Didgeridoo Lesson - Wobble in the Simplest Way

Here's the simplest possible approach to the wobble that I can come up with. It overlaps a bit with the concept of bounce breath, and other players may have their own very unique and specific ways of approaching this technique. However, it almost always boils down to a couple of key elements - how/when we prepare our mouths with air, how/when we squeeze the air out while breathing in, and what we do afterward. This lesson includes tips to get you started or to deepen your understanding if you can already make these sounds. Good luck!

[@kathleenrae1167]

Thank you so much for the lessons. Amazing how quickly playing the drone while driving in my car accelerates playing ability. It sure makes the long roads in Texas even more fun than usual.

[@eye318]

Thanks so much. As a new didge player I've found you to be very helpful and inspirational.

[@Breathwood]

I'm so glad my videos have helped! Please let me know if you ever have any questions for me!

[@maheshprabhu1557]

🙏 Namaste Friend 🙏 Kindly receive Greetings from India 🙏🇮🇳. Am very much beginner in playing didgeridoo..in other hand actually am self-taught wood carver and I made one didgeridoo and I am trying to play and learn breathing techniques,after watching your videos..it's great inspiration to me from you. Best wishes to you and your family and work too.. Regards, Mahesh Mumbai India

[@WakeUpHuman]

Thank you so much for your lesson.I learned everything in 4 hours of practice.Very good explanation! Hello from Belorussia!

[@Breathwood]

wow that's fast! thanks for sharing! glad you enjoyed it. :)

[@M-AnnaShadoW-Anker]

you have been a massive inspiration I'm getting on well now and you have Been my biggest teacher thanks

[@gipsydjinny1115]

thank you ....you ARE my favorite teacher out there on you tube.....

[@Breathwood]

Ah, thanks!!

[@Mike-VR]

Many thanks! You have an excellent teaching style. I really enjoy your explanations.

[@Breathwood]

+Michael van Rooyen You're so welcome! Thanks for your feedback!

[@gjcarvalhais]

nice clarity of thought! Appreciate your approach

[@Breathwood]

Gonçalo Carvalhais Thank you! This is an elusive enough technique that I was hesitant to suggest that MY way is THE way. This is simply ONE way. Glad you appreciate it! Thanks for watching.

[@joshuashaffer6737]

Hey thank you for this video , i dont have any people to play with so this is a big help !

[@123aufgehts]

Realy good explanation

[@berndnyikos417]

hy david! i practice this every day, since i saw your video and it becomes better and better! thank you so much!!! now my head goes " TU WA HI, TU WA HI, TU WA HI...." all day long ;) greetz

[@Breathwood]

+Bernd Nyikos I know what you mean! That happens to me too. Glad to hear this is helpful to you. Have fun!

[@adrumzzify]

Hey Man! Great video! Your explanations are easily comprehended and fun to watch. Thanks, from Coquitlam.

[@Breathwood]

+adrumzzify You're so welcome! Hi from the Sunshine Coast! :)

[@sandraseipold8559]

thanks ! i think it is Training. it must be fun, that important. and i am happy for your Videos. thanks for that.

[@Breathwood]

+Sandra Seipold Lots of training, yes. :)

[@leonardodahumanoid4344]

You could put a layer of lite wt glass mat and clear epoxy over the didge. Then sand it smooth and polish it. You won't be able to see the mat. It will add strength and seal it and add very little weight.

[@nelsongonzalez450]

So clear!!

[@Breathwood]

Nelson Gonzalez Wonderful! So happy to hear that!

[@angelikathome1334]

You are absolutely great ! I enjoy your videos and learned a lot by now ! Thanks for all your efforts to explain everything so passionate.

[@Breathwood]

+Angelika Thome Aw, thank you! You're great too! Thanks for watching and learning and sharing your feedback! Please let me know if I can ever be of more assistance!

[@walt5797]

Hi, Most of the wobble techniques that I've seen explained have been long winded LOL pardon the pun and not very intuitive, your explanation however was easy to grasp. Thank you. The most likely reason for your didg cracking is due to lack of moisture, they can dry out rapidly when transported in air crafts that have low cargo pressure. the Aborigines would regularly submerge the instrument in water or spit water inside them to keep them moist, it also makes the tone more crisp. regards Walt

[@Breathwood]

+Walter Cengia Hey Walt, thanks so much for the nice comment and feedback! I really appreciate it. I'm still figuring out what "wobble" and "bounce breath" even mean, but I think my approach works pretty well, and the result is more or less the same. Glad you enjoy it! And yes, I think you're right about the cracking. I never thought to submerge a didgeridoo in water! Interesting idea!

[@antoniobilotta9312]

Cool !!!i start from scratch and that’s really helpful If I may don’t put yourself in front of a window 😢😢

[@johnsiegart3601]

I have been playing for over a year and want to take it to the next level. I think your videos are excellent. Thank you! What is your breathing pattern during these wobbles? I can't possibly snatch air each time I expand my cheeks or drop my jaw. If I do, it is hard to coordinate, but also leads to shallow breathing and hyperventilation. I have been practicing breathing in every two patterns of the 4 beat, and of course this is making the wobble change a bit on that inhale. Thanks again!

[@Breathwood]

From what you're saying, I think the key is either 1) to inhale less air each time you breath and/or 2) to sometimes release air while circular breathing, which is a whole other (and undermentioned) technique!

[@mikeoxlong3037]

Hi david when you say about the cracking ans changing in back pressure, what do you mean and what does it sound like?

[@willyamtiziano1]

thankyou:) i'm learning so much with you.....very thanksssssssssssssssssss

[@Breathwood]

willyamtiziano1 You are so very welcome!!!!

[@bgray8t]

Any tips for somebody who plays on the side of mouth. Your video’s all seem to be full mouth. Since I’m unable to play the proper way I must use side. Help it is harder to mouth words not impossible but harder I fell

[@jorgevelezterapiassonoras5138]

very helpfull!!!! thanks a lot

[@Breathwood]

+jorge velez Great! Glad this was helpful for you!

[@emptone5190]

clear and great vid Breathwood, thankss! in the 4 beats rythm, how do you separate the first "e" from the second ? they sound very distinct and clear, do you have a tip ?

[@windwood4112]

Hi Brian, could you share a bit of your thoughts on playing the instrument in nature as opposed to playing in the city. cheers ken

[@lagrotty2360]

Hey David. Whats a Skype lesson worth per half hour? Cheers Chris ps I love your work!!

[@Nilz4FR]

David. Any advise how I can get a clearer drone sound. I have been playing for 4 months now and can wobble, bounce breath, circ breath etc, but my drone sound still sounds a bit "unclear" or airy...I don't know how to explain any better

[@edwardsaladhands]

great thanks

[@Breathwood]

You're welcome!

[@Balgore8]

There's a sound I've seen many high level didge players bust out while playing that is different from the regular drone. It's almost like a "cracking" sound or quickly vibrating throat or tongue flicker. I can't figure out what they're doing or how they are making that sound. I imagine it's probably pretty simple, but since I don't even know what it's called I can't find a tutorial for it anywhere. Maybe you know what I'm talking about?

[@Breathwood]

I'm not totally sure which sound you mean! Can you link an example from a video?

[@simonhilton1446]

G'day simon here i have been playing the didgeridoo since i was around 9 or 10 but can only play as long as my breath lasts but has always been my dream to play continually/circular breathe.what would be the best way to learn i have practiced a little bit via the straw in a glass of water

[@Breathwood]

I would suggest going through the videos here: breathwood.com/learn/videos/circularbreathing Good luck!

[@MsGabimusic]

thank you!!!

[@Breathwood]

+Gabriela Mozes You're welcome!

[@sandraseipold8559]

what do you exactly make with your tongue when you wobble?

[@Breathwood]

+Sandra Seipold Thanks for asking! Since it is possible to create the wobble with just the cheeks or just the jaw, that means the tongue can technically be anywhere in your mouth as long as it doesn't block the flow. The easiest is probably just to keep it in a neutral position - either "floating" in the middle of the mouth or gently resting flat between your lower teeth. I'd suggest experimenting - you never know what interesting effects you'll come up with this way!

[@walt5797]

A tutorial on how you made that didg box would be nice.

[@Breathwood]

+Walter Cengia I didn't make it myself, unfortunately. I can find the link for the maker if you'd like...

[@tylertenney2934]

Your Didge sounds so good how can I make a great sound is it the Didge or me .... I paid 25 dollars for mine is that

[@Breathwood]

The answer to this question could really go either way! It's possible to make a poor quality didge sound decent, and it's possible to make a high quality didge sound poor. It all depends on technique. If I could see a quick video of you playing, I might be able to offer better guidance. Another option is to see out a higher quality didge and give it a try, even one in a store or borrowed from somebody!

[@Ucceah]

some cheap and some expensive didges are just duds, sound-wise. lacking overtones and resonance, and sounding just dull, with zero "smack". while a piece of PVC pipe with a mouthpiece of candle wax, a (thoroughly cleaned) vacuum cleaner hose, a cardboard tube, or any other tubular piece of rubbish can make a formidable practice instrument. -if it's not loud enough, stick it in a bucket. out of my little collection, the two good looking "actual" didgeridoos are only useful for decoration. the one a play most consists of flexible 1" tubing, a half empty roll of clingwrap, and a 3D printed mouthpiece. (a glorified pipe fitting) long story short: toot on tubes, untill you find one that pleases you.

[@nunorocha3076]

I dont understand what is the back pressure of a didje, like mine is a cheap one that is just a cilinder and I cant even know of it has good back pressure or not

[@Breathwood]

Thanks for the question! Back pressure is the sensation of resistance when you blow into the didge. A simple cylinder will usually have less air resistance than a eucalyptus didge that has grooves on the inside. The only way you can know if a didge has more or less back pressure is by playing different didges and learning to feel the difference. I have played so many different didges that I can feel when one has more or less pressure. I hope this helps!

[@nunorocha3076]

Haaa ok thx for the info =D By the way, love your videos, its a shame that everyone just looks toward Didgeridoo Dodjo

[@Breathwood]

+nuno francisco thank you so much! also I actually just wrote to didgeridoo dojo to ask about collaborating! maybe we can help each other...

[@Breathwood]

+nuno francisco thank you so much! also I actually just wrote to didgeridoo dojo to ask about collaborating! maybe we can help each other...

[@nunorocha3076]

Good luck =D Also, I saw something on internet like if your didge has more back pressure or less you can play faster, is that right?

[@jcmusc]

Why was circular breathing so much easier to figure out than this 😡😡

[@hudson5564]

Hey David, did you ever figure out why your didge cracked?

[@Breathwood]

I didn't explore it more fully, but it generally happens due to changes in weather/moisture. I think that didge hadn't been played for a LONG time, then I got to it and played it too much too soon.