Circular Breathing Basics for Didgeridoo: Bounce Breathing

Bounce breathing is an approach to circular breathing in which the cheeks appear to be full the whole time. The quick pace of this exercise is the key. The emphasis here is on maintaining a constant rhythm with your breath and sending continuous air through the didgeridoo with your abs.
This technique works well for beginners because it is not necessary to actively squeeze the cheeks
Make sure to focus on the rhythm and keep your cheeks full the whole time. The rhythm comes from the continued pressure. So it’s just "Out-In-Out-In..." repeating at a quick pace. Staying in time is very important for this exercise.
Again, we are keeping a very rhythmic breath cycle: in out in out. In through the nose, out through the mouth. You don’t even need to squeeze your cheeks. If you are doing it right you will maintain pressure in your cheeks and this keeps the air flowing through the didge. Pracitce this by getting into the rhythm without the didge at first. This needs to be done quickly because if you do it too slow it doesnt keep the pressure up and keep the sound going. Notice that the cheeks never come in all the way. Abs are very important here.
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[@didgeproject]

What is the most difficult part of learning circular breathing for you? Is it working with the cheeks? Is it timing everything properly? We want to hear from you.

[@universalman2]

Didge Project my problem is keeping the constant pressure. I don’t have a didg just yet, so I’m practicing my breathing. What’s a good tip for someone who’s never played before, but wants to learn? I’m trying to get muscle memory down to keep the flow of air.

[@bonelessevil2]

I'm having a terrible time with blending everything together. I blow out of my lungs and create a decent sound, but when I use just my cheeks it just sounds like farting as I take a sniff of air, but I can't blended altogether at the same time. Sounds kind of terrible right now LOL

[@moshpitman1100]

Didge Project the most difficult part for me is going from lungs to cheeks. I can get the cheeks to lungs blend alright, but not when I'm about to take a breath. Any suggestions?

[@reppost]

Most difficult for me is transitioning smoothly back from cheeks to lungs. Also, I find creating the cheek pressure when taking a breath by using my lower jaw area to create the pressure much easier than inflating my cheeks to any large degree. Am I developing a bad habit with that?

[@jennyburkhart]

I can not seem to get a good enough force to keep the drone going once I inhale

[@nickyantichav]

Ive had my didgeridoo for nearly 10 years, which has just been sitting as a beautiful ornament after I gave up on trying to circular breath.. glad I found this channel, it has giving me hope again.. here goes my hamster cheeks 😉.. thankyou

[@TheRei111111]

This is where internet comes to perfection, thanks for taking time for teaching.

[@drbog502]

Took me a few hours, some tips: Good posture, and really focus on keeping cheeks full of air when breathing in through the nose

[@MiixtrsCreations]

the hardest thing for me is to do two things at the same time

[@chanlott7171]

Same, I just can’t breath in and keep buzzing

[@tylerbeard4092]

Have to do one thing incessantly until you can do it without thinking. Then add in the other thing

[@mundungusfletcher6389]

I just want to say that these videos have helped me improve vastly and the man in the videos is a WONDERFUL teacher! He has such a light about him 😄

[@vaaksvakuums]

After few days practice i got first results thanks a lot for great lesson!:)

[@SaraNowacka]

I do not know any person who plays didg, so I learn from YT. You are the only person I understand. Search whole YT for tutorials and I found nothing what fits me. I think it is because I like you AJ! You are just yourself, so natural! And great teacher! Thank You! :-)

[@didgeproject]

Sara Nowacka thank you so much for tuning in with us. I am glad we can support you in learning!

[@bethduval6644]

Same here. Your teacher style matches my learning style. Thank you.

[@shastamichaels8956]

For me the hardest part is not being tense. The more relaxed you are, the more it happens naturally without effort.

[@kaf890890]

I just got my didgeridoo yesterday, but I am already making some pleasing effects! I can do some circular breathing, but not enough to keep the tones going yet. I think with your lessons, I will be using circular breathing before very long, so thank you very, very much! Oh yeah, I forgot… I'm also doing this for sleep apnea... and having fun!

[@didgeproject]

K. Friedricks Amazing. We are hoping to put enough information out there so people like you can learn everything you need to know for Circular Breathing. Definitely check out Didge For Sleep, our method designed specifically to train the strengthen the muscles of the throat and tongue so that the airway stays open at night. Http://www.didgeforsleep.com

[@akzk8387]

This is by far the best demonstration I have seen so far on how to do circular breading. Yes! Thank you!

[@orckaso6513]

The best practice tips, ever made on KZbin, and seen here. Cheers.

[@artemystica5768]

Bettina from Austria here. I've been trying to play didg for about 6 months. The sound was lousy, the circular breathing was just squeaking, similar to an elephant. I've been working through your videos and now I've found a more or less good sound and just been breathing circularly with no squeaks. But at the moment it's more of a surprise if it works. So, keep on working my abs and cheeks. Tanks! 🌞

[@thewellnesspointe4740]

Dude. Thank you for taking the time to make these. Really think they are going to help!

[@edwindude9893]

It’s much more easily said than done. It’s an absolutely fiercely hard instrument to master. I’m an endurance runner and I hyperventilate a lot trying to rebreath.

[@wandadumas5810]

Saludos desde Puerto Rico. A mis 62 he decidido aprender a tocar el didgeridoo, incluso ya me compré uno y estoy esperando que me llegue. He visto varios videos sobre la respiración circular y tus consejos son los que más sentido me hacen. Gracias.

[@didgeproject]

Que bueno conocerte. Algun dia vamos a publicar unas clases de didgeridoo en español pero por el momento solo tenemos en ingles. Te felicitamos con su decision de aprender!

[@_ZEUS_-qb2pz]

So far it’s keeping a consistent drone. But I’m getting there👍

[@striketeamblood]

I'm subscribed, just got a didgeridoo last week

[@RobbyFindlay-uq2dy]

Downloaded your free masterclass today, and it was awesome🤪. My head and throat, not that there's any seperation, feel as though it's just done a heavy session at the gym🏋. I'm pumped, dude. Great. Groove On✌️ Peace❤

[@northerngreenwitch5861]

I take too much air and get light headed after a while lol ! Thanks for your video, I'm getting better at playing my didge.

[@johnbeddoe782]

me too. Bounce breathing seems like almost hyperventilating to me

[@user-zt9xz5un4x]

Gosh AJ you are the best! Thanks for all you teach us! Much amazing love ❤️

[@didgeproject]

thanks for joining us on the didgeridoo journey!

[@kieronconcannon]

Really helpful exercise this one guys. I am nailing the circular breathing (most of the time) but struggle to bring in a rhythm and keep the breathing going. This exercise is a great starting point to try and keep the breathing going and having a rhythm with it. Thanks.

[@didgeproject]

Happy to hear that it’s helping. Keep us posted on your progress!

[@moanahetet4163]

Finally after numerous ridiculous vids, your nailing it! Thank you 🙏When your filling up your cheeks your abs are out?

[@didgeproject]

No, the abs push in to fill the cheeks with air

[@meambirdie]

Please address the use of the diaphragm and the difference between "abs," intercostals, obliques and lats for exhaling and 'diaphragm' for inhaling.

[@iggie1439]

I play the didg and can make some good sounds and I can do circular breathing when not using the didg, but as soon as I put the didg to my mouth I loos it.

[@Steve91694]

Wow man youre a great teacher! Cut to the chase real quick! Cheers bro! 🙌🎉

[@didgeproject]

thank you kindly. Enjoy!

[@Jenjenn0710]

This is awesome! I'm going to watch again, when I have the didj with me. Been playing trombone for 35 years, hoping to transfer circular breathing from the didj to the horn. We'll see. ✌️

[@bethdyer2315]

Interesting and helpful! I try to think of it like breath of fire pranayama to get a faster beat. I mean I’ve only been practicing without my didge, but I’m about to go try and apply it on my instrument. Thank you! Namaste!

[@WackyConundrum]

An interesting association. I'll try that!

[@Duckboi14]

thank u so much! I Haven't learned it quite yet but I'll let u know when I've got it

[@guleriashekhar]

Ah finally learn what i was looking from long time thanks buddy

[@pitpuppies]

I have no ab muscles im a quad in a wheelchair any other ways getting around that plus i only have about half lung capacity campared to normal working body but great excersize for my week lungs

[@BikingVikingMTB]

I have struggled with the BB for some time and hey man its just clicked.! Brilliant vid thanks 🙏🏻🤘🏻

[@didgeproject]

Jon Bowler great to hear! Keep up the good work.

[@shinobidef]

Thank you - wonderful didge series! I struggle with using my cheeks to make a drone sound. I often can't inhale at same time so must be pushing from lungs, so I've tried emptying my lungs first but I just get a raspberry sound with no drone. I've practised the water and straw method and can do it continuously but cannot use my cheeks only to get a decent sound on the didge. I've tried this method - not continuous but will keep at it :)

[@azmichaeltharp]

Raspberry sound -- my issue also.

[@simplyimpish1055]

Almost like the breath of fire in kundalini yoga but exhaling in mouth, not nose. Very interesting

[@scottjones1560]

thank you for the video brother

[@rodneilthomas1282]

I have taken the Beginners and intermediate Course and was doing circular breathing and the bounce breath after 3 weeks. I love the Didgeridoo and found it easy to practice at least two hours a day. I found my groove speeding up and slowing down as mentioned in the video. The most difficult thing for me in starting my practice was the mouth piece. It took me forever to find the right instruction for installing a wax mouth piece and getting it formed correctly. I purchased a PVC didge a year prior and it didn't come with one.

[@didgeproject]

Wax mouthpieces are great because they are customizable but they create problems when they shift around a lot. I always recommend that people use a blowdrier to heat up the wax while it is on the didge. Thanks for sharing Rod!

[@chrisallen9224]

excellent teaching. thank you

[@LilyOfTheTower]

Thanks this was a big help. I don't quite have it yet but this practice will definitely help me get there!

[@didgeproject]

You got this!

[@paulramos8222]

Thanks so much this really taught the trick . It took a while to kick in but one night it just made sense

[@aslankalbtoxicvenomviperfa6644]

I tried to do circular breath but was to hard, instead i just take deep diving breath, cuz i have dived alot in ocean and swim halls xD every breath technics has ups and downs even circular breathing 🤓

[@Amcayden]

Keeping the drone in between breaths has been difficult and I start to get light headed after a while.

[@JADENKRR]

Same

[@erich1394]

Currently struggling with shitty sleep apnea and I love singing and making loud noises / can't afford a cpap - thanks for making this available!

[@didgeproject]

Good luck with it! Daily practice of the tongue and throat strengthening exercises is the key

[@JohnKremer1Guitar4SitarPerform]

Very good lesson. Great video. Thanks for sharing, Full watch, big like and subscribed 🙂

[@didgeproject]

So happy you found us. Good luck with your playing. Cheers!

[@grantbishop1961]

Thanks bro, great video. I'm new here but I love the head rush and vibrations when playing, its so amazing, anyway thank you, cheers!

[@Sidekix9o]

Found out by myself while practicing ... Nice to see its a technique 😂👌

[@rohitchobeph.d9123]

Thank you for nice details

[@08jeep79]

Hardest thing for me os to stop the bodys natural reaction to stop exhaling when inhaling

[@Dreadshoop]

That most difficult thing for me is continuing to circular breathe. I can do it sometimes twice in a row, but then it's like I have too much air in my lungs but none in my diaphragm? At least that is what it feels like. I can't do it consistently, only sometimes..

[@jodiearrington]

Great instruction, thank you A.J.

[@Demetriosssss]

It’s hard! Very good job to all who can do it!

[@KerryBlue72]

You guys rock. 🙏🏼💗

Very helpful videos, thank you very much!

[@Redrockat]

Awesome Thank You 😊

[@saulriosjimenez1971]

Excellent job! Ready to learn.

[@SailingwithMaury]

Sometimes it’s hard to nose breath quickly. Until 1-2 years ago I was a mouth breather for 60 years, now I am a nose breather most of the time.

[@mattnobrega6621]

Right now I just fill up on as much air as I can and slowly release it until I run out while doing mouth and throat movements to make different sounds. Not bad for only having it for two days and watching these videos. Circular breathing is still tough for me.

[@didgeproject]

Try the water exercise: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6OcdmOOr7uha6M

[@joaorodrigues2335]

Helped a lot!!

[@earthangel_911]

I'm about to drive my neighbors crazy! My son enjoys learning to play too

[@user-eu8kw2ux7w]

Great videos. Very relaxing presentation.

[@constadinedeleon8990]

thanks for the wonderful lessons😎

[@t-botgaming6215]

Answer, actually doing it.

[@jimb2427]

Nice lesson. I think an enhancement would be to have some footage of the abdominal aspect of the bounce breathing technique, so it would be easier to visualize the entire chain of movement. Abdominal contraction seems to be the primary driver. ?????

[@didgeproject]

Check out this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqGuinSaiKyCY6csi=ngtLXnkp1vnXIJW4

[@Balnawuti]

Thank you🎉

[@909Twodogs]

Hi, thanks for taking the time for this lesson. I have got the drone sound down pat but cannot get the cheeks to supply enough pressure whilst taking in through the nose. By the way I have made my own Didgeridoo with PVC tubing and it works a treat. I will continue with this pipe until (IF) I can get this right.

[@joshmoore4457]

Great video AJ!

[@scottwhitemyer5501]

this will help, thanks

[@ESU1919]

The hardest thing for me is, to keep lips trembling while letting the air out from the cheeks. No problem with lips trembling whilst bringing air from the lungs, no problems to bring air from the cheeks ... BUT BIG PROBLEMS with letting ips trembling while AIR coming from the cheeks ... so the drone will ALWAYS stop. What do I do wrong? Is maybe my instrument to be used differnetly or to be changed?

[@49rockon27]

Will try this. Not been successful with the cheek method so far !

[@LubomirVolnar]

Duuuude! Thank you so much!!!

[@lugoloyvlogs6295]

One problem that I find myself having while trying to circular breath is that I end up getting too much air..if that makes any sense. I have been trying to make sure that I only take a normal or small breath before starting, but it just always seems that I still end up with too much air, if that makes any sense. Sometimes I find myself circular breathing and in those moments it's really easy and I don't have to try very hard, but I am just having such a hard time being consistent with it, which tells me I am probably doing something wrong. I think for me this stems from the fact that I am also a brass instrument player (trumpet for 17 years and the euphonium for 7) so I am used to just taking one big breath and making it last. I have awesome lung capacity, so if I don't circular breath, I can still go a long time, and really don't have many problems making different sounds and notes. I find myself in a tough spot though because I know I cannot improve my didge skills any further without circular breathing. Any tips?

[@BikingVikingMTB]

LUGOLOY Vlogs- learn to exhale whilst playing its hard at first but I find this really works!

[@Streamcatcher]

LUGOLOY Vlogs I have this too, what I do is using the extra air (without inhaking) to make some long sounds with voice until the air is gone and then start over again with inhaling.

[@arnauds69]

Used to have same problem... just blow a little harder in the didg, it must come directly from the lungs, not the throat or the mouth, it will use a little more air and you'll be fine

[@didgeproject]

You need to practice micro-inhales: tiny sips of air in through the nose. This will help you from overfilling your lungs. Also, if you feel you are too full of air you can exhale out the nose at any point where you would normally inhale for circular breathing. Try it out and let me know if this helps.

[@ofeliabojorquez6704]

you rock! thank you so much!

[@mkedolan]

good tips! I enjoy playing the didgeridoo, but the circular breathing thing is so hard for me to do.. I'm a c-5 quad and have minimal use of my abs and lungs. I mostly play with just one breath at a time, I can hold and mix notes around, but it doesn't sound as smooth as others who can circular breath. I'll keep playing and trying, practice makes perfect!

[@didgeproject]

Keep it up Mike. Like all great things, it takes persistence

[@pitpuppies]

me too om c5 been trying to do the rebreath gota keep trying i guess

[@russelllocke3367]

I am new to the didge and this is my first day intro. It seems strait forward, but I can't try it now my room mates will probably be upset.

[@lenaorian]

For me it's managing the same sound (or almost same sound) when breathing in and out

[@didgeproject]

Thanks for sharing Lena. Have you tried the Long Inhalation technique? You can find it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKeTl4idar5jf5I

[@junglecamps4264]

Where can a buy an awesome sounding beginners didge⁉️

[@GoodLuckHolly]

I found a narrow cardboard tube for that plastic table cloth stuff in my closet that works pretty well. Im not even joking, it sounds almost like a real one

[@klaasvaak6137]

This really helps!

[@rangovanlife]

Were can I buy online a good didgeridoo for beginner ?

[@zookmonster9005]

This channel and your videos are great, thanks! Is it the case that circular breathing is more difficult to attain with a larger didgeridoo? If so, I think I may need a smaller one to practice with.

[@LeRoiDelaRue]

Great stuff these lessons Thank you! However, 2 things: 1 I cant sustain the drone with cheek only air cos my lips just will not purse and flap the same way as when expiring the lung air. Absolute bummer. 2 why do my nostrils get sooo itchy when I'm blowing?!

[@Astone12]

The hardest part is getting my lips to buzz when I'm squeezing the air through the didge with my cheeks.

[@didgeproject]

Don’t miss our live stream this Sunday and we can talk about this more: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4LWZGiEn994aNk

[@kickasscorm]

My problem is the blow out sounds like a fart and not able to make my lips buzz for the drone from pushing the air out. To be fair, this is before I tried this method. I will edit and update later after I get time to practice and try this

[@affandina100]

Are you still doing the class online

[@foxfurelise]

How do you do this without hyperventilating or getting light-headed!?! 😆😆

[@sidewalksaints]

thanks bro, got it!

[@tookurjaerbs]

Thanks bruh

[@tammymilda2169]

theres something slightly hypnotic about the way your mouth moves

[@Infyofficial]

Oh yay! It worked! :D

[@CorruptPianist]

Where do you buy your clothes? I can never find comfy hippie stuff like that when I go out.

[@Streamcatcher]

Thanks for sharing, I just learned this technique. It's pretty easy. What I don't get is how the masters manage to make long sounds (hour and longer) without hearing any bounce and adding all sorts of effects on top of that. Is it a different technique?

[@ajrimmer165]

This is what I'm seeking to understand also, can't find anything on youtube...yet. Would love to know how its done!

[@bethduval6644]

My biggest challenge is that I get light headed and feel like I am hyperventilating when I am trying to learn circular breathing.

[@didgeproject]

Beth Duval you are probably taking in too much air. Practice micro-inhales where you just sip in tiny bits of air and see if that helps. -AJ

[@johnbeddoe782]

I feel the same way

[@user-oh9og6rn6k]

I think the hardest thing is making the air come out of my cheeks and not my lung. I guess that's cheek isolation.

[@triciaalberts1293]

It must be hard for you but I'm been watching his videos he touht me

[@RobbyFindlay-uq2dy]

The hardest thing for me right now is keeping my lips buzzing using only the pressure from the cheeks. Am I using my breath to buzz my lips😗😬? Is this just practice? I can spit out water and at the same time take in air through the nose, for instance, quite comfortably, but my lips aren't buzzing when doing this. Maybe my jaw and cheeks aren't strong enough as yet🤔 or I'm trying to take in too much air. No way am I giving up. I'm having a ball🤗. Groove on ✌️ ❤🇬🇧

[@didgeproject]

You will definitely have more success buzzing your lips if you use your abs to push air out with some force

[@peterpiranty4764]

Very helpful AJ. thank you. I have been practicing as best I can and appear to be beginning to get it. It has been frustrating synchronising the in breath whilst blowing out and adjusting lips whilst maintaining air seal. I can make much more varied and clearer sounds with one breath than when trying the circular breathing ( trying different techniques). Which brings me to a question.... since practicing over the last three weeks or so ( and also trying a few yoga exercises on nostril breathing) I've found I can't jog anymore for any distance (walking is fine) and feel faintly uncomfortable aware of upper chest breath and a cool sensation in the back of my throat when I nose breath .... I have happily staggered over fields and bridleways for some thirty years or so and am otherwise in good health and three to six or so miles jogging is usually no particular problem. I was struck in one of your instructional videos when your colleague mentioned the propensity when learning to sniff in, too vigorously, thereby narrowing the nostril airways and leading to a shortness of breath ( lack of oxygen) and therefore using upper chest rather than diaphragmatic (lower belly) breath. That made sense and I'm pretty sure that is what I've been doing since trying to learn. Could this possibly be the reason I'm struggling with the jogging ? I have tried reverting in the jogging to mouth breathing but still have this lethargy and give up ( is this now a habit?).

[@didgeproject]

peter pIRANTY good day! It sounds like you need to practice inhaling softly through your nose without contracting the muscles in the nostrils or constricting your airway at any point. This is a diaphragm exercise. See our video on diaphragmatic breathing: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqGuinSaiKyCY6c

[@frankmallard845]

The hardest thing for me is keeping the pressure when breathing in, it goes too fast and sounds like a fart. I've found a few cracks in my didge, could this be why I'm loosing the pressure in my mouth?

[@SedonaCr]

The problem I run into one side or the other of my nose is stuffy. So I'm kinda just breathing through one nostril.

[@borisp9163]

When I have mouth comected with didge with just side of mouth like corner of lips I can do it continuosly, Pressure goes slowly from cheeks but if I blowing with center of mouth, the presure go out so fast and I dont catch breath in without break. if I squeze lips to hard to slow it down then I lost that vibration it sucks 🤦🏻‍♂️ problem is that I cannot do all that funcy stuff when I am connected just with side of mouth, everything works better in middle of lips except breathing

[@francescadellafonte5725]

I have blood clots in my lungs and I’m using this to strengthen my lungs instead of the plastic junk the hospital gave me to blow in. Anyways. I bought a didge from some corner market on Haight street in SF, looks cool but man the mouth piece hurts after like 5-10 mins. Any tips on what to look for when buying? Cheers.

[@didgeproject]

Try putting some (more) beeswax on the mouthpiece on the didge you have. Otherwise look for a didge with a soft mouthpiece like silicone. Also epoxy coated didges with wood mouthpieces are usually pretty good.

[@angelarogers4669]

mine is..... Ive never played any musical instrument in my life but love the sounds and wondered whether someone heading rapidly towards 60 could actually play ??

[@didgeproject]

Angela Rogers you definitely can learn to play. In fact we had people in their 70s begin and do really well

[@angelarogers4669]

Didge Project my didgeridoo is just one that was in a seaside resort here in Cornwall... are there some that aren’t meant to be played ?

[@rayoxford9650]

I just can't get the sound to continue as i breath in,I can put the didge into a bucket of water and keep the bubbles going but transfer it back to the sound and I lose the sound cheers .