Name and Country |
What shape or features do you think a didgeridoo should have so it can be used for 'traditional style' playing? |
| Aaron from Australia |
Good length with a broad base |
| Aaron from USA |
I think a didgeridoo should have a nice taper to it. No excessive bell, a smooth mouth piece. Other than that I think that a didgeridoo is a very personal thing with too many options and tribes to give a definite answer. |
| Aj from USA |
Perhaps a widening or bell shape on one end |
| Alan from USA |
No opinion |
| Andy Duroe from Switzerland |
Reasonably long, about 120-140cm, nice bell on the end, not too heavy,lots of termite grooves will effect the tone and quality, |
| Bill Muller from South Africa |
Any shape as it's not fashioned by man yet it will make a sound of it's own |
| Brad from USA |
Based on the way that I understand the sound to travel, I would imagine the main concern would just be that it is cylindrical...preferably with a slight taper and a bell end for sound projection. the inner diameter and construction materials would probably also have a profound effect on the pitch and timbre of the sound produced. |
| Brad from Australia |
Around 1, 1.5m long with a mouth piece of about 4, 8 cm dia with nice flared end reasonably deep sound |
| Anonymous |
That would best be answered by a traditional craftsperson or musician. I am neither. |
| Bruce from USA |
The shape is from the heart of the artist and will vary. |
| Anonymous |
I don't think the shape is as important as the way it's played |
| Dallas from USA |
No two should be alike. |
| Dave from USA |
Bell at the end, strong backpressure, good harmonic tone. |
| Anonymous from Australia |
Long and tubular |
| Fern from USA |
I would think that varies, From what I understand they are made from trees and trees have various shapes and sizes, but I think for the most part it would be at least 3 feet long and has an opening on both sides:) |
| Francisco from Portugal |
To be played in the traditional style, the didgeridoo should be preferably straight in shape and musically it should have a very easy playability with very very easy toots and transitions from toot to drone. It shouldn't be too fast of a didgeridoo either. |
| Janice from United Kingdom |
Straight shaped |
| Jason Hilliard from USA |
4+ feet, bell at the end, beeswax mouthpiece. |
| Jason Hilliard from USA |
No splits/holes, eucalyptus wood |
| Jennifer from USA |
Bell shaped bottom |
| Anonymous from USA |
A Bell like a trumpet so it could resonate a droning sound and the thickness should be even. |
| Johnny from USA |
Somewhat curved, so you can sit and play it with the bell facing up. |
| Katt from USA |
It must have the 3 chambers. |
| Kristie from USA |
Not a perfect shape - a more natural form of the wood with root knots or worm work showing. Have local bee's wax around the lip and dot painting or spit painting using natural dyes/colorings. |
| Manuel from Italy |
No idea |
| Anonymous |
I don't know |
| Anonymous from USA |
Long length and wide. |
| Mike from USA |
Some slight curves, not completely straight. Narrow at top w/ beeswax mouthpiece, Wide at bottom to project sound. One body-length long for sound quality and tone. |
| Anonymous |
Slightly curved |
| Anonymous |
Long and easy breathing |
| Renato from Brazil |
As I said... There is an exact form, there is a characteristic sound emitted by a common estrumentos... The feature is unique in all Didjs.. their unmistakable sound! |
| Anonymous from China (pr) |
Length, back pressure |
| Anonymous |
I don't speak Ingles |
| Ronan from United Kingdom |
Not sure about shape but it should have a great tone. |
| Scot Magnuson from USA |
Still learning, but able to have back pressure....not sure really. |
| Anonymous |
None really but should have a good sound |
| Ulrik Ekonen from Argentina |
Singular tube |
| Walter Simion from Italy |
Qualunque |
| Anonymous |
I don't know what means to play in a "traditional style" |
| Aaron from New Zealand |
Hollowed out by termites |
| Anonymous from USA |
Anything that's actually from a hollow eucalyptus branch is fair game. |
| Anonymous from United Kingdom |
Must be of a certain length |
| Anonymous |
A long tube like with a slight bend and wide mouthed - made from bark and without a painted design. |
| Anonymous |
Natural wood, no synthetics |
| Andrea from USA |
More like a trumpet |
| Andrew Hodge from Canada |
Many various shapes and sizes. Bells, length, width all vary. |
| Andrew from Australia |
Bell at the base, not "man made" looking straight bit of timber |
| Anonymous |
Long and slanted |
| Andy from Ireland |
A resonator in a bailer shell. shape |
| Barry Adams from United Kingdom |
Virtually any tapered shape so long as the desired tones can be achieved. |
| Anonymous from USA |
Odd shaped and hand decorated |
| Bart from Netherlands |
Not too long and wide. Quite high pitched. |
| Betsy Sauther from USA |
Maybe a beeswax mouthpiece and a rustic look? |
| Anonymous from USA |
The shape of the wood used to make it. |
| Brad Lackey from USA |
Belled mouth, some bends in the shape. |
| Branden Parker from USA |
It should be well made and beautiful. Maybe a bottle opener on the side.:) |
| Brenda Lacourciere from Canada |
Long hollow tube |
| Brendan Moloney from Spain |
I don't think it has to be any specific shape or feature. It can be painted or not, big or small. |
| Brian from USA |
Don't know. |
| Anonymous from USA |
Don't know |
| Bruce from Australia |
Slightly- or well- tapered tube with fairly thin walls (but no leaks), perhaps with an expanded bell, and with a correctly sized and shaped mouthpiece. |
| Bryan Scotson-smith from United Kingdom |
You can play trad on any didge |
| Camilo from Chile |
I guess that, as a gift of nature, it doesn't matter the shape and sound of the djaloo, because all the possible keys that can be obtained on every djaloo, are useful for a traditional style playing, to mainly produce harmony, and also join with the sounds of nature. |
| Cari from USA |
They can have many shapes or features |
| Carlos Guillermo from Mexico |
Termite hollow, not to small or large, from eucalyptus, and traditional crafted, made by aborigines of a certain clan. |
| Anonymous from Australia |
Hollowed eucalypt |
| Anonymous |
Shape: sufficiently long (not tourist length!) |
| Anonymous |
Should be natural wood about 100 to 150 cm in lengthy and without cracks. |
| Charley from USA |
Don't know |
| Chelsea from USA |
Hollowed out and long and able to be handled by the one playing it. |
| Anonymous |
No idea |
| Christian from USA |
Comfortable mouth rim |
| Christopher from USA |
No idea. |
| Clement from France |
Straight I guess |
| Anonymous from Australia |
Correct length for the correct key. Correct diameter, good mouth piece Suitable back pressure. Good timber, well seasoned |
| Cory from USA |
I have no idea. |
| Anonymous |
No idea. |
| Damien Loughnane from Ireland |
It must be a termite hollowed eucalyptus tree |
| Daniel Cohen from USA |
Natural branch shape slightly flared on far end and nice narrowed at mouth piece. |
| Anonymous from Ireland |
Belled end |
| Anonymous |
Straight and long |
| Darren Searle from Australia |
Long in length, tapering slightly from mouthpiece to bell end. |
| Dave from Australia |
Comfortable mouth piece and a good "bell" end |
| David from Canada |
Slight curvature for back-pressure, termite-textured interior. |
| David from USA |
Whatever shape the tree naturally grows is the correct shape, though I believe the straight, slightly conical didgeridoos are usually used. |
| David from USA |
Deep resonating, full sound, rather straight, nice size bell |
| Anonymous from USA |
I don't know. |
| Derrick Jackson from USA |
I think it should be basically the same circumference all the way down and maybe a slight bell at the bottom |
| Don Morris from USA |
It should have a history. |
| Don Randolph from USA |
Cylindrical, hollow, some flare at the distal end and a wax mouthpiece. |
| Anonymous from USA |
I have no idea |
| Dustin from USA |
Natural bore, conical if yidaki, straight if mago. |
| Anonymous from USA |
The same as the original ones made by the aboriginal people |
| Ed Obermeyer from Us Minor Outlying Islands |
Deep flared bell for bass sounds. |
| Anonymous from USA |
I have no idea. |
| Edward Magee from Canada |
Long and slender, with large bellows |
| Elena from Italy |
Don't know, yet |
| Eric Boucher from Canada |
Any shape, but I tend to look for straighter branches, usually. |
| Erik from USA |
Long and fairly straight. Bell size can be different shapes. |
| Erik from Netherlands |
Any shape and feature |
| Anonymous |
Straight & unpainted |
| Anonymous from Portugal |
Different shapes and forms |
| Fred Ashplant from USA |
Straight, Even taper, easy hoot, Growl, E/F pitch |
| Fredrik from Sweden |
Does not really matter what the shape is. The sound is the important bit. |
| Gabe from Canada |
Termite hollowed eucalyptus tree. something that nature has made |
| Anonymous |
6 foot or longer, a large bell, and a good mouthpiece. |
| George from Cyprus |
Made from eucalyptus and hollowed out by termites, increasing in diameter towards the bottom end - not too long or short. |
| Gillian from USA |
Long tubular body, with a bell at the end and a narrowed mouthpiece. |
| Anonymous from USA |
Conical |
| Graeme from United Kingdom |
Conical |
| Graham from United Kingdom |
I think the natural variation in didgeridoos gives shape and features, I'm not aware of any exclusive qualities. |
| Greg from USA |
Well, it seems like they could be a variety of shapes since there was such a large variety of different tribes. |
| Guido from Netherlands |
I don't understand this question. Sorry (my bad english) |
| Gustavo Senise from Brazil |
Its a long form. Starting been thin and ending thicker, I think.:) |
| Hans from USA |
Many shapes like the original ones truly hollowed out by termites |
| Harold Gaines from USA |
It must be hollow, made of natural materials and have a beeswax mouthpiece. |
| Anonymous |
Shape varies but predominantly should be an even taper from about 30mm inner diameter at the mouth piece to a diameter of 80-100 at the bell end. Length should be around the 1.5meter mark. They are usually in the higher keys (E,F,) I am told that traditionally the longer didges around 2m are considered sacred in some communities. |
| Anonymous from Ireland |
My understanding is that a didge is generally made from eucalyptus wood and has a bore naturally hollowed out by termites. Its sound quality, fundamental pitch and overtone capabilities would depend on the shape, diameter and length of the tube. Every instrument would be different, and it would be impossible to mass produce a truly authentic didge. It can be very variable in shape, sometimes with a bell end or even forked ends, and these features would influence the sound. The length can vary from less than a metre to several metres for the low pitch ones. I gather actual pitch cannot be pre-determined, and fine tuning is necessary if a particular pitch is required. I believe genuine mouthpieces are made of resin and can be replaced when necessary. The technique of circular breathing can also be used with other wind, and especially brass instruments, and is very ancient, eg. Bronze Age horns found in Ireland can be played in the same way. Ease of playing depends on back pressure when blown, which I think is influenced by the width of the bore among other factors. |
| Anonymous |
Not sure about this |
| Ian from United Kingdom |
Long bell shaped funnel at end. |
| Idan Saidi from Israel |
It should be found in the nature with no human touch, like nature style on any shape. |
| Israel from USA |
Clarity, volume and the shape of a single branch without extra lengths |
| Jack from USA |
Again, I think if it looks, sounds, and plays like a didge, it is one. As far as style, I think each musician puts his own touches on it so it really depends more on the preferences of the player. That said, I really don't know that much about what makes didges different. I'm a newbie, and I'm still learning. |
| Jahn from USA |
Large, bell shaped bottom. |
| Jake from USA |
The shape is unique to the players preference and alters what can be done with the drone. I believe traditional style playing is a mindset and also a learned art. Most people, myself included, don't play traditional music because they are often hidden. |
| Jan from United Kingdom |
Be hollow |
| Jared from USA |
Depends and different |
| Anonymous from USA |
Unknown |
| Jeff from USA |
Elongated, hollow, with thin walls and no cracks. Can be straight or curved with or without a bell. |
| Jerome from France |
No varnish at all, termite hollowed, the less craftsmanship possible, or just the minimum to make it sound the best with the shape it naturally has. Aboriginal people don't try to make a didgeridoo, but just to let out what nature has naturally put into it. |
| Jesus from USA |
Tapered bore |
| Jim from USA |
Relevant art on the instrument, and I do not believe there is a "traditional" shape other than longer than it is wide. |
| Jim from USA |
Any shape or size. |
| Jimmy Mahuron from USA |
Any shape that gives a low frequency range of 40 to 150 Hertz. |
| Anonymous |
Big enough |
| Joao from Portugal |
The tone should be low ex. D# or D with large bell normally is what I prefer |
| Anonymous |
Conical |
| Anonymous from United Kingdom |
Good harmonics and hoot, shape is not so important |
| John Griffiths from Australia |
Beeswax mouthpiece |
| Anonymous from USA |
I believe it should have the inner workings of the termites so that the sound |
| John Smith from USA |
Not quite sure what that means. Generally straight with a bell shape at the end. Don't know if any exist of radically different structure. |
| Anonymous from Canada |
I'm not sure. Think a larger mouth piece (opening) and a more specific length. |
| Johnny Johnny from USA |
Nice long conical shape,no mouth piece good backpressure,open bore |
| Jon from USA |
Modest flare |
| Joseph from Netherlands |
Long, mouthpiece small, with a rolling sound, hard of structure for loud playing. Rough like the outback |
| Anonymous |
A pure sound and loud |
| Julia from United Kingdom |
They can be a number of varying shapes but generally curved and plainin - the decoration does not add to the sound |
| Justin from USA |
Needs a good mouthpiece for comfortable playing (Beeswax/Wax), Made out of a good piece of a eucalypt tree. |
| Ken Betteley from Australia |
I think a narrow mouth piece with a bell at the end with a few natural curves |
| Kenny from USA |
As I've heard there are 5 different specie of eucalyptus that are harvested. I prefer the colors black, white, red and yellow. I'm thinking that no color at all but what does that have to do with tradition? |
| Kent from USA |
Wax mouth piece, made from Eucalyptus trees |
| Anonymous from USA |
I have seen many shapes of woods over the years. As nature provides this wood I do not feel that there is any one length or curve or lack thereof that would be considered. Nature provides the instrument it is up to players to accept what nature provides. |
| Kevin Lancaster from USA |
Long and functional |
| Anonymous from United Kingdom |
Good question - all didj's are unique. |
| Anonymous from Sweden |
I like having a a slight touch of closer to natural feeling with bark in combination with some paintings. Reason that only two of my didgeridoos are painted is that one I was making myself in a art shop tried to paint myself. The other one I bought before it was sent away for painting. I would like to know the story, meaning and thoughts from the painter. |
| Kim Colter from USA |
Native Australian wood, hollowed by termites, decorated by an aboriginal craftsman, beeswax for the embouchure. What do I know? Nothing really. |
| Kirsty from Australia |
A wooden branch hollowed out by termites |
| Koen from Netherlands |
The air column inside is cylindrical, with the ends and centre the same diameter. |
| Kris from Australia |
Reasonably long, straight didge with a similar diameter along it's length. Timber needs to be very dry and hard and the walls fairly thin. |
| Kris Ulrich from Canada |
A bees wax mouthpiece, and a certain length to determine the pitch. |
| Anonymous |
Long hollow tube |
| Anonymous from Australia |
Wax mouth, flare at the end, naturally hollowed traditional timber. |
| Anonymous from USA |
Well, tube-shaped basically.... NOT smooth on the inside like bamboo or PVC pipe though, it should have ridges and convolutions for unique sound |
| Anonymous |
Smallish mouth piece progressing to larger bell |
| Leon from United Kingdom |
Dense wood from the Mallee Eucalypts and straight as possible |
| Loe In De Braekt from Netherlands |
A good toot sound |
| Lr from USA |
Tubular, one end small enough for the mouth to blow through |
| Luke Dickson from Sweden |
If I considered myself an expert on this topic, I'd be able to answer. I don't, I'll leave this question to the true masters. |
| Lynne from United Kingdom |
Long wooden pipe with bends and large trumpet opening where sound comes out. Can be played for traditional style playing. |
| Margaret from USA |
Length, a usable mouthpiece, resonance. |
| Marshall from USA |
No clue |
| Martin from USA |
Termite-hollowed with irregular shape flaring from mouthpiece to the end to enhance harmonics and vocalization |
| Martin from USA |
I don't think it is the didge that determines that, it is the player |
| Martin Sørensen from Denmark |
A small bell at the bottom and original artwork. |
| Matt Jamieson from Australia |
Different types of didj's were made for different types of sounds. Since the process is natural no didj's can ever be the same. |
| Anonymous |
Back pressure, clarity, loudness, overtone, bell suitable of the type of sound required. |
| Maurice Dickson from Ireland |
Don't know sorry |
| Max from Peru |
I think that the shape is defined by the tree that it comes from. So, the way that the trees tend to grow. |
| Michael Jones from USA |
Long cylinder shape |
| Michael from USA |
Not qualified to say |
| Michael Taylor from USA |
One long enough to hold between your feet while sitting on the ground, and I like a nice sized bell. |
| Miguel from Spain |
They always work with dot painting way, and the features are different, like...hunting, some australian animals, traditional tales... |
| Murray Willett from USA |
It should sound the voice of the earth |
| Nathaniel from Australia |
Straight and not painted |
| Neil Gee from USA |
Who cares about the looks! I think it should have good sound quality, good overtones, good vocals (one of my favorite to wow people with). |
| Nicholas Pottle from United Kingdom |
Any shape |
| Nick from USA |
I like the didge's that have bark still on them and/or still have a natural finish with little or no painting |
| Nolan from USA |
Just a long tube shape that widens out gradually towards the bottom end. |
| Omar Khawaja from Pakistan |
An irregular shape that, overall, usually increases in diameter towards the lower end. |
| Omar L. De La Tejera from Mexico |
Any that an eucalypt branch can give |
| Patrick Bodine from USA |
At least a meter and a half, without a beeswax mouthpiece |
| Paul Hepker from USA |
Ant hollowed. No beeswax mouthpiece. Not 'box' style. |
| Paul Van Heuklom from USA |
They seem to vary, but I often note a flared bell at the foot end. I also imagine that the termite tunnels inside the didge itself help give it the traditional playing characteristics. |
| Peter Heidrich from Australia |
The hand painting is important but also the wood has to be good, the sound quality as well |
| Peter from Sweden |
I think a good player can use any didge but I think it is better to use a one made in the classic way from eucalypt wood with nice ornaments. |
| Philip Hamilton from USA |
To me the proper didgeridoo is, three to ten feet in length, cylindrical, and slightly funnel like (the narrower end toward the mouth) but not necessary. In most cases, the length is what gives the pitch, the longer the lower the pitch. |
| Anonymous from Germany |
Don't know. But there's a difference between mago & yidaki! |
| Piergiorgio from Italy |
Each one is different |
| Ralph from USA |
I'm too new a player to even begin to answer that question |
| Randy from USA |
I believe its up to the hands of the shaper/maker how he/she wants to feature as their work of art. |
| Randy from USA |
I typically think of didj's as slightly curved, moderate bell, non-forked instruments with art. Having said that, I can't think of any particular features that would be necessary for it to be considered for "traditional style" playing. |
| Ravyn Nimchuk from USA |
I think that like my instruments across the world, along with styles of fashion and living, it varies person to person and their is no one right way, therefore stating that there is no one right feature or shape for 'traditional style' playing. |
| Anonymous from Netherlands |
I do not know |
| Rev. Chris Addotta from USA |
Long. Wooden. |
| Ric from Canada |
A tree limb with "character"--not dead straight |
| Anonymous |
Don't know |
| Rick from Australia |
Slightly tapered about 1.4-1.6m long, no holes in tube |
| Rick Stanley from Australia |
Not sure |
| Rob from USA |
Many different shapes can be used for traditional style playing. |
| Rodrigo from Portugal |
It has to be long and it must be made from eucalyptus branches. |
| Ron from USA |
Like a horn |
| Ron from USA |
Like most available - long with a pitch from low B to high G or A. |
| Anonymous |
Any really |
| Ruben from Italy |
Straight,long,possibly with big bell |
| Rushe from USA |
It should not be a straight pipe, and should have some flare to the end. |
| Anonymous |
The shape would seemingly depend on the wood and how it was hollowed by termites. Then the craftsman would continue to shape it accordingly. If I had to generalize, it would probable have a wider diameter at the bottom than at the top. |
| Ryan from Canada |
Like a horn |
| Sally Ann Bryant from USA |
Long and created by the people. |
| Anonymous from Spain |
Just be a didgeridoo, even though I have my preferences I may play anything depending of the situation. |
| Anonymous from USA |
It should be shaped small enough at one end to form a mouth piece and a larger hole at the other end, beyond that I have seen many different shapes and sizes |
| Anonymous |
Good tone |
| Sergio from Colombia |
Really don't know |
| Anonymous |
Don't know |
| Sharon Pick from Australia |
What ever shape or feature is synonymous with the traditional family / community values where it is made |
| Shawn from USA |
I think traditionally the yidaki mouthpiece was under one inch in diameter. |
| Simon from United Kingdom |
Don't Know |
| Spencer from New Zealand |
The shape - 150cm in length-drone in E overtone in F tapering to a bell 190-220cm |
| Stacey Mcgaughey from New Zealand |
The shape of the tree from which it came. |
| Stefan from Germany |
Overall straight form, maybe a larger tubular opening at the lower end |
| Anonymous |
I guess the bell end should be roughly in front of and pointing away from the mouthpiece, it should only have two openings, and be either roughly cylindrical or conical |
| Anonymous |
Tapered, natural wood shape |
| Stew from USA |
I like the Yidaki style, I think the design is a little shorter in length, increasing bore diameter with length. Not much of a bell. |
| Tero from Finland |
It depends, many shapes are suitable. The instrument itself is somewhat redundant in that sense, the traditional style of playing comes from the sound and the player more than the instrument. |
| Terry from USA |
Do not know |
| Anonymous |
Didgeridoos are should be rather long and be fairly straight without a pronounced bell. |
| Thomas Garcia from USA |
Conical? |
| Tiago from Portugal |
Termite hollowed natural branch shape. |
| Tiago from Portugal |
Almost any suitably-sized pipe can be used by an Aboriginal person to play 'traditional-style'. However, for a Western person to try to imitate what they do, it takes a 'good' instrument - which can mean a great many different things. However, in general, I would associate the 'traditional' sound to a 'muddy' timbre, without too much shiny bright harmonics, and a kind of 'bouncy' response in playing. |
| Tim from USA |
Depends on the match between one's mouth size/shape and the mouthpiece on the instrument...larger bore allows more traditional vocalizing, smaller bore makes it easier to breathe |
| Anonymous |
Small mouth piece with a bell possibly a perfect taper. good back pressure with clear vocals deep sound with a easy toot. the traditional style I have read about is the Yolgnu hard tongue method so an instrument suitable to be played this way as well. |
| Tom from United Kingdom |
This has made me think...... I don't know, I will have to look into this as I would presume that as long as it plays it could be used but this may (?) show my ignorance. |
| Tom from USA |
Pretty much have to be longer than wide and hollow. |
| Tomasz Jarmolkiewicz from Poland |
It really depends on the player... It should be easy to handle and sound well. |
| Tommi from Finland |
First of all it must be made on eucalyptus and secondly... It must have the 'termite' history. |
| Tonia Pinheiro from USA |
Not sure |
| Tony from USA |
It should naturally hollowed by termites as I believe the irregularities left by the termites help give the didge the sound qualities associated with a good sounding instrument. A bell adds to this but in my opinion not strictly necessary. |
| Travis from USA |
Didgeridoos have many different shapes and features and that makes each one unique |
| Tyson from Australia |
It depends on which clan you are going for. Some long and skinny for horn noises. Some deep think and long for other traditional styles. |
| Vince from USA |
Naturally hollowed wood, long and tapered, flared at the end. Next to the sound the artwork is what makes a didj special |
| William from USA |
Long length, at least 93 cm. appropriate width for mouth piece, e.g. "normal" adult mouth |
| William from USA |
Long tube wider at the bottom generally 123cm - 155 cm |
| Anonymous from USA |
A certain mouth piece I believe... |
| Zach from USA |
All different shapes |
