From torsion@netcom.com Sat Apr  9 23:20:00 1994
Date: Sun, 13 Mar 1994 17:25:38 -0800 (PST)
From: The Amino Adventure <torsion@netcom.com>
To: analogue@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Subject: Didjeridu - Everything you've ever wanted to know but were afraid to ask.


Ok...  A few facts about the Didjeridu:


Yes, it is a hollow tube.

No, it does not have to be wood.

Yes, _original_ ones are made from a "special" kind of wood.  I forget 
what type, but there's type of tree with a very heavy root system, that 
termites just love to hollow out.  It's said perfect ones can be found
just "sticking out of the ground", but are extremely rare.  Some have
been made from eucalyptus, and other types of wood...  still more have 
been fashioned from bamboo (by far the easiest wood to work with...).

If you are really interested in getting into the didjeridu (as in playing),
go buy yourself a 4-5' long piece of 1.5" to 1.75" diameter PVC pipe (there
is a difference in timbre between the black and white varieties, so 
experiment).  Length is very important.  You will not be able to play one
made from PVC that's 10' long (the black might work at this length, becuase
it's a bit more flexible, thus being able to support a wave of longer lengths)

Now don't expect to be able to just pick one up and play...  :)  it's not
quite that easy.   It's not like playing a horn, but it is like making a 
rasberry.  You're lips must find the frequency of the tube (that's the 
only way I can describe it...  likening the didj. to any other instrument
is practically impossible).  Now if you're really daring, start to change the
volume of your mouth while blowing...  this has the effect of "filtering" 
the sound (getting that "neeoooowwowow" thing...  one word to synth geeks -
VCF).

I won't even get into circular breathing, but let me put it to you this way -
it's a great alternative to most psychoactive substances.  :)

I can almost promise you that finding an original one will be very 
difficult, and will cost you over $400 (if it's not some fake).  I plan
on taking a trip to the outback one of these days, so maybe I'll take some
orders :).  Unfortunately, they have become quite "touristy" in Australia so
authentic ones are even a bit diffuclt to find there (but much cheaper).

Please excuse the disjointed nature of this post...  I just finished a 
nice long practice session :)

Bryan C.
