| Name and Country |
How difficult do you think it would be to learn circular breathing (or thought it was before you learned to do it)? |
How easy or difficult was it for you to actually learn circular breathing? |
Please comment on learning to play circular breathing (eg. what helped you the most, what problems did you experience?) |
| Katlinel from USA |
Difficult |
I tried, but still can't circular breathe |
I can circular breathe without the didge (practicing with air in my cheeks and breathing in while expelling the air) but I haven't yet managed to do it properly on the didge. I can grab a few quick sniffing breaths but not actually breathe properly. Your website tips have gotten me this far though and with enough practice I WILL learn this! |
| Keith Kofoed from USA |
Very difficult |
Medium easy or difficult |
I have played the bass clarinet for most of my life and was familiar with the concept of circular breathing. 5 years ago I meet a man who was very good at circular breathing while playing bass clarinet and he showed me a few exercises to start working on. It took me several years of experimenting with it to be able to circular breath. All in all the total number of hours I put into practicing circular breathing with a didge was not many. Maybe 20-30 hours |
| Anonymous |
Difficult |
It was rather difficult to learn |
A video by Alan Harris helped me the most. |
| Kerry from USA |
Medium |
It was quite easy to learn |
I read about how to do it and just practiced without a didj to get the concept down. That transferred onto an actual didj very easy. |
| Kevin from USA |
Medium |
Medium easy or difficult |
You just got to keep trying and then once it happens its like riding a bike. almost |
| Anonymous from USA |
Very difficult |
I tried, but still can't circular breathe |
I tried but I play the trumpet and a kid named Jull that plays the trombone tried to teach me but I do not know if I can do it |
| Kib from Canada |
Medium |
It was rather difficult to learn |
Still haven't quite got it yet |
| Kimberly from USA |
Medium |
Medium easy or difficult |
Have not used this in an instrument practice so I am not certain how to answer. |
| Lee from United Kingdom |
Difficult |
It was rather difficult to learn |
Blowing bubbles through a straw in a glass of water helped me find a rhythm then it was a question of building up cheek power |
| Anonymous |
Difficult |
I tried, but still can't circular breathe |
I think I have tot stop thinking....my youngest son could play the didge in 5 minutes...for him I try to win this instrument... |
| L |
Very difficult |
I tried, but still can't circular breathe |
I try to observe as much as I can but still can't quite make it work. Just started training though. |
| Anonymous |
Medium |
It was quite easy to learn |
Relaxing and deep concentration helped. thinking too much made it hard. |
| Anonymous from USA |
Difficult |
I tried, but still can't circular breathe |
Having cheeks like bagpipes would help |
| Anonymous from Us Minor Outlying Islands |
Medium |
It was quite easy to learn |
I saw a television program where a man was teaching people to play pvc Didjes and he had them blow through a straw into a glass of water using the lungs and mouth alternately. Once I knew the basic idea behind the concept it was just a matter of experimenting on a didj until I could do it easily. |
| Anonymous from Italy |
Difficult |
It was quite easy to learn |
Learning without the didj using straw and glass of water helped me get the consistency and the right level of pressure and air in the lungs |
| Mani from Australia |
Difficult |
I tried, but still can't circular breathe |
Can't concentrate well! |
| Marc Primelo from USA |
Difficult |
Medium easy or difficult |
I play trumpet so that helped. I just practiced ALOT |
| Margot from USA |
Difficult |
It was rather difficult to learn |
I didn't believe that I could do it. |
| Marian from USA |
Difficult |
I tried, but still can't circular breathe |
I have weak lungs and I bought a didj in order to strengthen them so it may take a while to learn circular breathing. |
| Mario Percinic from Croatia/Hrvatska |
Medium |
It was rather difficult to learn |
It took 6 months for me to master circular breathing technique because I couldn't see the other people what they are doing with the cheeks as well as with diaphragm so I had to become aware of body language and body movement since I'm blind. However on the other side it was very nice learning process because I've became consciously aware of all the things I have to do and it helped me allot to get into the meditation much deeper once I mastered circular breath. |
| Mark from Australia |
Medium |
I never tried |
Still learning drone noises and syllables at present |
| Mark Kern from Canada |
Easy |
It was quite easy to learn |
Chi Kung training makes for strong breath. My only problem now is I do not have my own didj! |
| Mark from USA |
Medium |
I never tried |
I am not sure but I would think it would be like playing a conch shell I have tried when a friend came back from Australia but did not succeed. |
| Anonymous |
Medium |
Medium easy or difficult |
I have played the trumpet since I was young. |
| Anonymous from USA |
Medium |
Medium easy or difficult |
I practiced by putting a straw in a glass of water and blowing bubbles. I just kept doing it until I could make a steady stream while breathing in. It was difficult for me to switch from the straw to doing it while playing. |
| Mark Witt from USA |
Medium |
Medium easy or difficult |
You have to want to learn how and keep at it until one day you have a breakthrough and then you go on to the next breakthrough and then the next. Watching videos of circular breathing tutorials was very helpful. |
| Marlo from Ireland |
Medium |
I never tried |
I have been fascinated by this musical instrument for a long time and have recently decided I want to learn it to the best of my ability so therefore I can not comment on learning how to play it yet because I am still looking for my 1st didgeridoo and by the time this competition closes I hope to be good enough. |
| Anonymous |
Medium |
It was quite easy to learn |
Practice |
| Anonymous from Austria |
Difficult |
Medium easy or difficult |
Train with a glass with water and a drinking straw was very helpful for me. Also the training with a balloon to train the muscles (cheeks). The most problem until now is to play an clear drone while press the air out from my cheeks. |
| Anonymous from France |
Difficult |
It was rather difficult to learn |
I don't really know the circular breathing but just the base. I can do it but not include it while playing. |
| Anonymous from USA |
Difficult |
It was rather difficult to learn |
I stuck a PVC didj in the water and kept practicing. Helped build. Strength |
| Anonymous from USA |
Very difficult |
It was quite easy to learn |
I learned to circular breathe by blowing bubbles through a straw. It showed my brain that it was actually possible |
| Anonymous from USA |
Medium |
I tried, but still can't circular breathe |
Still can't get it going but am getting closer. |
| Matthew from USA |
Very difficult |
It was quite easy to learn |
I learned how to play trombone before didgeridoo and was taught to never puff my cheeks. Articulation was different as well. When I picked up the didgeridoo it was like a different language but similar to trombone. I had difficulty keeping intonation when I puffed my cheeks. I kept practicing and eventually got it. |
| Matthew from USA |
Difficult |
Medium easy or difficult |
Once I learned the concept it got easier. Develop cheeks muscles by pushing one breath of air into a balloon then bring in air to fill the mouth push it back into the balloon again...repeat. Also from a drinking glass with a straw. continually make bubbles. |
| Mauricio Maldonado from Mexico |
Difficult |
It was quite easy to learn |
First spiting water while inhaling. I didn't quite like the idea of wasting water but it worked after a couple of tries. Then practicing with a bottle half-filled with water blowing with a straw felt completely like circular breathing. I was told it could take from one to several weeks to learn but this way I was doing it after two days! |
| Maximiliano from Argentina |
Medium |
It was quite easy to learn |
My yoga pranayama exercises helped me to learn circular breathing. |
| Megan Holguin from USA |
Medium |
It was quite easy to learn |
I practiced into a cup it came on quite natural to me except it took awhile to strengthen my cheeks for a better sound while forcing air out |
| Anonymous |
Difficult |
It was quite easy to learn |
My biggest problem has been trying to have a consistent sound while using my cheek breath and then smoothly transitioning back to regular breath |
| Michael Baca from USA |
Difficult |
Medium easy or difficult |
I was always had issues with pushing the air out of my cheeks there never seemed to be enough in there! With practice I finally figured it out - I was determined. |
| Michael from USA |
Easy |
It was quite easy to learn |
Well I just thought about it for a little bit and realized what it was about and how it worked then came up with a simple rhythm that was easy to accommodate circ breathing and gave it a go. Within 15 or 20 minutes I had the basics and was pretty fluent in a week or so. The most difficult part was becoming very smooth with it so you can drone and breathe without noticing the breathe. |
| Michael from USA |
Medium |
Medium easy or difficult |
Straw and a glass of water. Transferring lessons learned to actually doing it. |
| Michael O'neal from USA |
Medium |
I tried, but still can't circular breathe |
I have only had my didgeridoo for three days...just getting started |
| Anonymous |
Difficult |
I never tried |
I need more information and need to try |
| Michael Spring from USA |
Very difficult |
I tried, but still can't circular breathe |
I think its witchcraft |
| Michael from USA |
Difficult |
I tried, but still can't circular breathe |
I attempted to teach myself on a pvc didgeridoo about 15 years ago and was not able to sort out the breathing end of it at that time but I am more focused now and really want to learn. |
| Michael from Belgium |
Easy |
It was quite easy to learn |
Youtube has been my best teacher! |
| Anonymous |
Medium |
Medium easy or difficult |
I learned by using a straw and a cup of water. Once I could consistently blow bubbles through the straw into the water (without taking breaths) I transferred the jaw technique to the didj. I still haven't mastered the technique but I've definitely come a long way. |
| Michele from Italy |
Difficult |
It was rather difficult to learn |
I had particular difficulties owed to my physical conformation. Then I discovered a curious training: trying to play while walking on a cliff up and down for kilometers...it worked! |
| Anonymous |
Difficult |
Medium easy or difficult |
Have COPD |
| Mike from USA |
Medium |
Medium easy or difficult |
I am actually still in the process of mastering circular breathing I am able to maintain a good drone or with a beat for about a min (as of more recently I have been able to get that up to 3 to 5 min) |
| Anonymous from Canada |
Difficult |
I tried, but still can't circular breathe |
I'm still having problems with "turning off" the airflow from my lungs and relying solely on the air I have stored in my cheeks to continue the drone. |
| Mike from Canada |
Difficult |
It was rather difficult to learn |
Continued to try not to bad at it but still learning a didgeridoo not made from drain pipe will hopefully help:) |
| Mike from Belgium |
Difficult |
I tried, but still can't circular breathe |
As my brother told me when he was learning to play circular breathing "It's all in the mind". He learned it with a straw in a glass of water. I must still try that one;-) |
| Mike from Canada |
Difficult |
It was rather difficult to learn |
It took quite a bit of practice........my friend took back the didge he leant me so it took some saving but will look forward to getting back into it |
| Milan from Germany |
Difficult |
Medium easy or difficult |
Researching how cb theoretically works helped me a lot. The problem was eradicate interruptions of playing with cheek control. |
| Mimi from USA |
Difficult |
I tried, but still can't circular breathe |
Became a bit short of breath |
| Nathan from USA |
Medium |
Medium easy or difficult |
I am much better at circular breathing on an instrument with resistance. I am still working on circular breathing on the didj as I have a hard time managing the free flow of air through such a wide open instrument. |
| Nelson from USA |
Difficult |
I tried, but still can't circular breathe |
Just can't hold enough air in my mouth to play the note while I breathe in enough air. |
| Nick from USA |
Difficult |
It was quite easy to learn |
At first it was impossible then I started to get it after much trial and error and with practice I more or less mastered it. |
| Anonymous |
Difficult |
It was rather difficult to learn |
Practice makes perfect |
| Anonymous from USA |
Difficult |
I tried, but still can't circular breathe |
Trying to stay consistent |
| Nick from USA |
Difficult |
Medium easy or difficult |
I was under the impression that circular breathing meant exhaling through the mouth while inhaling through the nose simultaneously. I watched a youtube video on the actual technique and it was easier than I thought. I am still not consistent but getting better with practice. |
| Nick from Australia |
Difficult |
Medium easy or difficult |
Practice helped the most as well as personal advice and instruction. I had problems with not having enough air in my cheeks to keep the drone going when I used to squeeze my cheeks in. |
| Nicole from Germany |
Difficult |
I tried, but still can't circular breathe |
I only tried it for a couple of hours. I guess I need to have a teacher to really learn it. |
| Ori from Israel |
Difficult |
It was quite easy to learn |
Understanding the way it physically works. |
| Oriol Sanchez Castello from Andorra |
Medium |
Medium easy or difficult |
Once I was playing it it came. I didn't realize in the beginning that I got it. After this I tried to improve breathing with the rhythm time together. |
| Patrice from France |
Medium |
Medium easy or difficult |
I played every day at least 1 hour. I tried to blow and at the breathe immediately while the cheeks were full of air... and it finally worked... my biggest problem is that I learned by myself and got the wooble technique first that prevented me from learning other techniques... After 8 years I had to take lessons as I was completely blocked in a the wooble practice and could not do anything else... |
| Patrice from Netherlands |
Difficult |
I tried, but still can't circular breathe |
I can't get enough air to keep playing. |
| Patrick from USA |
Medium |
It was quite easy to learn |
Practice helps smooth out gaps. Relaxing helps instead of trying to force breaths even in quick rhythms. |
