Obtaining a Didge

Some of my didges. The Didges labelled B were made by master didge craftsman Jeremy Kickett in Western Australia and supplied by Graeme Eastman at Mainz Pty.Didges labelled C were selected by Alistair Black in Australia and supplied by Knock on Wood, based in Leeds UK.Didges labelled A were made by myself out of a fallen Lime branch that fell into my garden during a storm in 1998.(see below)

Jeremy Kickett is an Aboriginal who goes out into the bush, selects from real termite hollowed Eucalyptus and decorates and finishes the instruments in various styles. He uses traditional methods to carve and decorate the didgeridoos.

These didges are real works of art and have wonderful tone, highly recommended.

If you are thinking of learning to play the didgeridoo I would advise starting with a length of PVC pipe.

I learnt the art of circular breathing with a 5 foot length of 11/2" PVC kitchen waste pipe and spent many 'happy' hours lying in the bath puffing and panting trying to get it right - I used the bathroom because of its acoustic properties and relaxation inducing ambience.

I only 'graduated' to authentic instruments when I was satisfied that I could sustain the circular breathing for any length of time - anyway why don't you give it a go? - you won't be dissapointed.

A much cheaper alternative is to make your own didj out of a fallen tree branch which you must get seasoned artificially or find one that has been 'off the tree' for at least a year - if you don't do this you run the risk of the wood splitting. Remove any bark that is left and split the branch down the middle using an electric bandsaw.Mark out a channel 11/2inches wide down the middle of both sides of the split branch and use a chisel or router to cut out a cemicircular channel down the centre.Glue the 2 sides keeping them together by using plastic 'tyraps' or bits of cycle inner tube rubber.When dry remove the ties and sand off the surplus glue.A mouthpiece can be fashioned by dipping the playing end into molten beeswax, allowing to cool for a few seconds and repeating until the required shape is obtained.Beeswax is generally available from sewing shops.

These pictures show a didjeridu

being made out in the bush using

a trunk of a Eucalyptus, hollowed

naturally by termites.