Didgeridoo backpressure - Everything you know about it is probably wrong

[@AndreaFerroni]

Would you watch a video of the didgeridoo sound design and making: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6DdhHeQqdd3psk

[@aeroDidge]

When insert these bubbles, certain frequencies will loose dymanics and backpressure will be gone, I think also toots wil get instable.

[@Barbassoblues]

Grazie molto informativo

[@theoptimysticka531]

Thank you!

[@simplyrise5217]

It all comes back to balance. Nothing is actually perfect except you convince oneself. Great explanation ☝️👌

[@robog83]

very good explanation

[@AndreaFerroni]

Thank you!

[@metal-men]

Fantastic info. Love it. Thanks!

[@wilfriedsteinwidder4914]

Thank you! 🙏😃

[@AndreaFerroni]

welcome

[@giovannibortoluzzi1384]

Amazing, finally a clear explanation. The practical examples made it even clearer, good job. Thanks for sharing!

[@AndreaFerroni]

Thanks Giovanni ;-)

[@coreywojick3021]

just made a post on the didgeridoo learning comminity fb page about restrictions playibility and back pressure ,this touch on it clearly .thanks and keep up the great work!

[@AndreaFerroni]

Thanks Corey. I read that post since Ansgar Stein sent me a notice. I can't follow all the discussions. I'm glad you found some more information related to your question

[@kifirkifirkin3823]

Also I found some correlations between base tone or frequency and back pressure. I’m experimenting with 3d printed didgeridoo “nanodidg”. So if I make a didge key of B1 or even A1, with same pipes and mouthpiece config as in C2 or D2, I have extremely hight back pressure, maybe it’s too much, but it really simple to play and use circular breathing. I think it’s because of low frequency and very relaxed lips. Now trying to do the same thing with more high frequencies like key of D2 or E2, but unfortunately with no luck for now

[@AndreaFerroni]

Well, if you watched the entire video, you should understand that the backpressure is not a matter of just one variable. The nano didge can be considered a simple curved cylindrical pipe. I never tried it before, but from what I see, probably on lower keys it gives back a better sound that gives the player a better feeling while playing it. On the contrary high key notes usually give a feeling of higher BP cause the didgeridoo player is obliged to keep lips more rigid.

[@kifirkifirkin3823]

@@AndreaFerroni thank you for the reply and also for your videos. After watching them I started to experiment with nanodidg configuration and got better understanding entirely what’s going on. Thanks alot and keep going 👍

[@truesight91]

So more backpreassure = easier to circular breathe? I find small didge is much easier to circular breathe than a big one.

[@AndreaFerroni]

not only, to have a good backpressure the diameter is just one ingredient of the thing. Please try to listen to the video again, it is really important if you need this info. This instrument has a bit less BP, it much larger than others I make, but still easy to play: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWS4hZ13qcuJpck&t=

[@truesight91]

@@AndreaFerroni Thanks excuse ADHD struggles me to focus for 28 minutes.

[@maXXer00]

You had me at Launeddas, new subscriber 😊

[@4sta559]

Andrea, thanks for your Videos. I think they are great. I really enjoy playing around with different didgeridoo shapes and discovering new things about didge physics. At around minute 20 you talk about a mouthpiece that immediately leads into a huge bore diameter. You’re right, that’s bad for Backpressure. But from what I’ve learned I believe it’s also best for bassy sound, for example a lot of agave didges are built this way. Do you see it differently? Is a softer increase still producing same or almost same bass but beneficial for other factors? Cheers, Andreas.

[@AndreaFerroni]

Right, it is the meaning of the video: backpressure is not everything to be considered. Anyway, that kind of shape is very difficult to play. You cannot play really staccato sounds, backpressure is low, but its sound is extremely appreciated by beginners due to a bigger emphasis on the lower frequency. We know we started to appreciate didgeridoo due to its low voice. In my opinion, this is the worst shape to begin to play. I suggest this one: www.didgeridoo.it/didgeridoo-shop/ I will translate this page one day. Thanks for your feedback, you gave me a good idea to think why low frequencies are so present in the shape you like, I will explain it in a new video.

[@WasenshiDo]

Hi ! I just sent you an Msg on your webpage, I hope you see this! I just seen your video and its really refreshing to see. I've been playing Didge for 11 years and making them for 5 or so. I'm making one out of Joshua tree and I'm having trouble with backpressure, it won't play! :( When i blow into it there almost nothing, no back pressure coming back so im thinking of extending mouthpiece to see if that works, then making the inner diameter smaller towards the top, what do you think?! Ive spent so much time on it and its beautiful so i hope i can get this to work :) Thanks Farren

[@AndreaFerroni]

Hi Farren, I got your message on my website as well :-) I have to see the shape to understand the problem and to propose a solution It could be too long for your expertise, too large, or maybe with some leakages. I can’t be more precise Let me know Andrea

[@roym9097]

Thanks for that Andrea, very informative and good to finally know why belled/conical didges will have a better backpressure than just a straight pipe. One question though: my understanding is that lower toned didges (longer didges) will have less intrinsic backpressure. Is this generally true and if so, why? I can only think that the reason for this is that lower didges will have standing waves in the didge where the nodes are longer/more diffuse than the shorter wavelengths so will feel less defined. Then again I am the first to admit that I am grasping at straws!

[@AndreaFerroni]

Good question. The backpressure of a longer pipe usually has quite the same backpressure than a shorter pipe if they have the same geometrical proportions. The feeling a player has is due to a different lips pressure. If you play higher keys, you push more between your lips. So doing you increase the feeling of higher backpressure.