The didgeridoo

The didgeridoo is a musical instrument which was invented by the Australian Aborigines approximately 1,500 years ago. It belongs to the category of the wind instruments, such as the flute or the clarinet. A wind instrument is usually made of a tube in which the player blows to produce different sounds, resulting in the vibration of the air. Different ways of blowing exist, each producing a different sound; to achieve this, the position of the tongue and the lips of the player is the determinant trick. In order to obtain a significant result, regular practice is said to be the only way to succeed in mastering the didgeridoo. Furthermore, in order to play this instrument, you have to be able to blow uninterruptedly in the tube which is a technique that acquires a lot of practice: for instance, very experimented players manage to blow continuously in the didgeridoo during a whole hour. Nowadays, the use of the didgeridoo is widely spread all over the world. Modern ones are cylindrical or conical, and their length differs from one another but its measure is usually from 1 up to 3 m long. The didgeridoo is traditionally made out of Eucalyptus wood, the interior part of which has been hollowed out by termites. Beeswax is used to strengthen the mouthpiece, which is the place where you blow in. It is often said the didgeridoo is the world's oldest wind instrument. It was originally used during ceremonial gatherings, but is now mostly used for recreational purposes or by music bands seeking more archaic tones, as exemplifies the most well-known didgeridoo player Xavier Rudd.