What is a Gourd Didgeridoo?
Well, a gourd didgeridoo is a didgeridoo made from a gourd, or from two or more gourds pieced together. Traditional Australian didgeridoos are made from sections of termite-hollowed eucalyptus tree branches and trunks. Eucalyptus didgeridoos (or "yidaki" in the language of the Yolngu people of northern Arnhem Land) require years of preparation-- a tree must grow and then be attacked and eaten by termites for an extended period of time. Gourd didgeridoos require one long hot summer for growth followed by a period of curing which can take from a few weeks to several months, depending on the size of the gourd. Once the seeds and pulp have been removed, gourds are naturally hollow. What's more, the seeds from one gourd can yield hundreds of new gourds the following year!
Paul Sedgwick started making didgeridoos out of gourds in 1994. After much experimentation and years of trial and error, he has mastered a method for making a didgeridoo which will rival the finest instruments in the world in terms of tone, playability and artistic beauty.
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| golden-headed snake didge |
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| special "escher" didge |
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| close-up of baramundi decoration |
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Playing the Didgeridoo
THE DRONE
Also known as the "fundamental tone" or "ground tone". To create the drone, first practice vibrating your lips in the air. Focus on a loose flapping, as if impersonating a horse. Then, gently press your lips against the mouthpiece of the didgeridoo and try to reproduce the loose vibrations. Make sure you are creating an airtight seal over the mouthpiece. Experiment by moving your lips around to try to find the "sweet spot." Most players find that a position where the mouth meets the mouthpiece off to one side, rather than straight on, produces the best tone. If you're getting a trumpet-like tooting sound, back off your pressure on the mouthpiece and try to relax your lips. Remind yourself, "horse lips," "horse lips". You'll get it, it just takes a bit of practice at first.
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