| Name and Country |
Can different notes be played on the didj? |
Please explain why different notes can or cannot be played on the didj. |
| Anonymous from USA |
No |
The Didj is keyed to a certain note (like c#) and there is only one hole. You make different sounds with the shaping of your mouth but I don't think you can get a different note. |
| Adam Perrett from Australia |
No |
Didgeridoos are instruments of pitch. The pitch for each didge is determined by its internal structure. Different sounds can be produced at the mouthpiece end by manipulating the tongue cheek and throat. This does not change the pitch of the didge when compared to an instrument such as a clarinet which is played to produce different notes. |
| Al Hepworth from Finland |
Yes |
Because of the position and shape of the mouth and the placing of the tongue |
| Anonymous |
Yes |
Overtones |
| Alan from United Kingdom |
Yes |
You can use your tongue to change notes |
| Alexander from USA |
Yes |
It's one solid piece of wood the key is pretty much locked in but you can toot it and go slightly above the original key. |
| Allan Klausen from Denmark |
Yes |
Using overtones |
| Anonymous from USA |
??? |
I'm not sure |
| Andrew from USA |
Yes |
If tooting on the instrument like a trumpet a few extra notes may be possible depending on the physical structure of the didj. |
| Anonymous |
Yes |
Don't know how to play one but have heard some played and they were not one note.. They are a single key however.. |
| Audrey Wong from USA |
Yes |
Because you can change the notes you are creating. |
| Barney from USA |
No |
The physics of sound vibrations in relation to the length of the didj. A toot does change the note this change is relative to the change in lip position and shape on the mouth piece. |
| Barry Williams from USA |
Yes |
Lip tension voice overtones |
| Anonymous from Netherlands |
??? |
No idea what you mean. But you can make many sounds in different tone heights. If that classifies as other tones then yes. But maybe it all comes out of a general "main tone".. |
| Anonymous from USA |
??? |
I do not know |
| Bernard from USA |
Yes |
Each didge has one (or more) drone notes and typically multiple trumpet tones |
| Bill Lockett from USA |
Yes |
Not sure. |
| Bill White from USA |
Yes |
Breathing |
| Brenda Rodriguez from USA |
??? |
Still trying to get circular breathing down. |
| Brian from Canada |
Yes |
Generally didj's only pay one note. Certain techniques may be able to bring out a higher note. |
| Brian Pflanz from USA |
Yes |
Your using your mouth to adjust the sound just like a bugle. |
| Brooke from Australia |
No |
Different sounds not necessarily notes are made through movements of the mouth and tongue. |
| Anonymous from USA |
??? |
Honestly do not know. |
| Anonymous |
No |
Can't change the length of the sound wave |
| Byron from USA |
Yes |
Your mouth is forming the notes not your voice and it is amplified via a long natural tube. |
| Cam Maclean from Canada |
Yes |
Unknown just learning to play |
| Cameron from USA |
Yes |
By tightening or relaxing your lips when you buzz. |
| Anonymous from Canada |
??? |
????? |
| Anonymous from USA |
??? |
I don't know |
| Carol from USA |
Yes |
Ability and control one can make different pitches or notes w/a didgeridoo. |
| Anonymous from USA |
??? |
From what I know its pretty much one note but can be played on different octives |
| Charles Yount from USA |
Yes |
No |
| Cheryl from Australia |
??? |
I have no idea |
| Anonymous |
Yes |
I am not sure |
| Anonymous from USA |
Yes |
The didj has one primary note and some overtones that can be played |
| Christopher from USA |
No |
Because when you play a didgeridoo you only change the tone of the note not the note its self |
| Christopher from United Kingdom |
Yes |
Different ways of blowing different styles of didj. |
| Christopher from USA |
Yes |
Use of harmonics and toot and drone sounds. Also vocalizations |
| Cindy from USA |
Yes |
Different octave toots can be accomplished by controlling the musculature around the lips/mouth. |
| Cliff from USA |
??? |
Not sure |
| Clint Beedy from USA |
Yes |
The speed of the lips vibrating makes different notes so it is possible. |
| Col from Australia |
??? |
I am under the impression that different didgeridoos have different base notes. |
| Connie from USA |
Yes |
I have seen slider didjes that can play multiple notes on the same didj. Otherwise its one note per didj. Unless you include harmonics and overtones. |
| Craig Coussins from United Kingdom |
Yes |
The Didgeridoo mako yidaki or whatever the instrument is called in each locality has one drone sound that is controlled through the mouthpiece. Variations of that sound can be applied as well as various pitches of sound through manipulation of the moth. |
| Crystal from USA |
Yes |
Using your voice different notes can be "played". |
| Anonymous |
Yes |
BY TIGHTENTING YOUR LIPS |
| Anonymous |
Yes |
Different patterns of the players breath and by using the diaphragm can get different sounds and notes |
| Dan Lombardo from USA |
Yes |
You're able to tighten or loosen your lips to affect the pitch. |
| Anonymous from Canada |
Yes |
Each didge is tuned to a specific note when it is made |
| Daniel Johnson from USA |
Yes |
By singing into your didj or by opening your mouth and throat (lowers tone). |
| Daniel Niles from United Arab Emirates |
Yes |
By controlling the air flow you can find and repeat notes within the range of that didj. |
| Daniel from Germany |
Yes |
You can play a hoot or normal droning |
| Dave from Australia |
Yes |
Notes can be changed by the amount of air pushed thru the Didge and the position and shape of the tongue |
| Anonymous |
Yes |
Notes vary by the amount of air pressure blown into the didj |
| David from United Kingdom |
Yes |
Different notes can be blown on a didge by slowing down OR speeding up the air flow/pressure. |
| David from United Kingdom |
Yes |
Adjusting the embouchure allows bending of the pitch and playing of different harmonics |
| David from United Kingdom |
Yes |
Yes but it to late for me to remember. |
| Anonymous from USA |
Yes |
Different sizes produce different keys - within those keys you can alter the sound. To make sure you're getting a properly tuned didj - get it from the didj shop |
| Anonymous |
No |
The length of the didge determines this. There are some plastic telescopic didges that can change. Went to a concert once with Mark Atkins and was a little disappointed that he played one for most of the concert... |
| Derek from Canada |
No |
You can change the timber with accents and high lights but overall the notation remains the same. |
| Des Holmes from United Kingdom |
Yes |
If you toot a note it will be a different one! |
| Anonymous |
Yes |
I do not know. |
| Anonymous from Kazakhstan |
Yes |
It is my guess based upon what I have heard |
| Doug from USA |
??? |
Don't Know |
| Douglas from USA |
Yes |
They can be...how the mouth muscles are used how the diaphragm is used the tongue movement and breathing and such |
| Dustin from USA |
Yes |
They can be played by using different voices noises and humming while droning by buzzing your lips. |
| Ed Huntley from USA |
Yes |
Alteration of vibration frequencies |
| Ed Olson from USA |
Yes |
The length and diameter decide the drone note but it can be changed slightly by the force of air exerted into the didj itself and through "jawing" |
| Eddy from Australia |
??? |
Don't no. |
| Eduardo from Ecuador |
??? |
I have never played a didj |
| Eric from Canada |
Yes |
It seems to me that each didj plays one note but that note can be changed with the introduction of voice as well as the possibility of playing other non drone sounds with the Didj. |
| Eric from USA |
Yes |
I can't see any reason why they wouldn't be able to play different note |
| Eric Westman from USA |
No |
Unless it is specifically made to do so by way of a sliding tube mechanism or holes such as a flute would have it would be very difficult to change octaves and impossible to change notes. |
| Erica from USA |
Yes |
The embochure can be tightened air speed can be altered and even the vocal chords can be implemented as part of the musical experience. |
| Anonymous |
??? |
I do not know yet |
| Ewoud from Netherlands Antilles |
Yes |
By using your voice your lips and your tongue on different ways |
| Fred Ashplant from USA |
Yes |
Different notes can be played by changing lip tension and mouth/tongue shape |
| Fred from Netherlands |
Yes |
It is a human who plays |
| Anonymous from Brazil |
No |
Because the physical properties of the didj doesn't change; the pressure of the air inside it won't change with time |
| Galen Wood from USA |
??? |
No ida |
| Gary Siegle from USA |
Yes |
The different lengths determine the resonance of the note. At least that is what I read and have personally experienced when talking into varying lengths of pipe. |
| Glen Bzdel from Canada |
??? |
Pitch is formed in the mouth |
| Gonzalo Gregori from China (pr) |
Yes |
Base note + hoot |
| Graham Monteith from USA |
Yes |
On some they can like the didgeribone but on original didges they can usually play 1-2 notes. |
| Greg from USA |
Yes |
From what I have learned and experienced different notes depend mainly on the size shape length bell and material that the didj. is made out of. |
| Guido Cifali from Australia |
No |
A pipe is not like a string. Harmonics may however be produced with a didj. |
| Hans from Netherlands |
Yes |
You can play on different key didjes. A skilled player can achieve lots of vibrations and notes. |
| Harry from USA |
Yes |
Don't know |
| Helen from Ireland |
Yes |
As I understand it didges sound their fundamental note which depends on the length and width of the tube and other factors but there are no finger holes. The fundamental pitch can be fine tuned as appropriate. Didges can therefore be tuned to any note of the scale. They can also sound a higher note by overblowing into harmonics - known as the hoot. Some non-aboriginal didges are made with a slide which does enable a range of notes to be played on the one instrument. |
| Howard Williamson from USA |
Yes |
Overtones - occasionally 2 overtones can be played. |
| Anonymous |
Yes |
Lip position can alter notes |
| Hugo from United Kingdom |
Yes |
Base note and toot note |
| Ian from Canada |
Yes |
Vocals and notes are created by resonance in the didj so can possibly find harmonics |
| Isabelle from France |
Yes |
Each didj has his own basis note (example: fa ré or do#). It depends on the structure and length of didge. You can modulate notes by throat. |
| Israel from Spain |
No |
The didgeridoo has only one note because it hasn t mobile parts as in other air instruments as a saxo or a trumpet. The note in a didgeridoo depends on the length of the didge. We can make an overtone by blowing harder throw de didge |
| J from Australia |
Yes |
There is the the natural musical key of a didj then there is the didj's toot note which is when it is blown into like a bugle and the note from it is always higher than the didj's natural musical key |
| Anonymous |
??? |
I don't know. |
| Anonymous |
Yes |
Different notes |
| James from USA |
No |
Just one note but different vocalizations. |
| Anonymous |
Yes |
Varies depending on the pressures of the blower |
| James Miller from USA |
Yes |
Vary shape of mouth tongue and humming. |
| Jason from Canada |
Yes |
The hoot is one way and vocalizations are another. |
| Jeff from USA |
Yes |
Because the person playing is the instrument and the only limit is within the individual |
| Jeff from USA |
Yes |
Because |
| Jenelle from USA |
??? |
I don't know. |
| Anonymous |
Yes |
The movement of the mouth makes it possible |
| Jeremy from USA |
Yes |
I would definitely say different notes can be played. through different applications of pressure applied and different sounds produced by the player. Maybe they are note best described as notes...as most didj only have one resonant note different sounds are definitely possible. |
| Anonymous |
Yes |
The differences in airflow. |
| Jeshurun from USA |
No |
The length determines the note and as you cannot change the length the note stays the same. |
| Anonymous |
Yes |
Depending on air speed |
| Joan from USA |
Yes |
I have heard my son play different notes. |
| Joe from USA |
No |
It's a fixed resonant chamber determined by the length and bore of the stick. Timbre can be manipulated to a degree as well as rhythmic elements. |
| Johan Pot from Netherlands |
No |
Except from overtone the didge has only one basic note. |
| Anonymous |
No |
What I understand that didj do not have notes and anyone can play the instrument |
| Anonymous |
Yes |
Only one basic note but can produce a harmonic sound also(toot?) |
| John from USA |
Yes |
Harmonic of the fundamental can be played. |
| Jorge Alberto from Mexico |
Yes |
Through the vibrations of the lips in combination the sound of the voice. |
| Josh Snyder from USA |
Yes |
The shape? |
| Judith from USA |
Yes |
The length of the instrument width shape. |
| Julio Peña from Paraguay |
Yes |
Two notes: the basic or each didge and the toot. Some didges have a third toot note. |
| Justin Castillo from USA |
Yes |
Unsure. If you use the right cover it can work |
| Karl from USA |
No |
The length of the vibrating air column does not change |
| Katarina from Serbia |
Yes |
If you blow harder note is little bit higher |
| Kathleen Byham from USA |
Yes |
One can create high pitched to very low sounds via circular breathing and by adding vocal sounds to the drone. |
| Kevin D Babiuk from USA |
Yes |
Different notes can be played by differing the pressure of your lips against one another. |
| Anonymous |
Yes |
The way air is passed through the throat and mouth can change the note. |
| Kim from USA |
Yes |
I just have never heard of an instrument to play only one note. |
| Kyle from USA |
No |
Didjes are tuned to play at a specific resonance or pitch. The air space within the didj cannot be altered as with finger holes so plays at a constant note. the player can augment the sound through their body and use of the mouthpiece |
| Laura from USA |
Yes |
I love listening to my son play. |
| Anonymous from Canada |
Yes |
Because the didj is an amplification of the users vocal range |
| Levi from USA |
No |
Well the didj length determines the note/key the didj is played in. |
| Anonymous |
Yes |
Pace power |
| Lourenco from Brazil |
Yes |
From the little I know would be by way of playing and depending on the characteristics of each didj |
| Anonymous from Argentina |
Yes |
A didj can play a drone sound and some harmonics sounds. |
| Luis from Portugal |
Yes |
By shfting the various parts used to play the didge(lips tongue opening of the airways) you can get different notes. |
| Manuel from China (pr) |
Yes |
Normally didj play one note but when played like a trombone you can get another two or three notes. Sometime didj can be played from both sides and it happens that the note will be different ( normally one interval difference) |
| Marc from USA |
??? |
I can't explain...because I'm not sure. |
| Anonymous |
No |
Each dig is a single note |
| Mario Bortoli from Italy |
No |
No extra holes and no length change |
| Mark Galvin from USA |
??? |
Don't know but it appears to be only harmonics of the fundamental note. |
| Mark Leipfert from USA |
Yes |
By changing the pressure of air forced into the didj the sound can be altered from high to low and flat or sharp. |
| Mark from USA |
Yes |
Various harmonics through vocal/lip/tongue inflection. Octave or note higher than the baseline drone through increasing pressure. |
| Mateus Zica from Brazil |
??? |
I don't know |
| Matias from Argentina |
No |
IDK. |
| Anonymous |
Yes |
Change of pitch in the mouth cavity |
| Maximiliano from Argentina |
Yes |
Controlling air and lip pressure |
| Michael from USA |
No |
The pitch is determined by the length I suppose. Possibly there could be octaves |
| Anonymous from USA |
Yes |
Based on how apart your lips are when playing a different note can be played. |
| Mike from Netherlands |
Yes |
With accurate lip embouchure a good player can change the basic tone. The different overtones complete the sound. |
| Mike from United Kingdom |
Yes |
By introducing vocal sounds as you play. |
| Mike from USA |
Yes |
Different tones and octaves can be produced by overblowing |
| Mike from USA |
??? |
I never played |
| Nathaniel Curtis from USA |
Yes |
Depending on the construction of didge: altering length of slide didge produces new fundamental. On traditional didge the overtone series may be played. |
| Neil from Australia |
No |
You can play different tones by shaping your mouth or mouthing the sounds as in dee dee dee. But the Didj it's self has a fixed note unless it is a slide Didj which can vary it's length and change the note. |
| Neil Gee from USA |
Yes |
A "note" is what a culture or society defines it as. |
| Nicholas Pottle from United Kingdom |
Yes |
Its all down the tone from the lips. |
| Anonymous from USA |
Yes |
Unless you have a plastic one that has and adjustable length the only way to get a different note on a didj in with doing a horn noise but some still produce the same note |
| Omar L. De La Tejera from Mexico |
Yes |
Even when each didj has a tone we can change frequencies by changing the position of tongue and also we can vocalize while making the drone. |
| Paleki Phaphapeuneua from Canada |
Yes |
The different length thickness and wood type will determine the playing note of a didj. |
| Patricia from USA |
Yes |
The use of embouchure and underlying vocal tones below your drone |
| Patrick from USA |
Yes |
Variations of key may be played according to the player. |
| Patrick from Australia |
Yes |
Overtones |
| Patrick from USA |
No |
Well in my experience didjes are only one tone from ac to b but you can play didj with a drop octave so technically that is a different note. Jim not sure what you would consider a toot to be. I know they have made an instrument that is a 10 tone didgeribone which has a slide like a trombone. |
| Pedro from Spain |
No |
Length is constant and the change in the vocal cavity is minimal |
| Peter Kraan from South Africa |
No |
Only one frequency can be produced |
| Anonymous from United Kingdom |
No |
They cannot as the same length didgeridoo only plays a certaIN note-other lengths play different notes. |
| Petri from Finland |
Yes |
By tightening or loosening your lips |
| Piergiorgio Fiorucci from Italy |
Yes |
Different pressure....different vibration as the wind |
| Anonymous from Australia |
Yes |
Drone vocals various pitch vibrations. |
| Richard from USA |
Yes |
I think by varying lip tension different notes can be played. |
| Richard from United Kingdom |
Yes |
Due to variations of lip tongue and pressure placement allowing for overtones. |
| Anonymous |
Yes |
Shape of the mouth tongue placement air speed air direction. a note is not ONLY necessarily a b c etc. it can be variations of a b c etc. |
| Rob from USA |
Yes |
Toots and drones are different notes. Also drones can be manipulated at least a half step. |
| Anonymous |
Yes |
Strong resonance of the vocal tract can strongly influence the timbre of the instrument. Also the vibration produced by the player's lips creates harmonics. Adding vocalizations increases the complexity of the playing. |
| Robbie Orth from USA |
Yes |
The change in the frequency of vibration down the length of the didj changes the note played |
| Anonymous |
??? |
I'm dumb as a stick when it comes to playing a didj. I don't know. |
| Roberto Mojica from Puerto Rico |
Yes |
Some didj are tuned based on the size and shape |
| Rod from USA |
Yes |
Changing the way your tongue or mouth moves or expanding/contracting your diaphragm can change the note? |
| Anonymous from USA |
Yes |
Difference of shape of mouth while blowing as well as intensity. |
| Rose from USA |
Yes |
All about technique. |
| Rual from USA |
Yes |
The lips air pressure muscle control and vocal changes can change the notes played. |
| Ruben Dewulf from Belgium |
No |
As you mean with note a tone. hmmm why... Because it's one opening one pipe and you have no other choices. maybe with a didgeridoo with one end and two begins... hmmm don't know maybe |
| Anonymous |
Yes |
From my limited understanding I think it is possible to play different notes with various techniques such as 'toots'. I've also seen techniques of dropping the drone a full octave. I'm not sure but vocals dropped over the drone would seem to change notes as well. |
| Safaa from USA |
??? |
I am not sure but my didj seems to be fairly limited. |
| Sam from United Kingdom |
Yes |
Slide Didjes can produce many different notes |
| Sergio from Colombia |
No |
Because of the physical structure of the instrument and the lack of moving pieces or holes... |
| Shawn from USA |
Yes |
I am not sure but I have heard them |
| Stefan from USA |
Yes |
Its about the player and their capabilities |
| Anonymous from Germany |
Yes |
If you change your position of tongue or chin the height of the sound differs - should be different notes |
| Steffen from Germany |
No |
Plays at the Basic drone... |
| Steve from USA |
No |
I am terrible at music theory so I could be wrong about the above statement. To my knowledge and in how I play my didge--each didge only produces one note but several different variations of that note are able to be produced by how you move your tongue hold your lips and move air through your lungs throat and mouth and how much air pressure you exert into the didge when playing. |
| Stewart from USA |
Yes |
Although the didj is a one note instrument variation of lip and cheek tension can generate a small variation of note around the didj's key. Overtones or "toot" is another way to generate a note in a higher key. |
| Susan from USA |
??? |
Don't know |
| Anonymous |
??? |
I really don't know. |
| Telfair Leimbach from USA |
Yes |
When I was in Sydney in 2005 I caught a concert where a one armed didge player using pvc pipe had created a sleeve (like a trombone) that gave him some variety in pitch. A traditional didj however probably can't (technically) play outside of the pitch that is "built in" so to speak. |
| Tex from USA |
Yes |
High and low based n blow technique |
| Thomas from USA |
??? |
I think in the change of pressure in your breath could change the notes |
| Thomas from Germany |
Yes |
Base frequency and overtones create a broad sound spectrum |
| Anonymous from USA |
Yes |
Harmonics overtones... one basic drone note that can be manipulated in many ways |
| Anonymous from Australia |
No |
They cannot because there is only one outlet |
| Anonymous from USA |
No |
Octaves can be played but they sound terrible so they are not useful in my experience. other tones can be introduced with humming singing etc but they ride on the didj's low tone |
| Timothy Gatehouse from Us Minor Outlying Islands |
Yes |
I'm just learning about the Didj currently. I'm not familiar enough! |
| Todd from Australia |
Yes |
Toot notes can be higher |
| Anonymous |
Yes |
The design... |
| Anonymous |
Yes |
I regard the toots as different notes. Perhaps a bit dodgy there isn't much room to go into what a note might really mean. This might be insight I've gained from the Indigenous folk of Australia. |
| Tom from United Kingdom |
Yes |
There is the base note of a didj; this is the note that is drone that is produced as standard. If however you are skilled enough to produce vocal overtones you can have 2 distinct tones. This process is very similar biomechanically to mongolian/peruvian throat singing. |
| Tony Kubiak from USA |
No |
While the "honk" and some bending of sound is possible the length of the didj is fixed and so the base note is fixed as well |
| Tony Miller from USA |
Yes |
Length width material opening of the mouth shape of the lips and tongue partial closing of the end section. |
| Vance Blow from USA |
Yes |
I can toot a different note with a horn vocal for example |
| Anonymous |
??? |
I'm not that good..... |
| Anonymous |
Yes |
Varying the wavelength within a tube creates different notes. |
| Anonymous |
Yes |
Through the use of the voice and altering the harmonic resonance of the vocal cavities a player can emphasize different harmonics of the fundamental tone achieving different notes above the main bass. |
| Wilder Betancourth from Colombia |
No |
Don't know |
| Anonymous from Canada |
Yes |
Because by tightening you lips you can shift to a higher resonance vibration of the didge which is a different note. This process can be done a couple times but need strong lips! |
| Yves from Canada |
Yes |
Don't know |
