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Do you prefer to play contemporary or traditional styles on the didgeridoo?
Do you prefer to listen to contemporary or traditional styles on the didgeridoo?
What is the difference between contemporary and traditional style playing?

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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

DIDGERIDOO AUTHENTICITY

DIDJSHOP COMMENTS

TRADITIONAL DIDGERIDOO PLAYING

EFFECTS OF DIDGERIDOO PLAYING & LISTENING

ABORIGINAL ISSUES

Name and Country Do you prefer to play contemporary or traditional styles on the didgeridoo? Do you prefer to listen to contemporary or traditional styles on the didgeridoo? What is the difference between contemporary and traditional style playing?
Anonymous Both Both Melodic styles?
Anonymous from USA Do not know Do not know Only know of the differences in a didj made of authentic tree and one made of plastic pipes. Not sure of difference in style playing...
Gary from USA Traditional Traditional Based on listening to recordings I think more of the contemporary" play relies on somewhat recent melodies and music compositions. Sometimes that is in an accompanying role; sometimes it is in a main role in the piece. While this can be nice I prefer a lot of the older pieces that include various calls including animal calls."
George Brock from USA Both Both It appears that aboriginal playing is more rhythmic
Anonymous from USA Can not play Do not know I don't know.
Graeme from USA Both Both Contemporary is less complicated and precise. They are entirely different.
Graeme White from United Kingdom Contemporary Both Tonguing/ vocalisation
Greg from Australia Do not know Do not know I don't really know I have a CD by Ash Dargen which is really good. I would love to be able to play like that
Gypsy Mama from Canada Do not know Both Contemporary often includes electronics and other instruments which may or may not be acoustic. Traditional tends to remain acoustic when including other instruments and is often meditative though this is true of many contemporary recordings that encourage our tribal connections.
Howard Williamson from USA Traditional Both I have to admit that I really don't know.
Anonymous Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary is accompaniment and traditional is solo
Ian from USA Traditional Both Traditional style consists of playing the way it has always been played- drones over-tones hoots growls barks circular breathing. Contemporary style integrates the didgeridoo into a band of different instruments of many colors.
Ilias from France Both Both Contemporary style added mostly vocal sounds.
Jaime-lynn from USA Both Both Contemporary is more danceable.
James Byron from United Kingdom Both Both Traditional playing involves complex fast rhythms using the tongue throat and diaphragm. The knowledge and rhythms required for traditional playing style is passed down by word of mouth. Contemporary style is anything else and the contemporary player has free range to use various techniques to develop their own unique style of contemporary playing.
James from USA Traditional Traditional Old and new
James from USA Do not know Both Contemporary is more synchopatic
Anonymous from USA Contemporary Both Contemporary playing is based on modern rhythms ( rock hip hop....)
Jan from Australia Do not know Both More research needed by me. Um I like what I hear.
Janene from Australia Can not play Both Traditional is the style used in ceremonies contemporary for entertainment for all people to hear
Jason from Australia Contemporary Both The sound and speed
Jeff from USA Contemporary Both Traditional: prescribed rhythms and techniques for certain situations. contemporary: just play!
Anonymous from USA Traditional Traditional I was taught traditional don't know much contemporary
Jeffrey from USA Do not know Both Contemporary uses effects and multitrack recording.
Jeffrey from USA Can not play Both The didj has become quite popular in the avant-garde music scene. but it's a world away from the more natural rhythms and sounds of traditional.
Jenni Abbott from Australia Can not play Traditional Overtone- present and overtone absent styles are traditional while contemporary is anything else.
Jennifer from USA Do not know Do not know Not sure
Anonymous Can not play Both I don't know
Anonymous from Netherlands Can not play Do not know I don't quite understand the difference. I understand it has something to do with positioning your lips? I'm afraid my english lacks.
Jessica from USA Do not know Do not know To be honest I don't know the difference
Anonymous from USA Both Both Contemporary is basically freestyle while traditional is a very specific rhythm often handed down through generations.
Joan from USA Can not play Traditional Probably the vocal effects
Joanne from Australia Can not play Both One is drawn from traditional styles the other has a wider global influence
Joe from USA Both Traditional Contemporary takes into account modern styles and techniques of playing. The traditional style maintains the tried and true techniques of our ancestors.
Anonymous Both Both Traditional is nature oriented
Joey Terhljan from Canada Can not play Do not know Don't know
Johan Thaens from Belgium Traditional Traditional Rhythm + social environment
Anonymous Can not play Do not know I honestly am to sure
John (no Kidding!) from Canada Both Both Traditional tends to be - from what I've heard - 1 maybe 2 didj players at any given time sometimes with or without Aboriginal singing and maybe clap sticks hand clapping etc. More about an explanation of surrounding nature than songs with other musical instruments dance beats etc. Based on the languages of the various Aboriginal nations. While some is strictly for entertainment purposes it is more the song / language of the land and people. Contemporary is more along the lines of including other instruments rhythms influenced by other countries / styles more trumpeting and usually as more of an accompanying instrument. Although can include many of the same sounds and animal calls the feel of the music is different.
John from USA Do not know Traditional Only heard traditional
Anonymous Both Traditional Traditional is more primal sounding
Jonathan from Australia Contemporary Both In my experience contemporary has a fast and consistent beat more in the style of techno. Traditional playing is usually slower and intended to tell a story with different sounds having different meanings often while accompanying singing and dancing.
Joni from Finland Contemporary Both There seems to be a growing trend of combining beatboxin with didgeridoo playing which for me is the signature contemporary style of playing"."
Jonny Monument from United Kingdom Do not know Both I am self taught so I just do my own thing... therefore I am not really sure what I am playing! I like it though.
Anonymous from USA Can not play Both I'm actually in the middle of writing a paper that touches on this for an ethnomusicology class. Traditional style varies a lot from contemporary western playing in terms of the motivation rhythmic complexity tuning or rather the freedom from tuning in traditional style etc.
June from USA Both Both Contemporary is used in the context of modern music with modern beats. Traditional is more spiritual. I am playing my didj in an Irish/Scottish band.:)
Justin Castillo from USA Do not know Do not know Can't tell
Kai Lehrke from Canada Contemporary Both Not totally sure.. Traditional tunes sound to me fast and complex.
Karolina from USA Can not play Both Traditional didgeridoos are mainly used in conjunction with singing clap sticks and dancing for ceremonial purposes however they can also be played informally. The instrument is typically played in ceremonies by one young man specially selected for his talent. Playing styles vary between different regions of Northern Australia and often involve fast complex rhythms with sounds created by intricate tongue work.... While it sounds formal
Anonymous Contemporary Both Contemporary incorporates modern elements to the rhythms ie: hiphop jazz rock etc..
Keith from United Kingdom Contemporary Both Traditional is played in its purest form contemporary is mixed with modern instrumentation
Anonymous Do not know Do not know I am not sure to be honest.
Ken from USA Can not play Do not know I don't know
Kenny Elvin from USA Contemporary Both Traditional playing has much to do with the group you represent or emulate. Not having been excepted into a clan or skin group limits my bridge. I have a kookaburra as a pet and learned a lot from his calls and that effect. There's a lot of stuff that continues to present itself. Contemporary would be any style of music other than traditional. I own CD's in different styles both traditional and contemporary. Enjoy Stephan Kent and his KPFA show. SToked!
Anonymous from USA Do not know Do not know DON'T KNOW
Anonymous Both Traditional There's no stories of the dreamtimes in contemporary didge. not to mention the aboriginals wouldn't beatbox into a didge/mago/yidaki
Kim from USA Do not know Do not know ??
Anonymous Both Both Traditional has set patterns while contemporary is a free for all
Anonymous from Australia Can not play Both Contemporary mixes other types of instruments and types of music whereas traditional style is just how it was played pre-european settlement
Anonymous Can not play Contemporary Beat
Anonymous from United Kingdom Traditional Traditional Rhythm and sound techniques
Lee Chang from Japan Do not know Both Contemporary I think of modern bands using the didge when I think Traditional I think solo didge playing for spiritual cultural purposes.
Lee from Australia Both Traditional Traditional style tells a story and is filled with meaning and spirituality contemporary is anything else that can be played with a didj.
Anonymous Do not know Both I don't know
Les from USA Can not play Both To me contemporary can include the use of modern instruments such as the guitar brass and non-traditional style of drums including those from other countries. I like Didge Techno and Trance music. Traditional style is one that is indicative of the Aboriginal play style including that of their ancestors to tell a story or to express an emotion.
Liela Ross from USA Both Both Not sure I like it all I learn from them all. I actually do my chanting through my Didgeridoo. Heng Ar Hung NA Mo A Mi Tuo Fo Om Mani Padme Hum etc.
Anonymous Can not play Both Don't know
Anonymous Both Both Depends on area you are from
Luca from Italy Do not know Do not know Don't know
Anonymous from Australia Do not know Do not know Unfortunately I do not yet understand the difference.
Luz from Italy Both Both Contemporary playing fits in the way of how we in the west listen to music we want to keep the right rhythm in order to be able to play with other musician traditional playing doesn't fit in the way how we listen to music/rhythm in fact it's not music but storytelling
Maeve from Ireland Contemporary Both Contemporary playing has more freedom to it and a contemporary player can develop their own techniques. Traditional playing is used in conjunction with clapping dancing stick beating and ceremonial purposes.
Marc from Canada Do not know Both Don't know
Margaret from USA Can not play Do not know Don't know I would guess the tune as opposed to a natural beat
Mark from USA Can not play Both I have no idea
Martin Donnelly from Thailand Both Both Contemporary brings in other instruments and structures. Traditional is more focused on the older rhythms and blends the older languages in the sounds
Anonymous from United Kingdom Do not know Traditional Traditional is didges and percussion modern uses other instruments -- well that 's how I see it.
Anonymous from Canada Can not play Both I have not researched the difference however I listen to the music and let myself decide whether I enjoy it or not.
Anonymous Can not play Do not know Have no idea
Anonymous Both Both The phonemic sounds made by the player.
Anonymous Traditional Traditional Rhythm
Melissa from USA Do not know Do not know I am still studying the difference in styles at this time.
Michael Lipson from USA Contemporary Both It seems there is more variety in contemporary play.
Michael from Ireland Do not know Do not know Traditional would be more tribal and meditative and contemporary would be designed for the ear and for entertainment
Anonymous from USA Do not know Do not know I honestly have no idea!
Anonymous Do not know Both Often involve fast complex rhythms with sounds created by intricate tongue work. While the other is for more of a kicked back situation.
Mike Clayton from United Kingdom Contemporary Both I'm not sure but I would guess that traditional is related to spirituality/rituals and as such has a special meaning to Aboriginal people. Contemporary then must be the current popular use as a musical accompaniment.
Miroslav Miskovic from Serbia Traditional Both Traditional mainly imitate the sounds of the nature while the modern style is mainly freestyle based on experimentation of whatever sounds pop into your mind
Anonymous Can not play Do not know Don't know
Nancy from USA Do not know Traditional Difference of background instruments/addition of instruments from Ireland and England
Anonymous Both Contemporary Traditional is more rigid. contemporary is more free flowing.
Anonymous Do not know Both I consider contemporary to be played with modern instruments such a guitar and drums and traditional to be just didgeridoo played with harmonics and drones.

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Check out other selections of our visitors' comments:

GENERAL DIDGERIDOO ISSUES

DIDGERIDOO AUTHENTICITY

DIDJSHOP COMMENTS

TRADITIONAL DIDGERIDOO PLAYING

EFFECTS OF DIDGERIDOO PLAYING & LISTENING

ABORIGINAL ISSUES

 

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