Name and Country |
What is the longest you have played didj continuously using circular breathing (without any break in the sound at all)? |
Please share your experience of playing didj continuously for long periods of time? |
| Aaron from USA |
1 hour + |
When I get into a grove on my didgeridoo the world fades out. For short spans of playing it is easy to stay with reality however once you pass a certain point in your breathing a pace everything fades to leave you the world and your stick. I forget all things around me and become one with myself feeling my surroundings rather than looking and listening. |
| Aj from USA |
3 hours + |
I achieve a trance like state very close to dreaming |
| Anonymous |
2-5 min |
I have just recently fallen in love with the didge. My wife thinks I'm crazy and maybe she's right but I still enjoy the instrument and plan on getting a traditional didge soon. |
| Andy Duroe from Switzerland |
40-50 min |
I used to play street music for over 10 years would play up to 5hrs a day when you build up the muscles and get the breathing rhythm correct it only builds up energy with time makes a nice warm buzz over your whole body the only reason to stop would be sleep. Quitting smoking helps a lot |
| Anna from USA |
5-10 min |
My ex boyfriend had a didj and I practiced often the longest I could ever hold the sound without breaking it was 7.5 minutes. |
| Bill Muller from South Africa |
30-40 min |
Most relaxing and energy flow through my whole body' |
| Brad from Australia |
10-15 min |
I have only been playing for about 3 years being completely self taught it took me awhile to learn to circular breath so when I could finally breath continuously I would play for as long as possible I find I feel very relaxed |
| Anonymous |
10-15 min |
Once I heard a loud "flames" or "wind" noise and sort of lost consciousness. It was pretty neat. |
| Bruce from USA |
5-10 min |
I just play for myself and for meditation...the length I play just depends on my mood |
| Dallas from USA |
Up to 2 min |
I am still learning. I hope to play better quality "real" ones some day - I think I'd be better on an authentic. |
| Francisco from Portugal |
15-20 min |
At this point I am still focused on learning new advanced techniques (like the wobble) so I only play for long periods of time when I want to see how long I can do it. I don't know if 15 to 20 minutes is even long time. Anyway I feel at ease because I don't have problems with my circular and bounce breathing it normally gets in "auto-pilot" and I stop when I am rather bored than tired (i am still learning the techniques to start playing real music and long complex rhythms) |
| Katt from USA |
25-30 min |
It is exciting to know that you can be lead into freedom of breathing by playing for longer periods of time. |
| Manuel from Italy |
1 hour + |
Simply getting an altered status of consciousness relaxed sometime visions sometime pure emptiness |
| Mike from USA |
10-15 min |
Very calming - settles my mind down nicely. |
| Anonymous |
15-20 min |
Makes your lips tingle when your done |
| Anonymous from USA |
Up to 2 min |
I have only played a few times but I'd love more chances. I loved playing. |
| Rebecca from USA |
2-5 min |
I played one when I spent a day with the jawoyn people in manyallaluk and I went for 3 min it was so cool |
| Scot Magnuson from USA |
10-15 min |
Have enjoyed very much learning. At first was difficult but now I don't know why it was so hard. It comes so natural now. |
| Ulrik Ekonen from Argentina |
25-30 min |
My body splits I close my eyes and block one of my ears sound gets more and more harmonic different rhythms fly through mouth and tongue my lips at last get numb and all my body cells feels the vibration. |
| Walter Simion from Italy |
Up to 2 min |
Fa bene suonare perchè riesco a staccarmi dal terreno e entrare in sintonia con l'universo |
| Aaron from New Zealand |
25-30 min |
Sends you to another world |
| Anonymous from USA |
5-10 min |
It's very unique pleasing and purifying... and also quite spiritual especially when undisturbed. |
| Alex Eastburn from USA |
1 hour + |
My mind and body are very relaxed but very open and focused. I also have the feeling that my thoughts and feelings and energy are not contained entirely in my body. |
| Anonymous from Chile |
20-25 min |
It's really hard very demanding. sometimes you can keep on breathing but your lips aren't strong enough but when you enter in flow of the sound again you just go. |
| Andrew Hodge from Canada |
15-20 min |
After a few minutes of playing I move in to a trance. My breathing starts to move me to the beat. And the beat becomes very eclectic. |
| Andrew from Australia |
Can play but not circular |
Calming vibration type sensations throughout the body |
| Andrew from Australia |
5-10 min |
Therapeutic |
| Anonymous |
10-15 min |
I really enjoyed it. |
| Anonymous from Finland |
10-15 min |
After playing long period of time I got that funny feeling that my hands and lips are still vibrating. Very relaxed. |
| Barry Adams from United Kingdom |
2-5 min |
Absolutely wonderful but still working on it. |
| Bart from Netherlands |
30-40 min |
Mesmerizing:)!! After a while it goes on 'auto pilot'. I could play longer but was trying to exercise also with different playing techniques. It is fun to do after you the the hang of it. Still a lot to learn but you definitely feel more energetic after a good session. |
| Bjorn Restad/former Noremsaune from Norway |
20-25 min |
Its great and leave me very calm |
| Bob from Canada |
40-50 min |
Dizzy very very dizzy. at the time I was at an open stage with a blues band and we would jam to the digeri-blues...i had no concept of how much time had passed...i was playing very loud and fast it took some 15 or so minutes to "come down" afterwards....the crowd loved it..... |
| Brad Lackey from USA |
5-10 min |
Tiring and relaxing at the same time. The full body vibrations take you to another place. |
| Brendan Moloney from Spain |
20-25 min |
I personally get the feeling of letting go and forgetting all the bad things and troubles. I get really into the rhythm and represent it with images. |
| Brian from USA |
Can play but not circular |
I played didge with a drum circle once. It was challenging but great fun. I played long slow notes when the rhythm was slow or fast when the rhythm was more complex. Afterwards my mouth was numb! But I felt open and relaxed. I'm looking forward to doing that again. |
| Anonymous from USA |
Can play but not circular |
Enjoy it a lot and find it good for my sinuses. |
| Bryan Scotson-smith from United Kingdom |
15-20 min |
Feels real cool |
| Camilo from Chile |
2-5 min |
It really was a cool experience a real achievement and a happy day when I could play for like 3mins continuously mainly because I trained and trained a lot to finally keep the circular breathing stable and also to play like an aboriginal:). |
| Candy from USA |
Can play but not circular |
It can be frustrating to not get the breathing down. But it is fun and relaxing to keep trying most days. |
| Cari from USA |
5-10 min |
It is mind transforming and brings me to another place. I use didj as a warm-up to playing my trombone and I can hold a note longer than ANYONE in my band! |
| Carlos Guillermo from Mexico |
10-15 min |
Breaking the time relaxation sometimes an energetic rush awareness and clarity of mind. Once even disappear a toothache. |
| Anonymous from Australia |
10-15 min |
Warm australian summer evening hint of an easterly from the coast... didge and country sing |
| Anonymous |
2-5 min |
Energising |
| Charley from USA |
5-10 min |
Definitely a meditative spiritual experience. Allows like traditional Eastern meditation a total focus on the breath. |
| Anonymous |
Can play but not circular |
I have not done this but a friend uses this to settle himself in for the day to re-center himself. |
| Clement from France |
5-10 min |
Soothing experience... teaches you how to breathe deeply! |
| Daniel Cohen from USA |
5-10 min |
Some times the saliva build up can hinder long playing. Some play sessions the lips will fatigue or I would get the harmonics looking for. I guess I don't have all the techniques to keep things interesting. |
| Darren Searle from Australia |
10-15 min |
Very relaxing soothing harmonious rhythmic entrancing. |
| Dave from Australia |
2-5 min |
Satisfaction of going this long ( 5 minutes ) without keeling over! |
| David from Canada |
2-5 min |
I am still working on mastering the circular-breathing technique and so I find that I am so concentrated on it that I can't enjoy the experience as much as if it came naturally to me. I am usually quite out of breath by the end of of 3-4 minutes and lose my circular breathing rhythm if I try to add any "barks" or anything other than the simple drone. |
| David from USA |
5-10 min |
It was with one other didgeridoo player a drum set and a couple guitars. Good jamming. |
| David from USA |
5-10 min |
I am also a professional Trumpet player in Omaha NE so learning the didj has always been a dream of mine. It is very similar to playing the trumpet as far as circular breathing goes just relax and make sure to take good short snorts to get your air as often as you need it. |
| Derrick Jackson from USA |
2-5 min |
It is hard to grasp at first but is very rewarding when you do |
| Anonymous from USA |
5-10 min |
For the length of time I've played (which I don't consider a long time) I get an uplifting and invigorating feeling |
| Dustin from USA |
30-40 min |
After the first 10 minutes time flies like whoa. |
| Ed Obermeyer from Us Minor Outlying Islands |
50-60 min |
Very enlightening....an ethereal feeling takes place that is very hard to describe. For me it is more of an artistic experience. |
| Edward Magee from Canada |
Up to 2 min |
Most relaxing |
| Eric Boucher from Canada |
1 hour + |
It is interesting to consider the amazing effects of long periods of time playing the didj. Over many times especially if there is only a short break between these periods the body goes through major physiological changes as well as emotional and "spiritual" all the way through. Depending on the awareness of the player at the beginning the physical effect is quite potent. The resonance in the cranium builds up and starts to affect the frontal area of one's face. If played with the eyes open the vision starts to be affected too. Anyhow from there on the player focus of awareness starts to blur with the environment in which one plays to the point of losing the physical feeling of differentiation between one's body and the exterior of it. The awareness of the player thus expands outside of its "usual" external reference and starts to bond with the object(s) of its attention. At this point I have to say that sky is NOT the limit. You can go waaaaay beyond that point where time and space doesn't or hardly belongs. |
| Erik from USA |
Up to 2 min |
Playing the didge makes me happy and puts me into an extremely relaxed state. It both relaxes me but also leaves me alert.... At this point I don't have the stamina or technique to play continuously while circular breathing but it is still fun and amazing. It's like no other instrument I've ever played. I love this instrument. |
| Erik from Netherlands |
25-30 min |
While focusing on playing I get more and more relaxed both physically and mentally (even though I may play fast rhythms). |
| Anonymous from Portugal |
25-30 min |
It is good for meditation and to find peace. |
| Fred Ashplant from USA |
25-30 min |
I was visiting a friend who is a master hand drummer (congas djembes etc.) He began playing an African marimba and I started playing one of the Brad GoSam didges I bought from you (C flat). after a short time another very talented musician arrived with his guitar and began playing along with us and maybe ten minutes later we were joined by a flute player and we continued unabated for twenty minutes or a half hour or so. After we were finished with this impromptu session we were all amazed at the quality of the music and someone opined that we should have had a recorder going. |
| Fredrik from Sweden |
5-10 min |
My lips started to tingle... It is like meditation. I felt very relaxed and happy after. |
| Gabe from Canada |
2-5 min |
I find it relaxing and soothing to my stresses but I also feel very conscious |
| George from Cyprus |
25-30 min |
I find it very relaxing/meditative and there comes a point where I have no idea what I'm playing and my spirit takes over and comes out with really beautiful meditative 'music' that I could never repeat or remember. |
| Anonymous from USA |
20-25 min |
I do this to practice circular breathing. |
| Graham from United Kingdom |
15-20 min |
I didn't set out to do it I was just sitting on my porch in Tasmania listening to the birds. I had no TV at the time so I spent most of my relaxing time there. I would end up playing my didj for long periods maybe even longer than 2mins and I wouldn't even consider the passing of time. I was in a trance a union with the amazing bird sounds around me. |
| Greg from USA |
Up to 2 min |
I often feel lighter even happier then before I had started playing it also seems to invigorate me. |
| Guillermo Tarin Paris from Spain |
Up to 2 min |
You have to try it there is no similar sensation. |
| Anonymous from New Zealand |
10-15 min |
It still requires a lot of effort. I am concentrating more on breathing and the tune is building but I am not ready for a concert yet. |
| Anonymous |
10-15 min |
Probably one of the most relaxing and rewarding experiences. Combined with meditation this is the natural drug which is safe and free and the best cure for a bad mood. |
| Heath from USA |
10-15 min |
When I first got it I was obsessed with learning proper circular breathing but it was very tiring on the muscles of the mouth but I eventually learned it and had some very interesting psychedelic experiences with prolonged playing. |
| Idan Saidi from Israel |
10-15 min |
I love it. I feel very best after playing a while. like healing |
| Ivica from Croatia/Hrvatska |
20-25 min |
Fresh relaxed peaceful comes to mind when I think of long didge playing |
| Jake from USA |
2-5 min |
Usually for meditation purposes. It takes a special mind set for me to focus on circular breathing and so it takes awhile to sink into it but once I'm there its magic haha |
| James Balducci from USA |
2-5 min |
I feel relaxed a kind of high feeling (could be from lack of oxygen). But it definitely relaxes my mind and body. |
| Jared from USA |
10-15 min |
If I play too long my lip will spilt and bleed. |
| Jeff from USA |
10-15 min |
While I have not experienced any sort of extra-normal sensations I do feel the joy of successful playing. |
| Jerome from France |
1 hour + |
I feel it's freeing at the same time my body and mind. When I play as well as a long time after that I feel loads better. |
| Joao from Portugal |
3 hours + |
I was flying away playing a song very quickly normally I close my eyes and I feel a little dizzy after but it feels very nice |
| Anonymous |
5-10 min |
Amazing sometimes relaxing but must of the time "fitness" (fast playing) |
| Anonymous |
3 hours + |
Dried my nasal passages out! |
| Anonymous from USA |
10-15 min |
There was nothing else like it |
| Anonymous |
1 hour + |
It becomes like breathing |
| Anonymous from Canada |
40-50 min |
I just love the overall feeling of relaxation. Amazing how it focuses the mind while at the same time stills it. Gives me a feeling on contentment. |
| Johnny Johnny from USA |
10-15 min |
Had an opportunity to play for some children and the energy of the kids kept me going they thought it was magical |
| Jon from USA |
2-5 min |
I practice but don't have the musical skill but I keep practicing. I sometime have to take breaks helps me relax |
| Jordan from USA |
Can play but not circular |
I am a musician who really feels his music. Playing and hearing the deep tones of a didgeridoo seems to almost relax me. I feel my breathing improve as I play them for long periods of time. |
| Jorge from Peru |
1 hour + |
Strong work put and manifest intentions trough the sound. connection with the ancestors. |
| Joseph from Netherlands |
20-25 min |
When the didj is warm the lips on tension and the stomach relaxed the playing is easy and relaxing |
| Anonymous |
Can play but not circular |
I can not play for very long at a time. I am in the woodworking industry and get extreme allergies and sinus all the time. This make circular breathing very difficult for me. I play for about 15 minutes then I get very short of breath and have toe rest for a while. I have been playing for a year now and love to sit on the beach and watch the sun set while I play didge after a surf session. |
| Ken Betteley from Australia |
2-5 min |
I have only learnt on my piece of pvc not what I want but its all I can afford but it was the best feeling when I started to circular breathe |
| Kenny from USA |
40-50 min |
It seems that playing with out a break for me can be for 20 minutes after I warm up. We've played for hours but doesn't seem to be more than 40 minutes when something happens to make at least a little break. Usually a long playing time is about meditation or a gathering where we have several didj players intertwined. |
| Kent from USA |
Can play but not circular |
Relaxing but unfortunately I can't circular breath yet so not relaxing enough. |
| Anonymous from USA |
2-5 min |
Grounding |
| Anonymous from United Kingdom |
20-25 min |
It regulates your breathing becomes easier over time as you physically relax into the circular breathing. You go into a mild meditative state while playing. |
| Koen from Netherlands |
25-30 min |
Its a euphoric experience. I had the feeling that the continuous rhythm and body/mind movement (maybe as well as the amount of oxygen in my system;-) ) gave me an uplifting calming sensation. if taken to the extreme it might be like an out-of-body kind of thing |
| Kris Ulrich from Canada |
5-10 min |
I found I felt really at calm and peaceful. It made me fall in love with the didgeridoo and I felt very connected to the Earth. |
| Anonymous from USA |
10-15 min |
Have played continuously in periods of meditation |
| Loe In De Braekt from Netherlands |
5-10 min |
I love the special sound. |
| Lr from USA |
10-15 min |
Extremely meditative; also extremely creative |
| Anonymous from Spain |
10-15 min |
Magic |
| Manuel from Italy |
10-15 min |
Better then acid! |
| Marlon Fuller from USA |
5-10 min |
Its harder than what you think it is. lots of practice. |
| Martin from USA |
25-30 min |
Altered states |
| Martin Sørensen from Denmark |
10-15 min |
I love its great and I get warm when I play for a long time. its also good for your health. And I feel good and relaxed afterwards. |
| Maurice Dickson from Ireland |
5-10 min |
I did fall over once! I'm ok now though!! |
| Max from Peru |
30-40 min |
One starts to feel something that I haven't yet rationalized. One feels peaceful stop thinking in respiration and start to think in one self. Like meditation. |
| Michelle Brough from USA |
Can play but not circular |
Although I haven't cracked the circular breathing (yet!) I find playing the didj is so relaxing and calming. |
| Miguel from Spain |
5-10 min |
The vibration transports to you to another place far from the stress of the daily routine. |
| Murray Willett from USA |
30-40 min |
Used it in a healing ceremony. |
| Neil Gee from USA |
40-50 min |
I lost myself to time and to the current situation and just "zoned out" for a while. When I stopped friends said "are you ok?" Yes more than ok..heheh |
| Nolan from USA |
5-10 min |
I am overcome by joy when I do it for a long time of about 5 minutes or more and it puts me into a different state of mind. |
| Omar L. De La Tejera from Mexico |
25-30 min |
When I started to play for more than 5 minutes I used to feel that from my forehead (center) some sand were falling |
| Patrick Bodine from USA |
Up to 2 min |
I do at least try to circular breathe and I play during the worldwide didgeridoo circle |
| Anonymous from Germany |
25-30 min |
I prefer to take a quick breather every now and then - maybe to reposition mouthpiece. Why the stress. CB for me is not about a world record in absolute continuity (what is the world record BTW...?) |
| Paul Tyres from United Kingdom |
10-15 min |
Very rewarding |
| Peter Heidrich from Australia |
Up to 2 min |
Well I'd say that it's an incredible experience. The sounds take you to another place where there's peace and all that matter is the sound of your didj |
| Peter from South Africa |
Can play but not circular |
Very relaxing |
| Peter from Belgium |
30-40 min |
Het maakt mijn leven beter rustiger en aangenamer. |
| Anonymous from Germany |
40-50 min |
I felt free... nothing around me was important... just the sound of the didgeridoo... I'm not the one who likes meditation or things like this but playing didgeridoo for a long time made me feel fantastic! I'm not sure if I can call it a meditation but I felt free and forgot everything:) |
| Piergiorgio from Italy |
2-5 min |
U know yoga???:)made the same without a didj and u'll feel in ur skin what's going on |
| Randy from USA |
5-10 min |
I have some nervous problems and playing the didge in this way helps me to control my breathing and to be able to meditate and concentrate better. |
| Ravyn Nimchuk from USA |
20-25 min |
When I first learned to play it was on a bamboo short one. It was a half hour class and by the end of it I was circular breathing. It wasn't until a few years later when I acquired a PVC didj that I played longer and longer. I had wanted to see how long I could play for and it was just over 22 minutes. |
| Anonymous from Netherlands |
Up to 2 min |
Even it's a bamboo "didgeridoo" I like the sound and feeling of playing |
| Ric from Canada |
5-10 min |
I find the didge will "play itself" if one plays it for extended periods |
| Rob from USA |
2-5 min |
Fun but can be hard to do because of my nostrils. Breathe Right nasal strips help by opening the nostrils and allowing you to breathe in faster. |
| Ron from Canada |
50-60 min |
There is nothing else like it. It clears the mind relaxes and energizes the body at the same time. |
| Ron from USA |
5-10 min |
It takes some practice to build endurance and focus to stay centered. |
| Anonymous |
2-5 min |
It tickles my nose but it also clears my sinus. calming relaxing and is a different experience every time I play |
| Ruben from Italy |
1 hour + |
Is useless to spend words like "amazing " because only anyone do that can feel the sensations that it gives... |
| Rushe from USA |
Can play but not circular |
Even for a short period of time one feels a tranquil benefit of the didj resonance. |
| Anonymous |
Can play but not circular |
Since I cannot play continuously the duration is short. However it is an extremely meditative experience tuning one in with something beyond themselves. |
| Anonymous from Spain |
40-50 min |
I begin with many variations of the sound probably because of my feelings then I start to feel peace and my sound gets more relax the I use to find a pattern like rhythm and I travel with it feeling very comfortable. I use to finish playing with a peaceful and strong energy. |
| Sergio from Colombia |
5-10 min |
Its a little difficult... your lips get a lot bigger and red....hahahah but is nice to maintain the drone |
| Shawn from USA |
Up to 2 min |
I experienced a sort of euphoric feeling probably due the the lack of normal oxygen intake. |
| Spencer from New Zealand |
5-10 min |
Exhilarating and very spiritual |
| Anonymous |
20-25 min |
It's a weird sensation you think about nothing just rhythm and variations the mouth is dehydrated it's difficult but it's good! |
| Stew from USA |
10-15 min |
I find that my mouth tends to dry out causing the drone to degrade and making it harder for tongue movement. There's not a lot of Didgeridoo instruction in Colorado (USA) so I'm feeling my own way with the help of CD's. |
| Tero from Finland |
Up to 2 min |
Although I can't breathe circularly that well I normally play for 30-45 minutes with as little breath pauses as possible and the breathing pattern is as near circular as I can make it. The effect is very much the same as pranayama or the breathing practices of yoga - it sort of gets you "high" and |
| Thomas from USA |
2-5 min |
Very meditative. I have lost the circular breathing but am getting it back. I played much more 13 years ago. |
| Tiago from Portugal |
40-50 min |
Once I get a stable circulation of air from the circular breathing my brain gets a considerable high from the oxygenation. That the vibration and sound can keep me travelling inside my head or even out. |
| Tiago from Portugal |
40-50 min |
I get all strange focused but groggy... But the intention changes everything. I usually don't worry too much about this though. |
| Tim from USA |
1 hour + |
Meditative trance |
| Anonymous |
15-20 min |
Closing my eyes is a good way a hear the sounds and the drone a lot clearer I forget about my breathing all together just seems to come naturally. I like playing slow and listening to the overtones and make animal calls and noises at times but do like the long drones. Time passes very quickly and when I do stop I feel like my lungs can breathe deeper I feel happy I feel exercised I haven't tried meditation with it but I can imagine it would be very beneficial |
| Tom from United Kingdom |
15-20 min |
I use playing the didge as my own meditation time. The working worries of my day melt away and after a few minutes I am somewhere else. It feels like I could take the didge away from my mouth and it would continue to play. It's 'my' time but also a time to connect. |
| Tom from USA |
1 hour + |
I find this practice deeply calming and occasionally spiritually uplifting. |
| Tomasz Jarmolkiewicz from Poland |
Can play but not circular |
Well my longest "play" lasted for about 70 seconds but once I played (non-circular) for about an hour and I felt relaxed calm and happy. |
| Tommi from Finland |
50-60 min |
It is awesome! As I have said in my website the playing gets better the longer you play! About 20 minutes played you start feel that the wood gets warmed up and reacts much better on the pressure put in! When talking about one hour playing it starts to feel like breathing and playing becomes one - you just realize the instrument as part of you! |
| Tonia Pinheiro from USA |
Can play but not circular |
Even without circular breathing the longer I play the more I feel grounded centered and in a meditative state. |
| Tony from USA |
10-15 min |
It was good... I was playing with other musicians one of which was another didge player. Actually I sorta lost track of time and where I was until we wound down again. |
| Tyson from Australia |
3 hours + |
After six hrs I would describe it as... very tired very wet and starting to get a sore throat lol |
| Vince from USA |
25-30 min |
I'm still very much a novice I haven't played long. |
| William from USA |
5-10 min |
I attended a didge workshop about 1 year ago and fell in love with the sound. I bought a beginners pvc model to see if I do anything. I am still very much in love with the tribal energy that comes through and I cannot wait to be able to afford both a healing didge and a concert didge. I am so ready to upgrade but frustrated with not being able to find any good didges locally. I live in a small mountain town where there are few resources for such far-away notions. |
| Zach from USA |
Up to 2 min |
Relaxing |
