Didjeridu
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The Didjeridu is a simple trumpet whose long tube is formed from a eucalyptus branch hollowed out by termites. It is played by male aborigines of Northern Australia to accompany singing and dancing. A complex playing technique is required which demands precise control and coordination of lips, cheeks, tongue, voice, and lungs. Didjeridu players use a skill called circular breathing which allows them to play continuous melodies.
| Family |
| Brasses |
| Pitch range |
| About one-and-a-half octaves. |
| Material |
| Eucalyptus branch. |
| Size |
| Between 3-6 ft (0.9-1.8 m) long. |
| Origins |
| The didjeridu is an aboriginal instrument that developed in Australia over 1,000 years ago, and is still played there today. |
| Classification |
| Aerophone: an instrument that produces its sound by the vibration of a column of air. |
| And also... |
| The didjeridu has two open ends : the opposite end from the player's mouth is usually placed against a hole or depression in the ground in order to increase the resonance of the instrument. |
