Didgeridoo Lesson - Circular Breathing - Connecting the Parts

Hi friends,
It has been a long time since I've posted something here! For more regular, current, updated content, I post almost every week on Patreon. Check it out here;
/ breathwood
This new video is about approaching circular breathing from the standpoint of proper breathing and then linking a couple of core concepts together. Let me know your thoughts and if this helps you in any way!

[@DreDredel3]

I've seen a lot of videos do a good job at explaining circular breathing but this video breaks it down into parts & then puts it all together at the end. 👍

[@Breathwood]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@DreDredel3]

@@Breathwood You are great at explaining things. Thanks & keep up the good work.

[@mikerapp8163]

Very good explanation of the specific actions bringing it all together. 😊

[@Breathwood]

Thank you!

[@ratkin412]

The most difficult part of circular breathing for me was restarting the lung out breath after/(at the end of) the squeeze/sniff. I could drone out, then do the mouth balloon squeze,,,,,, but the the next lung air drone would not start correctly and all sounds would stop for a moment. I had to think of it as driving a stick shift where one foot was easing off the clutch (the mouth squeeze) while at the same time the other foot was acceleratimg the gas pedal (lung drone). It took me several days of accepting failure without quitting to gain the coordination i needed. Anyway, now i can do it adequetely.

[@Breathwood]

Yes! You've described one of the challenges quite perfectly: that transition from in-breath mouth squeeze to lung drone again is like shifting on a manual transmission. I don't use that analogy in videos because most people don't drive manual anymore. I do, though, so I know exactly what you mean. One thing I've been pondering: I think the transition is difficult at first because *most* people hold their breath in some small way between the in and out, so the transition itself is slow to begin with. Make sense?

[@andrewwelch5282]

@@BreathwoodThanks for the this video, hopefully I can master this transition with more practice

[@tetasellma]

4:47 that was me. I just started learning circular breathing. Grateful to find your video now.

[@bertbeinaaf8314]

Slowly, very slowly it all starts making sense to me. Got stuck for a long time but the first minutes of this video were an eye opener…

[@Breathwood]

Hopefully a lung opener too! 😉 Glad to hear it's all starting to come together for you!

[@jennyhong6746]

“I DON’T GET TO BREATHE IN UNLESS I’M MOUTH FARTING.” Honestly, this threat worked. Lol

[@Breathwood]

Haha yay!

[@TalRohan]

It clicked for me last night, I stopped trying to make my mouth make the raspberry and pushed my lips against the didge to hold the shape and it just got so much easier, because I was able to relax my cheeks. I've been able to circular breathe quietly for a long time but to do it on the didge was very difficult, I watched a couple of your video's and this one helped a lot, now I need to lengthen out the time I can do it and consider how I add more features Thanks for the great videos....they works!

[@jennyhong6746]

By far the best teacher on here. I probably already told you this, tho

[@pgajdusek]

Great video mate! Still not connecting, especially inhale to exhale, but finally got a clear idea of what to do. Thanks heaps ❤

[@RobbyFindlay-uq2dy]

That was the best tutorial I've seen thus far. Those I've watched to date are just confusing. They leave so much out, leaving one to work it out for ones self which I managed. Finding you confirms that I'm on the right track. I talk to myself all the time, so that part of the exercise will come easy. Your'e a godsend. Groove On ✌️ ❤

[@wemerc1]

Been trying to learn this for years off and on. Get frustrated or distracted but this is a great explanation thank you

[@MeDoMeer]

I am baffled by the amount of detail you put into teaching circular breathing. You got me all excited to practice this on my brand new didge!!!

[@Breathwood]

Haha, baffled how? Glad to hear it got you excited, though!

[@ralfstofer8609]

Wow Amazing tutorial!! I'm just started and now I could see the mistake I'm makeing, which is breathing in very hard and to much. I'm still have to practice a lot, but this explanation is a great stepping stone, I made a big progress now. Thank you very much!

[@jerrydmacgonaughgill8903]

Great video! Recommending this video to my sleep apnea patients. 😁

[@rainjustice38]

Wow, thanks so much! This is definitely the closest I have gotten and looking forward to practicing more so I get the sound linked up.

[@BruceCarroll]

I've been circular breathing (or "pressure breathing") for some time now, thanks mostly to your earlier videos and lots of time on the didge. This video helps me personally by reminding me to be aware of tension. "Air is all around us," you said in one of your videos. Yes, and all I have to do to get some in my lungs is relax and let it happen. It's not a demand for air, more of an invitation. Thanks for all the help!

[@josephlien7486]

This content is the one which clearly tells whole process of applying on digeridoo, it help me a lot, thanks!

[@marwanhughes8737]

Thank you very much for this. It's the first time I've found a proper explanation about rebreathing.

[@Breathwood]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! I LOVE that term "rebreathing." It makes a lot of sense to me!

[@cryptodoobie4486]

Hi David, good to hear from you again! When I started playing the didge, I watched your vids, about circular breathing and basic Rhythms, so you helped a lot! I've been playing the didge for almost 3 years now! I'm turning 18 in a few months. And to be honest, it's an amazing Instrument, the way you play it, connecting Circular breathing with Rhythms, it's just so peaceful if you know what I mean! I was actually able to play the drone on my first day! (BTW my mom made a whole surprise about the didge on my 16 B-day. The Didge I wanted was Sold out, so I thought. But to my surprise There it was my Didge). Circular Breathing was quite a struggle for me because I did not know the concept of it. So it was hard to figure out. I believe I was able to figure out Circular breathing in a month. Even My Mom wants to learn it now, she keeps saying, "How do I do Circular breathing, I want to learn it"! But I keep telling her, "Mom First learn to play The Drone, then we can take it a step forward. Anyways. Love Peace And Joy to you, David!

[@Breathwood]

Thanks so much for sharing all that! I'm really glad to hear the didgeridoo is providing you with so much peace and pleasure, and that you're now helping guide your mom to play! If she wants additional help, maybe send her my way, or you could maybe do a double lesson with me!

[@cryptodoobie4486]

@@Breathwood Definitely! Have A Great Weekend!

[@sjwickens6336]

Niceee man I’m 17 and play didge too would love to know someone like you!

[@cryptodoobie4486]

@@sjwickens6336 : )

[@sjwickens6336]

@@cryptodoobie4486 where u from?

[@Raymanband]

Best explanation on KZbin thanks man

[@Breathwood]

Aw, thanks!

[@PintsAndProductivity]

I learnt in 1 day... ❤❤❤❤ thank you!

[@Breathwood]

Amazing! You're welcome!

[@edwinmorillo9853]

Thas´s very clear explanation! thanks you very much...

[@brianlapoint545]

by far one of the better explanations and instruction. Thankyou.

[@benbashore8561]

Bravo. Well done.

[@gogotrololo]

just got my didge, been doing this practice a little but with too much air for sure. Thank you for your video! I hope this will help, i'll get this some day haha

[@marwanhughes112]

Best explanation yet, thanks. However I can only create the drone sound on the exhail 😢

[@marwanhughes112]

Me too😢

[@larryboz]

Didge arriving in a week or so. Your videos are very helpful and your presentation is calming too.

[@anahataorganics]

What a wonderful explanation!

[@RobG-x9k]

Really helped, thank you.

[@quarterlength]

Hi mate! thanks for that! how do you make the mouth fart noise into a mouth drone ??

[@ansklomberg326]

Thank you, this is a good explenation how the circulaire breathing should go. I find it difficult, but i'll keep practicing! One day i'll get it 😀

[@talonbertrand5133]

Thankyou for the video! I'm having trouble with the mouth fart haha. When I try to make that noise in the didge it is silent... I can do that noise without the didge but I can't build enough pressure with the didge to make that noise. Is this common?

[@sivnfrens]

Excellent!

[@tristansmith962]

What a fantastic video. 🙂

[@Breathwood]

Aw, thanks!

[@infinitetrial]

I really like your videos and learned more from them in just a couple of days. By the way, is it true that women shouldn’t be touching or playing the didgeridoo? I’ve been learning it for my sleep apnea and breathing exercise.

[@aaronschwingel3330]

good stuff. this was helpful!

[@brodybradbury1445]

Dude you're so great, been only practicing a few days with my didge and still haven't got the hang of circular breathing, it can be frustrating, the mind body connection is challenging haha, but you're videos are my favorite for learning so far and I am away from my instrument right now but when I'm back in going to employ this method and just keep givin er til I get it. Also, do you have any recommendations for mouth exercises for warming up, and/or lung exercises for warming up to make everything more ready to play? And another question for ya, I ordered a beeswax mouthpiece as my didge doesn't have a mouthpiece it's just the straight eucalyptus, and the wood can be hard on my mouth, and abrasive above my lips, do you think a mouthpiece will help form a smooth seal and be easier on the skin? Blessings 🙏

[@leighigniteyourbeing3305]

This video is sooooo good and it makes so much sense but I just cannot connect at the top 😫 I can inhale a short sniff when I’m doing the squeezing action away from the didge, but as soon as I squeeze in on the didge it’s like I can only sniff at the end (not part way through the squeeze) so let’s a short gap before i drone 😞

[@featherlion3093]

Love these videos, I was inspired to buy a didgeridoo from Primal tones a number of months ago. I practice circular breathing often but it’s just not happening. My throat automatically closes up after I breathe in through my nose and out of my mouth and then it sounds like there was no real point in breathing through my nose as I could have just gasped and closed my mouth again and it would have stopping the Rhythm any how. I don’t know if my throat is meant to lock after air comes through my nose . My lips clench shut too and I can’t open them for a second so it just doesn’t sound smooth. By that point I’m lost and I don’t know what I’m doing. Trial and error doesn’t seem to work either. Might be that I can’t play well with my throat either. Maybe because I’m not a man, who knows.

[@mane9716]

Hello david, how are you? Greetings from Argentina. I'm starting and I have a cuestion: when I play the didge I have the cheeks inflated all the time(except when I expel to make the circular breathing) is it advisable to learn play without air in the cheeks and only fill them for the circular breathing? Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge. I have watched several of your videos and it is really the best I have found on the internet in relation to CB. I can tell you have become an expert on the subject and you know how to transmit it perfectly.

[@Mariolino182]

Thank you! I try hard to learn whith your help, also my sound doesn't feel right ..but never give up

[@mysticzyoga]

I naturally put an exaggerated pause or hold after both the exhale and the inhale, (former swimmer and yogi breath.) Now I am learning on my mini didgeridoo and realize this might make it a challenge. Or maybe my natural pause can work in my favor?

[@alexfalcon6558]

I’m at the level where you can still hear the sound of the drone switch when i breathing in and “mouth fart” even tho it’s a constant sound…I’m excited to get to where o can breathe and the drone stays at the same level

[@bootsieultrawave6553]

Genius

[@bootsieultrawave6553]

So good

[@AnnaPlese]

I just started trying to play the didgeridoo but no video has shown me how to hold my lips, your kind of did. I can't seem to be able to form a seal between my lips/face and the didgeridoo. Do you have any suggestions or videos that could help. I've been practicing for a month now and I can circular breathe with blowing bubbles, pushing water from my mouth but never when playing the didgeridoo, I'm at my wits end

[@Ghost_Os]

I can circular breathe without the didge, I can circular breathe with the straw in water, I can lung drone (with cheeks 'normal' or with them in chipmunk mode, can transition back and forth, chipmunk, no chipmunk while lung droning), but have been stuck for a long time being able to keep any kind of lip buzz going during the inhale. Messing around with different mouth positions, jaw action or cheek action, no pressure against the didge all the way through to hard pressure, always just becomes a sigh with no lip buzz at all. Is there such a thing as a water didge? 🤣

[@ameriantenney418]

I can’t breathe through one side of my nose. Deviated had 4 sinus surgeries. Also only one maxillary it never formed completely. I have asthma and serious sleep apnea. I breathe a lot through my mouth. Any suggestions? Thank you

[@Breathwood]

Oh man, that sounds really challenging. I've heard of people having surgery for the sinus thing and it really helped, but it sounds like that didn't help you? One weird thing is that practicing breathing through the nose will teach your body to breathe more efficiently... .through the nose. 3 minutes a day of very focused nose breathing may help open things up. I say MAY because I'm not a doctor and can't actually diagnose anything for you. Might be good to get another doc's opinion?

[@Zenwarrior101]

Linking the two is so tough

[@Breathwood]

It can definitely take some time!

[@jimmyspikes7472]

10000000%

[@Colonia.4711]

My breathing suck😢

[@jennyhong6746]

Mouth fart 💨 makes it all click😂

[@reesedundee8525]

Look. Yes this a way but it can be done better without the sloppy mouth sound. It sounds like shit and isnt done by native aussies

[@martinm7714]

Trying but… You can not breath in and breath out at the same time. Impossilbe!

[@darrenuretsky1700]

You're not doing that, you're gently sniffing an inhale (breath in through the nose) as you are squeezing the air already in the cheeks out (breath out substitution) to use to make the drone as you ease off the actual exhale (breath out) powered by the lungs that you normally use to sound the drone. Easy for me to say but I have yet to put it all together consistently. Only a few isolated times with a pretty weak substitution drone maintained so far but my understanding of the process mentally and body-wise physically is vastly improving at least :)

[@HossTaee-g9x]

❤🇦🇺❤

[@featherlion3093]

Love these videos, I was inspired to buy a didgeridoo from Primal tones a number of months ago. I practice circular breathing often but it’s just not happening. My throat automatically closes up after I breathe in through my nose and out of my mouth and then it sounds like there was no real point in breathing through my nose as I could have just gasped and closed my mouth again and it would have stopping the Rhythm any how. I don’t know if my throat is meant to lock after air comes through my nose . My lips clench shut too and I can’t open them for a second so it just doesn’t sound smooth. By that point I’m lost and I don’t know what I’m doing. Trial and error doesn’t seem to work either. Might be that I can’t play well with my throat either. Maybe because I’m not a man, who knows.