| Name and Country |
Do you prefer to play contemporary or traditional styles on the didgeridoo? |
Do you prefer to listen to contemporary or traditional styles on the didgeridoo? |
What is the difference between contemporary and traditional style playing? |
| Anonymous from USA |
Can not play |
Both |
The throat action |
| Anonymous |
Can not play |
Do not know |
Traditional is original |
| Anonymous |
Do not know |
Both |
Not sure |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Both |
Traditional is the original true form whereas contemporary is for popular appeal. |
| Al from Australia |
Both |
Both |
Story telling vs beats |
| Alan Lowe from United Kingdom |
Both |
Both |
Contemporary to me is more modern traditional seems much more laid back |
| Alessandro from Italy |
Do not know |
Do not know |
I think that they're influences. |
| Anonymous from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
Not sure I would imagine contemporary playing adds new techniques but I'm not sure which they are...traditional playing consists mostly of mimicking animal sounds and drones with circular breathing |
| Anonymous |
Do not know |
Do not know |
I have no idea |
| Anonymous from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
Traditional playing styles vary between different regions involve fast complex rhythms with sounds created by intricate tongue work techniques passed down from generations. Contemporary playing doesn't follow the traditional way but players will develop their own style playing the music for enjoyment or other purposes not just ceremonial. |
| Amy from USA |
Can not play |
Both |
Don't know... have heard of Xavier Rudd other than that mostly people playing @ Dead shows |
| Amy Ellis from United Kingdom |
Both |
Both |
I'm not sure really but to guess I would say it is the music that it accompanies so it could be modern trance of with jembe drums. I like being inspired by natures sounds and animals. This is both |
| Amy from USA |
Do not know |
Both |
I am not sure |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Both |
Rhythms and playing techniques |
| Anonymous |
Do not know |
Both |
I don't know |
| Angie from USA |
Contemporary |
Both |
Traditional is what is played and passed down from the Aboriginal people. Contemporary is really anything else that is played on the didge |
| Anonymous from Australia |
Do not know |
Do not know |
Traditional didgeridoos are made out of wood |
| Anonymous |
Traditional |
Traditional |
Traditional style is more authentic story telling however modern style would be playing using modern music style |
| Anonymous from USA |
Do not know |
Both |
They sound the same but I have seen and played in an orchestra where the soloist had a contemporary didge |
| Anthony Kubiak from USA |
Both |
Both |
Not sure how to say but I think of contemporary styles as being more experimental" seeking to stretch the uses of the instrument. Traditional forms use known rhythm and sounds" |
| Anonymous from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
I couldn't say. |
| Ashley from USA |
Do not know |
Both |
Contemporary sounds are more modernized |
| Anonymous from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
N/A |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Both |
Traditional style is mainly used for ceremonial purposes only. In the traditional style the use of clapsticks and singing is used. |
| Anonymous |
Do not know |
Do not know |
Traditional-Aboriginal playing as has been done over generations contemporary- changes made over time |
| Anonymous |
Contemporary |
Both |
I believe contemporary playing is more fun and traditional style was meant to have purpose. |
| Beat from Switzerland |
Both |
Both |
Patterns and stories around the songs are different dancing and singing rarely accompanies modern playing where it is often used as a solo instrument |
| Beth from USA |
Do not know |
Traditional |
Traditional style is complex rhythms with sounds created by intricate tongue work passed down by word of mouth. Contemporary style has free range to use whatever rhythms that suit them. |
| Beverly from USA |
Both |
Traditional |
I believe traditional styles incorporate animal sounds and tend to be more meditative. I think contemporary styles are anything goes. |
| Brandi from USA |
Can not play |
Both |
Contemporary-Fast & complex riffs for more of a rock sound & acoustic horn sort of thing going on. traditional- more or less the mimicking of sounds of the surrounding areas ex. nature |
| Brandon Barnard from USA |
Both |
Both |
Traditional is more rooted in a particular style of playing where as contemporary can be more free-form such as the addition of beat-boxing or how Shibaten plays |
| Brandon from USA |
Do not know |
Both |
Don't know. Contemporary is more jazzy? |
| Anonymous from USA |
Can not play |
Both |
Traditional style is more used for ceremonies and is more meaningful where the contemporary is more upbeat and has a more modern sound. |
| Anonymous |
Can not play |
Do not know |
Do not know. My guess is that one has more religious connections. |
| Anonymous |
Contemporary |
Both |
More innovation with contemporary styles |
| Anonymous from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
Don't know |
| Anonymous from USA |
Do not know |
Both |
I do not know! But can not wait to find out; ) Love the didj! |
| Anonymous |
Both |
Both |
Tonality rhythm and more. |
| Brooks from USA |
Both |
Both |
Contemporary in my opinion can incorporate a multitude of new" stylings including beatboxing and such. Traditional is much more in line with true Aboriginal playing." |
| Carol from USA |
Can not play |
Traditional |
Contemporary uses didj unique sound to add to other styles of music |
| Carol from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
Don't know |
| Anonymous |
Do not know |
Traditional |
The beat. |
| Anonymous from Germany |
Contemporary |
Both |
I can't explain the difference |
| Anonymous from USA |
Can not play |
Do not know |
I am not that familiar with didgeridoo music other than what I have heard from friends and music festivals. |
| Cathy from Australia |
Both |
Both |
Contemporary is blended with modern influences of music such as new age electric etc |
| Anonymous |
Do not know |
Do not know |
Don't know |
| Anonymous from Canada |
Traditional |
Both |
Traditional follows the rhythm patterns traditionally played (with sticks singing..) and as for contemporary well it is a wider ranger of play which can include beatbox or anything that can be imagined with this wonderful instrument. |
| Charles Steward from USA |
Can not play |
Do not know |
None |
| Anonymous |
Can not play |
Do not know |
I don't know |
| Charlie from USA |
Traditional |
Both |
Tribal vs orchestral |
| Anonymous |
Can not play |
Both |
Contemporary would be using electrical didge additions...traditional is the sound of animals and communication |
| Anonymous from USA |
Can not play |
Both |
Unknown |
| Chris from USA |
Both |
Both |
Rhythm |
| Christopher from United Kingdom |
Traditional |
Both |
Contemporary is a mixture of old and modern mainstream styles put together |
| Christopher Horn from Oman |
Both |
Both |
Rhythm and articulation mostly as opposed to intensity and elaboration of sounds. |
| Corry from USA |
Contemporary |
Both |
Don't know yet |
| Craig from Malaysia |
Contemporary |
Both |
Traditional styles are characterized by intricate tongue work and style patterns that have been passed down word of mouth for generations. Contemporary is really just play as you like it. |
| Craig from USA |
Can not play |
Do not know |
At this point I'm a blank slate and have no point of reference. |
| Anonymous |
Traditional |
Traditional |
I don't like the beat boxing |
| Anonymous |
Do not know |
Do not know |
Don't know |
| Dan from USA |
Both |
Both |
Sounds made while playing |
| Anonymous |
Do not know |
Contemporary |
I don't know |
| Dana from Canada |
Do not know |
Traditional |
I suspect the traditional is done in a specific style with a specific time honoured instrument. |
| Anonymous from Canada |
Contemporary |
Contemporary |
Traditional playing is ceremonial and has specific meaning for aboriginal |
| Darlene Demos Now Meredith from USA |
Can not play |
Both |
Traditional didgeridoos are mainly used in conjunction with singing clap sticks and dancing for ceremonial purposes however they can also be played informally. Contemporary playing uses various techniques to create a didgeridoo sound or rhythm. A contemporary player has free range to develop their own unique style. They have no formal playing conventions and are free to use their own developed techniques. |
| Darwin Ortuya from Chile |
Both |
Traditional |
Contemporary uses rhythmical times according to the occidental modern music as techno for example... traditional has no specific tempo (from what I heard) an it has a most meditative purpose than musical... |
| David from USA |
Do not know |
Both |
Not sure |
| Anonymous from USA |
Contemporary |
Both |
Traditional is from aboriginal ancestors contemporary is often non-aboriginal. |
| Anonymous |
Do not know |
Both |
Contemporary is a modern style close to western music in beat style etc. Traditional is usually slower and more on the lines of storytelling. |
| David from USA |
Can not play |
Do not know |
Do not know |
| Anonymous |
Can not play |
Traditional |
Still learning....want to learn!! |
| David Vanderpoole from USA |
Do not know |
Both |
Traditional is more imbued with its original culture and values of nature and spirituality. Contemporary would be an innovative outgrowth from traditional style yet with entertainment and commerce as predominant values. |
| Dean Archer from United Kingdom |
Contemporary |
Contemporary |
Contemporary is much more melodic |
| Devonne from USA |
Can not play |
Do not know |
I don't know. |
| Anonymous |
Can not play |
Both |
Contemporary is modernised. |
| Donat from Belgium |
Contemporary |
Contemporary |
Traditional didgeridoo is more difficult to comprehend and follow for me. I can relate more to contemporary styles. |
| Donovan Russell from USA |
Traditional |
Traditional |
More of a soothing feel to contemporary styles |
| Doug from USA |
Can not play |
Traditional |
I would say that contemporary form is that which is incorporated into other forms of produced music such as trance" music or any other mainstream...while traditional style is more for healing communication education" |
| Drew Smith from USA |
Both |
Traditional |
I think that contemporary didgeridoo music keeps more of a tempo with it and the didgeridoo is played with a very wide variety of instruments in contemporary music. Traditional music is much more spontaneous and unpredictable than contemporary. I like playing traditional style because you can do anything you want to and it allows me to play solo. |
| Anonymous from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
I'm not sure. |
| Ed from USA |
Do not know |
Both |
Unsure |
| Edward Skipper from USA |
Both |
Both |
I believe contemporary would be sorta like New styles of playing.....playing with other non-traditional Instruments. using effects pedals etc....Traditional style to Me anyway would be Story telling Dream time etc... that dates back some 40 000 years ago or so? using clap sticks etc... |
| Anonymous from USA |
Do not know |
Do not know |
I have no idea but I would like to find out |
| Anonymous from Israel |
Can not play |
Contemporary |
Contemporary is without rules or solid guidelines while traditional comes from teaching that was passed on through the generations. |
| Emily Bouldrey from USA |
Both |
Both |
Traditional is more rhythmic and well true to australian aboriginal music contemporary is modern and is often played with an entire band. |
| Emma from USA |
Contemporary |
Both |
Traditional playing is playing for ceremonial purposes and involves a set of sacred traditions where contemporary playing has no set rules. |
| Eric from USA |
Do not know |
Both |
My guess is contemporary involves other instruments |
| Eric Russell from USA |
Can not play |
Do not know |
I don't know |
| Erik from USA |
Both |
Traditional |
Traditional is generally non-rhythmic but can be rhythmic with out extension it is used to tell a story as a major aspect of the passing of oral history. Traditional can also be very rhythmic for other sacred purposes. Contemporary is generally any other style of Didgeridoo playing. |
| Anonymous |
Traditional |
Both |
Contemporary has more focus on complex rhythms and a sort of 'beat boxing' playing technique. Traditional focuses on sound frequencies and drone quality with imitating or letting the sounds of the wild life and of the earth flow through the instrument |
| Anonymous |
Do not know |
Both |
Don't know |
| Evan from USA |
Both |
Traditional |
Different rhythm's |
| Anonymous |
Do not know |
Do not know |
Don't know |
