Step 1: The Basic Drone

If it seems too embarrassing to make funny noises with your mouth, consider taking up the guitar.

Important things to remember:

1. Do not blow too hard
2. Keep your lips relaxed
3. This is a wood instrument, not a brass instrument like a trumpet. Unlike the tightly 'pursed lips' used to play a brass instrument, the lips are very relaxed when blowing the raspberry into the didgeridoo.

Beginners often blow too hard and produce a wonderfully funny noise and expression to match. This is sometimes referred to as "overblowing" and actually may produce a drone note that is a full octave above the fundamental tone. It may sound like a buzzing bee or something. If your lips are pursed too tightly, it may sound like the trumpet of an elephant. These are perfectly valid sounds, but don't do this yet. We need to learn control first.

While blowing raspberries actually uses more breath then actual playing, it effectively demonstrates the basics. The amount of air used is about what it takes to cause a candle flame to bend but not be blown out at a distance of 4-6 inches from the mouth. Try it yourself on a candle to get a sense of the right amount of air. Then try to keep a steady air flow going, blow softly and continuously onto the flame to hold the flame in a bent position.

Next

Now go back to the didgeridoo and try the raspberry again - slowly and steadily, as with the candle. Do you have a something that sounds like this? (well, maybe not this good yet)

The major action takes place using the tongue and throat. Experiment a little with the shape of your lips (still blowing a raspberry) and try to get different sound textures.

Frustrated yet?

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Chris has included lessons from the basics, right on through to intermediate and advanced levels on the video. Click here to check it out. We think it is awesome! MORE ...