In this video Sanshi shows you how to clean the inside of you didgeridoo. In the video he's using eucalyptus oil which can be very strong smelling however orange oil works equally as well and has a much better smell and generally what we recommend.
For those that are sealed, running a damp towel through the instrument with a smaller pole can wipe away dirt and debris. It is also possible to oil the inside of the didgeridoo with eucalyptus or linseed oil in the same manner, in order to keep the didgeridoo in top condition.
Approximately every 3 months, oil the didgeridoo to prevent possible cracking. To do so, soak a cloth with wood oil. Pass the cloth over the wood, then let it dry 10 or 20 minutes. Then remove the surplus of oil with a cloth.
Beeswax mouthpieces are used on didgeridoos so that you can have a comfortable seal that connects your mouth to the didgeridoo. By being able to gently mold the beeswax, you can adjust it so that the mouthpiece is most comfortable for you. Most didgeridoo players prefer to use beeswax mouthpieces.
"We use a very small percentage of our lung capacity on a daily basis - by learning the didgeridoo we are learning to use more of our lungs. "The breathing technique needed to play the didgeridoo helps strengthen lung capacity and is proven to have reduced the effects of sleep apnea and asthma.
The old myth was simple: if an aboriginal woman touched or played a didgeridoo she'd become pregnant. Rose advises that a woman would become infertile. That's a new one. And not just aboriginal women, but all women everywhere that dare to defy the taboo.
1- Choosing a good didgeridoo
Things like resonance, tonal qualities,ease of play,shape,size and quality of construction are all important.
Whilst in theory a didgeridoo could be used indefinitely through constant repair and maintenance, the lifespan of a didgeridoo in Aboriginal society is usually 2 to 3 years.
The didgeridoo is an Aboriginal instrument which, traditionally, is important in Aboriginal ceremony. It is musical, and today it is used to play contemporary music, but traditionally this was not the role of the didgeridoo. The voice of the didgeridoo was part of story telling and teaching.
The taboo is particularly strong among many Aboriginal groups in the South East of Australia, where it is forbidden and considered "cultural theft" for non-Aboriginal women, and especially performers of New Age music regardless of gender, to play or even touch a didgeridoo.
Both agave and yucca didgeridoos are excellent, lightweight, and great for healing work. Here at Didge Project we currently carry yucca didgeridoos made by Sam David made in the United States. You are also able to find yucca in places all around the world. Many makers in Mexico make agave didgeridoos.
In general, there are a few types of woods that are used most often in traditional didgeridoo making. Those wood types are: Bloodwood Eucalyptus didgeridoos. Mallee Wood Eucalyptus didgeridoos.
The instrument is made from a hollow tree branch, traditionally eucalyptus wood or ironwood, and is about 1.5 metres (5 feet) long. Decorated ceremonial varieties, however, may be two or three times longer. Modern instruments may be made from a metal or plastic tube.
Apparently, some aboriginal tribes believe that women should not play the didgeridoo. It was, for them, a sacred instrument for corroborees and other private 'men's business'. (In fact, we have been told that some believe that a woman may not even touch a didgeridoo.)
It is significant that non-indigenous people have been given permission from many traditional owners to play the instrument although it is acknowledged that some Aboriginal communities feel allowing non-idigenous people to play the instrument is cultural theft.
Gives woodwork a close to original finish compared with oils, stains & other waxes whilst nourishing and protecting the wood. Pleasure to use with a soft paste consistency, making it easy to apply by brush or cloth. Once applied, buff to achieve desired sheen.
Beeswax has also long been used in this region, and continues to be used to attach stingray barbs to spears, fix handles to axes, and to waterproof water vessels carved from the wood of the bat-wing coral tree.
A long straight internal column without any natural bumps and curves is usually a sign of a cheap replica (but not always). Authentic didgeridoos start out as naturally hollowed trees, hollowed out by termites.
The length of a didgeridoo is a big factor in what key it plays. As a beginner, the didgeridoo you are after is from 100cm -40inches, or even better 120cm (47inches) to 145cm (58inches) in length. Basically the longer the didgeridoo the deeper the sound it produces.
Don't panic; all of our didgeridoos have the key written next to them. You can listen to the sound files as well. The A's high and low are extremes and rarely played.