Didgeridoo
Master circular breathing to produce hypnotic Australian drone tones
The Didgeridoo is an ancient Australian Aboriginal instrument—a long wooden tube played by breathing continuously through it while modulating the sound with mouth and throat. The signature circular breathing technique allows uninterrupted drone production. Rooted in Aboriginal spiritual traditions, the Didgeridoo produces meditative, trance-inducing tones and is increasingly used in world music, meditation, and therapeutic contexts. Learning Didgeridoo teaches breath control and focus while producing deeply resonant sounds.
How to start
- 1Acquire a Didgeridoo (various materials available: wood, PVC, didgeridoo-specific types)
- 2Learn about Aboriginal Didgeridoo traditions and cultural significance
- 3Master basic embouchure (mouth technique) for fundamental tone
- 4Practice circular breathing technique (breathing in through nose while playing)
- 5Study animal sounds and traditional Didgeridoo expressions
What you'll need
- DidgeridooEssential~$100
- Beeswax mouthpiece (optional)Nice to have~$20
- Instructional materials/videosNice to have~$30
Where to learn more
Plot twists
Ways to spice this up when the basics get boring.
- Learn traditional Aboriginal songs and stories
- Combine Didgeridoo with percussion and other instruments
- Use Didgeridoo in meditation and therapeutic contexts
- Create contemporary fusion music blending Didgeridoo with world instruments
Continuous breath control demands full attention, creating a natural meditative state. Physical breath sensation provides grounding anchor.
The Didgeridoo may be the world's oldest wind instrument, with evidence of Aboriginal use dating back tens of thousands of years.