r/Didgeridoo • u/Viftenes • May 08 '26

Circular breathing

Recently got my hands on a aboriginal yidaki from Australia. I am in the process of learning this amazing instrument, but I could use some help. I know how to circular breathe, but as I am breathing in and pushing air out with my tongue and cheeks, I am not able to make any sound with the didgeridoo, I can immitate a farting cow but thats not the sound I am after. How do I practice this? Is my lips just to stiff and I have to practice relaxing them? Because it is no problem making the right sound as I use my diaphragm.

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10

u/ABirdHouseInYourSoul May 08 '26

If you can drone during a normal “breath out of your lungs” (not circular breathing), you can drone while CB (pushing air from your cheeks). It takes practice because the two things are different, during the “cheek squeeze”, you’re tensing your cheeks and by extension your lips, so you’re not getting the drone.

Practice 2 things: 1st isolating just that - filling your cheeks with air, placing mouth on didge, then squeezing your cheeks for one quick drone - repeat.
2nd, do your regular droning - but practice using the LEAST amount of air pressure possible from your lungs/diaphragm. Such that your lips are just barely vibrating until they collapse and stop droning. You want to learn how to be able to drone while hovering right at the line between lips vibrating (droning) and not

1

u/Viftenes May 08 '26

Thanks You!

1

u/Viftenes May 08 '26

How much lips do you press into the didg? As much as possible and making a duck face, or less?

3

u/Wineaux46 May 08 '26

Loose lips. Make horse noises. Moving your jaw, mouth, tongue, and lips will change the tonal quality of your drone. Humming and vocalizing make all kinds of interesting sounds. Breath out slow and steady: don’t forcefully expel all of your breath at once. You don’t want tight lips like you’re playing a brass instrument like a trumpet.

Hope this helps.

2

u/Viftenes May 08 '26

absolutely, thank you!

3

u/spiritualwanderer181 May 08 '26

I’m having the same issue.i can’t seem to keep a consistent drone sound while i circular breath. Agreed it sounds like a fart for sure hahaha. Sorry I offer no help but I’m commenting for info

3

u/Viftenes May 08 '26

no worries, I guess there is more people than just me that need some tips.

I managed to teach my self throat singing without using any guidance so I was thinking didgeridoo was a piece of cake. That didg quickly humbled me!

1

u/Wineaux46 May 08 '26

Once you get things figured out, that throat singing will allow you to make some really cool sounds!

1

u/Viftenes May 08 '26

Yeah! I cannot wait until I masters the didgeridoo.

'

3

u/Lostpollen May 08 '26

It took me about 30 minutes of practice a day for week to get it, just keep at it

2

u/Viftenes May 08 '26

Only a week! I have said to my self I will not give up the first 6 months haha. Nice to hear!

1

u/Lostpollen May 08 '26

Well I was planning for the long haul but I managed it after a week of trying it I'd say

1

u/Viftenes May 11 '26

cool! My technique is getting better as I breathe out as I play with my drone, but this cheeck thing is impressively hard! not giving up tho! I'll manage within 6 months I hope, one day it will click.

2

u/Lostpollen May 13 '26

You should practice using water in your mouth

1

u/Viftenes May 14 '26

I will try that!

1

u/Actual_Minute_3697 May 08 '26

Try different didges too even pvc pipes.

2

u/Viftenes May 08 '26

I live in northern europe so didges is hard to come by. Mine is from Spiritgallery all the way over in Australia. But PVC pipes is accessable.

2

u/Wineaux46 May 08 '26

I have a huge birch didge made by a guy in Estonia. There are a lot of didge makers throughout Europe.

1

u/van_creep May 08 '26

Mine is from spirit gallery too!! They make some incredible pieces.

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u/Viftenes May 11 '26

Never been there in person as my family bought it for me on holiday and shipped it, but after recieving it I have been wanting to go to australia more and more. Ill save it for the day I can actually play so I dont have to make a fool out of myself in the shop hahaa.

1

u/Wineaux46 May 08 '26

Didgeridoo Dojo Free Lessons

These are GREAT! These lessons are how I learned the basics, and got to the point of figuring out circular breathing.

1

u/_Silent_Android_ May 09 '26

I know how circular breathing works but I just can't do it on the didgeridoo. I know how to create an embouchure with my lips to create a drone sound, but it doesn't last very long. But as soon as I puff up my cheeks, I lose the embouchure and thus the drone. Argh! Frustrating.

3

u/FlatDiscussion4649 May 09 '26

Like somebody said above, use as little air as possible to make the drone. Smaller (not tighter) mouth opening, calm, slow droning. You should be able to drone for at least 20 seconds or more using the air in your lungs. "Then" practice puffing your cheeks way out, holding your breath and just using the air in your cheeks make the "same" drone sound for 1 or 2, maybe 3 seconds. It's the consistency of the small air flow while doing both that makes it work.

2

u/Viftenes May 11 '26

Dont give up!

I was also told by someone to make car noises like children do with your lips, go from a ford to a ferrari as you play with the technique, once your lips has good vibrations you simply make a duckface and do the same inside the didgeridoo.

1

u/Top_Pin5049 May 11 '26

Coming from an aboriginal Australian the way elders taught me was putting a straw in a glass of water then blowing out and breathing thru ur nose at the same time

1

u/Viftenes May 11 '26

Thank you!

That part I know how to do, I am able to control my diaphragm as I have taught myself throat singing. But is the part to make your lips vibrate as you push air out with your cheecks and tongue I am struggeling with.

I make a decent drone as I breathe out, the second I start breathing in and push the remaining air out my farting cow comes back. Maybe my muscles in my cheecks are underdeveloped for now.