I was taught how to make, paint and play the difjeridu by my uncles Sambo Garvey and Pastor Don Brady (both from the KuKu Yalandji tribe of Nor ht Queensland).
I only use didgeridus that are naturally hollowed by termites. Different types of eucalypt I use are: bloodwood, ironbark strinybark and boxwood.
Me and my son Brian decorate the didgeridus All our didgeridus are cleaned, dried and sealed properly, and then painted and lacquered.
They all have pure beeswax mouthpieces, which are easy to adjust.
A didgeridu that has been hollowed out naturally has a tonal quality that is superior to drilled out or manmade timber ones, which can often produce cardboard sounds. Bamboo, an introduced species, can crack easily when exposed to different temperatures, but a naturally hollowed out didgeridu, made out of eucalypt ( a hardwood), and properly seasoned and sealed, will last a lifetime, and has more musical and cultural value, each instrument being unique. I only use my best didgeridus to sell on this site.
Because of the fact that each instrument is unique, it is sometimes difficult to generalize, but I have broadly 3 categories: 3. ft for beginners, ideal for kids, 4-to 5 ft, with a narrow top diameter, EASY TO PLAY!! for beginners, advanced and profs! 4 to 5 ft, wide top diameter, can have very booming sound, but a bit more difficult, and goods for the profs. Also excellent showpieces.
Each didgeridu comes with an instruction booklet, which is easy to follow, many people have commented on how they managed to learn to play. Enjoy your didg!. |