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"Can different notes be played on the didj?
Please explain why different notes can or cannot be played on the didj. "

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Over the years we have asked our visitors many different questions and any of the below topics contain hundreds of comments from people all over the world. Enjoy reading what other people have to say on those subjects:-). If you have any question you would like us to ask our visitors, please let us know.

GENERAL DIDGERIDOO ISSUES

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TRADITIONAL DIDGERIDOO PLAYING

EFFECTS OF DIDGERIDOO PLAYING & LISTENING

ABORIGINAL ISSUES

Name and Country Can different notes be played on the didj? Please explain why different notes can or cannot be played on the didj.
Aaron Lewis from USA Yes By tightening or loosening your lips like switching from tuba to trumpet
Adam from Australia No The didge doesn't consist of different notes. They are in one key and have some overtones. Change key by cutting shorter. The didge is so wonderfully different. Of the land and made colourful by the players ability to vocalize different sounds and patterns.
Anonymous Yes There are a few techniques you can use to change note or pitch one is the positioning of your tongue the other is how hard you blow the air between your vibrating lips.
Anonymous from USA Yes The base note is the same but various mouth movements can change the notes especially with harmonics.
Anonymous No Because its a closed pipe system the wavelength of sound produced is caused by the length of the pipe. Only harmonics of this length can be created.
Anonymous ??? Not familiar with didj
Ariella Trotti from Italy No Because every yidaki has a individual tone
Audrey from USA Yes I cannot explain this but having listened to didj music the notes are different.
Bart Boogaard from Netherlands Yes You can use voice so you can produce whatever note u want.
Betsy Sauther from USA Yes Overtones?
Bill Hollingworth from Australia Yes I know that different notes can be played on a didge. because I once took trumpet lessons and was able to play different notes without using the keys.
Bob from USA Yes If you include the horn note and drop jaw note it is possible.
Brent Shifley from USA Yes By changing the shape of your mouth the sounds change.
Brian James from United Kingdom Yes By altering the pressure and force of the air through the Didge
Anonymous Yes It is an instrument
Célio Melek from Brazil Yes Por ser um instrumento oco de sopro que não tem teclas nem acordes somente com a boca pode-se jogar qualquer nota
Crid Jack from France Yes Because: -Octaves of the original note can be played; -Alternations in the way of blowing can also bring lower notes -You can sing into a didgeridoo while playing it and therefore create harmonies!
Anonymous Yes Not enough practice
Dana from Canada Yes The ones I have heard on youtube etc. all sound like they are playing different levels of the same vibration whether or not that is actually a note I am not sure.
Anonymous from Canada No Well I imagine it is possible to play slightly different pitches on the didj but I can't yet. by changing the breath pressure shape of mouth it seems like the pitches could be changed slightly but maybe not too much.
David from Australia Yes You can change the sound with your voice Tongue and mouth
David from USA Yes Different Didjes are tuned to different notes. Also different notes can be played on a didj by using vocals and changing the shape or position of the lips and tongue.
Deborah from USA ??? Don't know
Diamantina from USA ??? I think that because each instrument is one specific range one can only get those specific notes from it. But I don't really know.
Dianna from USA Yes By using different tongue positions
Dionisio from Spain ??? I don't know.
Anonymous Yes Blowing overtones much like brass instruments. Singing into a didge gives alternate pitches
Anonymous Yes The didgeridoo has a resonant frequency that is excited by the vibration. However the didj can also be played like a trumpet creating a different harmonic frequency.
Drew from Canada No It has no range as there are only to ports in and out.
Eddie from USA Yes Drone trumpet voice effects tongue lips emotion spirit articulation.
Erik Putnam from USA Yes Good embouchure allows you to tighten or loosen your facial muscles and change the "drone note." Changing the cavity size and shape of your mouth allows you to change the "over tone note."
Anonymous from United Kingdom Yes Different didges play in different keys.
Gabriel Flores from USA Yes Although the didj will be naturally one note. The good ones are imperfect. As well if you tighten or loosen your lips you can raise or lower the pitch of the notes you are playing.
Gabriel Florez from USA Yes Although didjes are set to a specific key that will not change. One can play a different note simply by tightening the lips. Not blowing hard or softer but by tightening the lips you can achieve the trumpet effect and you can also reach slightly higher notes. But you cannot play scales on a didjeridoo so what you get is what you get as far as notes are concerned.
Garry from Australia Yes Termite Didj's do not have a uniform in cavity. The various chambers and channels resonate at different frequencies and pressure. The length thickness and internal diameter of the didj also plays an important role in frequency.
Gary from USA Yes The length and size of area the sound travels
George from Cyprus Yes From what I understand each didj has its particular key/note different didges can have different notes but when playing a didj you can then change the harmonics by the movements within mouth and sound effects from the throat etc.
Graham from New Zealand Yes Can't explain but I believe you can "bend" The key slightly
Gregg Nardozza from USA Yes To an extent the lips can be tightened or loosened to "bend" notes up and down. One can also hoot on the didj... some didjes have more than one hoot note.
Anonymous from Germany Yes Depends on the definition of "note". Base drone can be lowered by lowering the jaw. Decrease by at least halftone possible.
Anonymous ??? I don't know I'm just learning to play one!
Harry from Australia Yes Depending on how the person hold his mouth to make a high sound or low sound
Anonymous from Netherlands Yes Use your voice links or play with the amount of air
Jack from Antarctica Yes Well there's didj's of different lengths varying diameters different back-pressures from various players...they all make a difference.
Anonymous from South Africa Yes You can reach different notes by changing the "Shape" of your mouth
Anonymous No The note that you are creating with your breath and mouth is the note played on the didj.
James from Canada No It is essentially a resonating chamber and although altering mouth shape can change resonance the actual note does not change.
James from USA Yes Have never played one but I assume that different breath strokes and speed can change notes
Anonymous from USA Yes Regulating pressure and tongue position
Jeff from USA Yes Harmonics!
Anonymous from USA ??? Not sure
Jeffrey from USA Yes By altering the airflow lip tension etc different notes can be achieved as well as through vocalizations.
Jessica from USA No I have read before that they other notes can be played but some can be specially for certain notes???
Jim from USA ??? Don't know
Anonymous Yes Overtones
Anonymous Yes Harmonics have everything to do with it.
Kristi Edwards from USA Yes It depends of the way the instrument is placed to the mouth blown into and manipulated.
Anonymous Yes Length power of breath....
Lionel Mouesca from France Yes Using vocals and overtones you can create a full spectrum of musical colours
Anonymous Yes It has everything to do we your lips and thought. you can vibrate your lips slower or faster in a harder or softer way.
Mark from USA Yes One note can be generated using the vibrating air of your exhalation and another using your vocal chords.
Mark from USA Yes Different animal sounds can be played while didjing... don;t know if there counted as notes but...
Mathieu from Canada No 1 didj is made in 1 key. That's it! I guess "toot" could be considered a different note.
Anonymous ??? Not sure perhaps it is limited by the length and bore but the mouth might be able to make other notes.
Matthew Neenan from USA Yes The mouth and throat can be altered physically to produce different sounds and tones
Michelle Brough from USA ??? Just not sure!
Mike Meyer from Israel Yes If I understand correctly different notes can be played only in a sense that various overtones of the base can be made more or less pronounced
Nick from USA Yes There is the main drone note "toot" notes and vocalization can be added to change the range of notes produced.
Anonymous ??? Don't know
Anonymous Yes Its all about pressure and technique
Peter from New Zealand Yes - can be played dependent on lips tongue pressure.
Phil Weiler from USA Yes By changing the shape of your mouth and cheeks and by positioning your tongue you can create harmonics.
Pierre from Canada No I believe every didj has its one only unique note. Different sounds can come out of a didj but I think the note remains the same.
Randal Wilson from USA Yes The Harmonic series of notes is present on any aerophone.
Robert Kennedy from USA Yes I know that each didj resonates in one key but by using the tongue and cheeks you can make a variety of different sounds. They aren't exactly notes but you aren't limited to the drone note either.
Roberta Hobson from Canada ??? This is an entire new field for me I am just beginning to learn about didj playing
Robin from USA Yes Depends on the skill of the player
Roger from USA Yes By the forming of the mouth
Roger from USA Yes There is a complex interaction between lip shape and pressure on the Didge air pressure and intent of the individual player. While there is a proper note that is dependant on the Didges circular diameter length lip shape and breathing process including pressure flow and throat sound there are other harmonic notes and other notes can be played.
Ronald Ballard from USA ??? Not sure
Samantha Davis from Australia No Due to the length of the individual didj+its corresponding note
Sanford Webb from USA Yes It is how you breathe and blow
Anonymous from USA ??? I am just learning - I know different lengths can create different notes...and I know that different breathing techniques and mouth movements create different sounds.
Anonymous ??? I'm aware of slight pitch change only.
Sean Jackson from USA Yes You can bend the pitch you can produce trumpet tones and you can sing and hum a second note against the drone.
Shawn from USA Yes Notes can be manipulated either sharp of flat by different mouth positions.
Anonymous from USA Yes The hoot note is different from the regular tone
Steve from United Kingdom Yes The "drone" sound is produced while air is being push out of the didj at a certain pressure. a "hoot" is created by pushing harder and tightening the lips creating an almost octave effect.
Stuart Sills from Australia Yes Through breathing and vocalisation
Sundeep from USA Yes Overtones can be controlled and emphasized.
Thomas from Germany ??? Don't Know
Timur Paltuyev from Kazakhstan Yes )))
Tommi from Finland Yes Mouth can play different notes the pipe follows.
Troy from Canada Yes I believe different notes can be played on a didge buy simple adding more or less pressure to the vibration of the lips or getting the didge to talk?!
Wayne from Australia Yes Different notes are possible by adjusting volume pitch of the mouth etc.

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GENERAL DIDGERIDOO ISSUES

DIDGERIDOO AUTHENTICITY

DIDJSHOP COMMENTS

TRADITIONAL DIDGERIDOO PLAYING

EFFECTS OF DIDGERIDOO PLAYING & LISTENING

ABORIGINAL ISSUES

 

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