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sounds of the didg

Emily asks...

"Hello :)  I just have a question.  I followed Hamish's instructions on making your own didgeridoo and it came out super. I have been able to make a suitable sound, although I almost passed out in the beginning from too much exhaling I guess!  My question is how do you breathe when playing it?  I can only manage one breath and then must stop to replenish air into my lungs (i.e. the light - headed - I'm - going - to - faint - now feeling).  Is there a secret that I am unaware of?  Thank you for the didg instructions though, they are really wonderful and I love the sound and BROTHER too."

hamish responds...

...circular breathing...it's in the air...

The secret is the art of circular breathing...breathing in, blowing out at the same time...but don't freak out 'cause everything's going to be o.k.
 

	1.	Begin by creating your buzz on the didg.
	2.	As you get to the end of that first note and you feel the need to take another breath, keep the buzz going.  Now for the tricky part...
	3.	As soon as your cheeks are puffed out, use your cheek muscles to push that air out of your mouth.  (So now the didg is being played using air from your cheeks, not air from your lungs.  You can get used to what this feels like without your didg.  Just purse your lips, puff out your cheeks and squeeze the air out of your mouth.)
	4.	So...you're pushing the air from your cheeks out of your mouth.  At the same time, take a short, sharp intake of fresh air in through your nose and into your lungs.
	5.	You now go back to using the air in your lungs to blow your didg, repeating the steps above whenever you're about to pass out from lack of oxygen.

And so you create a circular motion of breath...and the non-stop drone of the didg.  Practice with a straw in a glass of water and blow bubbles or just purse your lips and do it with nothing in your mouth...it'll come.
 

you can do it, too

Megan got it...

"Hi Hamish!  I know you don't remember me 'cause you're s-o-o busy, but I am your biggest-little fan.  Last year you guys came to the Garden-in-the-Heights in Houston and I asked you to autograph my didg and I played it for you and you gave me circular breathing lessons.  We-e-ell...after many hours of coming this close to passing out, I finally got it!!!

Thank you s-o-o-o much!  :) "

The master, Chris...

"Hey Hamish,
I emailed you to tell you I have just mastered circular breathing!  Now when I play with the songs I can keep going without having to stop my drone.  Tell the rest of the guys I said 'hi'!"

Rock on, Chris
 

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