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 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.