Besides having a reputation for being “full of things that can kill you,” Australia is also known for a unique instrument–the wooden didgeridoo, sometimes also referred to as a “drone pipe.” This wind instrument, developed by Indigenous Australians of northern Australia around 1,500 years ago, is still widely today both in Australia and around the world.
Most didgeridoos are around four feet in length, but can vary from three to ten feet long. Usually, the longer the instrument, the lower the pitch or key of the instrument. However, adding a flare to the end of an instrument will make the pitch higher than a non-flared instrument of the same length.
The construction of a didgeridoo is typically made from the trunk or large branch of various hardwoods, eucalyptus being a common choice. A beeswax ring is added to the mouthpiece, and the finished instruments can be painted or decorated, though doing so is not essential.
To play the didgeridoo, musicians use a special breathing technique called circular breathing, in which a person simultaneously expels air through the mouth using the tongue and cheeks while breathing in through the nose at the same time. Getting the hang of this technique requires skill and practice, but once mastered, allows a musician to play notes for as long as he or she wants, without breaks. Check out musician Ryka Ali as he plays an incredible seven minutes straight for a captivated LA crowd.
