated: January 31, 2025 Views: 274,680 Categories: Woodwind Instruments Article SummaryX

To play didgeridoo, relax your lips and blow through them so that they vibrate and create a droning sound. Next, place your lips firmly against the mouthpiece and push your tongue against the roof of your mouth. Then, roll your tongue like you're saying an extended "r" sound in Spanish while maintaining a steady base drone. Once you get the hang of it, you can experiment with different tones, sounds, and vocalizations. For tips on controlling your breathing while you play, read on! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • Anonymous

    Anonymous

    Jun 16, 2018

    "Breathing technique helped most. I can play for a longer period without having to inhale so much."
More reader stories Hide reader stories Share your story

Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Amy Chapman, MA Co-authored by: Amy Chapman, MA Singing Coach Co-authors: 32 Updated: January 31, 2025 Views: 274,680 80% of readers found this article helpful. 6 votes - 80% Click a star to add your vote Anonymous

Anonymous

Jun 16, 2018

"Breathing technique helped most. I can play for a longer period without having to inhale so much." Anonymous

Anonymous

Sep 10, 2024

"I needed to research on the didgeridoo and it helped :)." Mike O.

Mike O.

Jul 18, 2023

"This article is really helpful on learning." Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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