Didgeridoos have become pretty popular across the globe over the past few years. So more and more people are taking up the task of finding the best didgeridoos and trying to learn these traditional instruments.
Why the rise in popularity? There are a lot of reasons, from the unique sound to many health benefits. But before you get to those, you need to find the right didgeridoo for you.
There are a lot of factors that can help with this. Many people have a lot of questions when it comes to instruments like this.
So for that reason, we thought it would be helpful to curate this buyer's guide and take a look at a few of the top didgeridoos on the market today.
What Are Didgeridoos?
Didgeridoos are an instrument that consists of a long wooden tube. This tube is hollowed out by termites (traditional method) or in the modern world by machines.
They are made of various materials and use a ring of beeswax as the mouthpiece. The instrument only plays one note which is manipulated by the player through a variety of techniques.
The History of the Didgeridoo
Though the name didgeridoo is not the traditional name for the instrument, it was adopted by many of the indigenous people of the Australian continent. The instrument itself is one of many traditional instruments of the Aboriginal people.
This particular one has been being played for somewhere around 1500 years. When it comes to playing the digeridoo, the men of the tribes were primarily the ones who played it. The instrument was mainly for ceremonial purposes.
Didgeridoos – How Do They Work?
It is important to know how the instrument works to ensure you are getting the best sound quality from your didgeridoo. The didgeridoo uses the air produced by the opening and closing of your lips.
When trying to find good correspondence, this movement is much like that used by trombone or tuba players. This movement creates sound waves which travel down the instrument as well as back into the player's vocal cords.
That is where the resonance of the vocal cords helps to change the quality of the music produced. There are multiple techniques that you as a player might want to use to create the sounds from the instruments.
The most popular of these and the first one that most people learn is circular breathing. This is a technique where you breathe in from the nose and then breath out with your entire body.
There are other techniques that didgeridoo players like using beatboxing, and there are even some players that like to imitate animal sounds to help make the instrument sing.
Benefits of Playing The Digeridoo
There are a lot of great benefits to playing the didgeridoo. Besides the fact, you will be playing a unique instrument, and you can show it off to all your family and friends, there are some medical advantages to learning the didgeridoo.
Breathing, Relaxation & Mood
First off, the use of circular breathing that didgeridoo players use helps you form a deep breathing practice which is helpful in relaxation and meditation.
The sound created by the didgeridoo is also relaxing, so those that have played for a while often talk about ending up in a meditative state for the length of their practice session.
On top of this studies have shown that playing the didge has been found may improve overall mood and reduce stress.
May Improve Cardio Health
The playing of the didgeridoo can also assist with your cardiovascular health. By using the basic playing method and breathing style, you will be creating pulsating rhythms that can help improve your blood flow.
The breathing required also helps expand your lung capacity, which will increase the oxygen content infused into your blood. This will improve your energy and circulation.
May Help Combat Snoring
The didgeridoo can also combat snoring as it helps strengthen your upper respiratory system. Along with that, many have seen improvements in their asthma, and some have talked about the effects of helping with healing.
Types of Digeridoos
When it comes to types of didgeridoos, there are two main styles you will have to choose from. You will want to understand how each works and the sound quality they offer you.
Traditional
This type of didgeridoo is crafted in the way that the Aboriginal people have always done since the birth of the instrument. They took a piece of wood typically from a eucalyptus tree that termites had eaten out.
Then they finish carving it out and painting it. When you are dealing with a traditional didgeridoo, you will never have two that sound the same as there are different holes and channels within the wood.
Non-traditional
This type of didgeridoo is made using synthetic materials or lighter materials like bamboo. The synthetic didgeridoos are more durable as they are not affected by changes in the humidity level like the bamboo or traditional models.
These models are also cheaper and still deliver a sound that is almost identical to the traditional types of didgeridoos. The tone from this style will be consistent from instrument to instrument as they are made in a factory as opposed to by nature.
How to Choose The Best Digeridoo
When you are shopping around for a didgeridoo, you will want to think about who the intended player is. Are you looking for the best didgeridoo for beginners?
Or the best reticulated didgeridoo for those that are looking to travel with their instruments?
Each of these scenarios will mean you want to focus on a different factor. Here are some of the factors you want to consider when looking for the best didgeridoo for you:
Materials
As we have said, there are two types – traditional and non-traditional. The biggest thing about their differences is the materials.
You will find the material labeled clearly, and you will have to choose from hardwood eucalyptus, bamboo, or the synthetic didgeridoo that can be made of hemp, agave, and PVC.
The wooden didgeridoo options will vary in tone, whereas the ones made with synthetic materials will have a trues musical correctness.
Construction
You will also want to check the construction of the instruments. If it is a wooden didgeridoo, then you want to look down the shaft; there should be grooves and curves.
None of those in the shaft then this is a manufactured model, and you may not get the same sound quality from it. As for the non-traditional option, you want to look for didgeridoos that are durable and well put together.
Weight & Length
Typically a didgeridoo will weigh in at between 4 – 8 lbs., so when you pick it up, the instruments should have a little weight to them (unless it is a travel model, then it should be much lighter).
As for length, a beginner didgeridoo measures about 4' and weighs 4 lbs. This is the average size for beginner players, but didgeridoos can be found measuring up to almost 5' in length.
It would be best to choose the weight and length according to your experience level and body type. If you are taller, then going with a longer model will help you be more comfortable when playing the instrument.
Musical Key & Sound Quality
The size and shape of the digeridoo define what type of tone the instrument brings to the table. Typically the key that a didgeridoo comes in ranges from A to G.
So when you are looking at the instruments, you will choose depending on the type of music you are going for.
Those in the A and B tone range will give you a more haunting sound where the other tones will have a higher frequency.
Flared or Unflared
The way that the opposite side of the didgeridoo that you blow in is made will also play a part in the sound of the instrument. There are two styles – flared and unflared.
Flared will offer their players a higher pitch than the unflared didgeridoo, even if they are the same length. The flared didgeridoos are also louder and have a heavier bass tone.
Portability
For those who love to travel with their instrument to play live, the instrument's portability is essential. This, of course, is directly related to the weight and length of the instrument. The first thing to look at when dealing with portability is the weight.
You need to find one that will not make travel difficult. This goes for the length as well. There are travel didgeridoos that are made more compact for easier transport.
Digeridoo Playing Tips
There is a lot to really think about when you are looking into getting into didgeridoos. In order to make your experience better, we thought we would share some tips that will be useful when learning to play.
Posture
There are two big things to pay attention to, and one of those is your posture. This will affect your comfort when playing as well as the sound you can produce with your didgeridoo.
Here are those key tips:
Playing Technique
The second thing that we think you might be able to use a little assistance in is the actual playing of the instrument. It is a unique musical instrument, which means that the techniques to play it have to be a little unique.
Here are some tips for playing:
Digeridoo Options - Which to Buy?
Here we take a look at some of the best options when considering a didgeridoo.
1. Terre Teak Painted 59"
The first didgeridoo that we like is this 59" teak wood model from Terre. It is fitted with a 5" bell and a 2" mouthpiece.
This model's mouth opening is the perfect size for almost anyone's mouth, and that is even without a beeswax mouthpiece.
The hand-painted graphics make it a piece that will stick out. On top of that, the unit's design is perforated so that it sounds similar to a eucalyptus didgeridoo.
If you're looking for a didgeridoo that gives you complete playability, then this one is a good choice as it is designed to give an incredible counter pressure. This handmade didgeridoo rings a lot of value to your music, but there are a few things that we think you should be aware of.
Though it is lighter than a eucalyptus model, it is still heavier than synthetic models. Also, the wood is stained with a product that seems to be pretty smelly right out of the box.
Pros
Cons
This modern didgeridoo is crafted with a mixture of both natural and synthetic materials. The use of these materials makes it lighter than other models and immune to the weather. It measures 52" tall and comes with 2" diameter.
The design of the didgeridoo and the material used to give it heightened portability. It also creates a loud booming drone that is articulated very clearly.
For those players that have really refined their technique, the unit makes it easy, as it brings with it a nice level of backpressure. Along with that, the contoured end assists in giving your music character.
The didgeridoo comes with a beeswax mouthpiece as well as a beeswax bar so you can customize the mouthpiece to your needs. This is all very nice, but the instrument is by no means perfect.
The material makes it thinner, and some may find it a little too thin. This decreases the durability of the didgeridoo. Along with that, it is advertised as a C-ohm didgeridoo, but many that have played it have found it to play at a B.
Pros
Cons
This is one of those didgeridoos that is perfect for those just starting out. It is a bamboo shell and comes tuned to D. The design of this unit brings harmonic overtones and a very authentic tone to your music.
There is a lot about this didgeridoo that other digeridoos just don't offer. It is budget-friendly and lightweight, weighing in at just a little over 2 lbs. The mouthpiece is nice too.
Even without the beeswax mouthpiece, a player can comfortably use the instrument, and it offers a good sound and tone. Not only is it great sounding, but the tribal graphics makes it pretty darn cool to look at.
On top of that, because it is a handmade model, your didgeridoo will not sound like anyone else's, even if they have the same model. But even with all that, there are some things we find issues with.
Unlike a synthetic model, this bamboo-crafted piece will suffer a little when it comes to humidity. There have been some reports of cracking due to this. The sound is also very basic, which is suitable for beginners but maybe not for more experienced players.
Pros
Cons
The next didgeridoo is a hand-fired model that is 45.5" tall and 1.5" wide. This is one of the didgeridoos that are tuned to D and crafted to be super easy to play. A combination of both synthetic materials and wood, the modern didgeridoo is durable and lightweight.
This weight and the smooth exterior are some of the things we like as they make it easy to hold even when practicing for long periods. This is why we think it is a great choice for the beginner.
The wax mouthpiece that comes with the didgeridoo fits very snuggly in the mouthpiece opening. This gives it a slight leg up over other didgeridoos. The tight seal ensures a good pressure is constant.
But for us, the best thing is that though it is a cheaper model, it gives the player a very authentic sound. That, coupled with the volume capability of the didgeridoo, makes it a great choice.
Though we like the piece a lot, there are some things that might cause some to rethink making this didgeridoo their choice. The mouthpiece fits snuggly in the opening, but some may find it uncomfortable when it comes to mouth placement. There is also no angle, so the sound is not as dynamic as other didgeridoos.
Pros
Cons
If you are looking for the best didgeridoo for a beginner or a kid, then the SDDG1 could be a good choice for you. Unlike wooden didgeridoos, this synthetic didgeridoo is lightweight, and this makes it much easier to hold.
As you are shopping for didgeridoos, you want to pay attention to the quality of tone, and with this model from Meinl, you get a synthetic that offers a unique drone and harmonic overtones. This will allow you to experiment a bit as you learn didgeridoo.
The simple, straightforward design does not have curves like many other digeridoos. This helped make it more playable for beginners and kids alike.
On top of all that, the didgeridoo is stylish with its black base and attractive native Australian graphics. This is all good, but we still think there are a few issues that should be discussed.
The didgeridoo is constructed of man-made materials, which makes it less durable than wooden models.
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
Didgeridoos are fun and interesting musical instruments to learn how to play. We have covered a lot of information and looked at a few of the best didgeridoos. If you are interested in picking up this instrument, then we hope this guide has helped you.
