Lauren Darge

Natural Didgeridoo

 

A natural didgeridoo comes from an eucalyptus tree that has been hollowed out by termites. Termites are not relate to other ants, their closest relative is the cockaroach. They find a way to the inside of the tree and eat it from the inside out. The trees are typically located in the Northern Territory, and the Kimberleys, and stringybark and woolybutt eucalyptus trees are used. Traditionally Aboriginal people in central Australia would trade boomerangs for didgeridoos. The tree would be tapped on to determine it is hollow.

 

Traditionally stone axes were used to cut down the tree, but now chainsaws are typically used. The termite residue is cleaned out by soaking the lenght in water for a few days and then pushing it out with another stick.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The outside bark is then stripped and then it is checked for holes by holding it underwater. If there are holes it is sealed with beeswax. It is then cut to lenght for the right pitch, usually 2-3 metres, and beeswax is used to seal the mouthpiece. It is then painted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Man-Made Didgeridoo

 

A man-made didgeridoo has been hollowed out by people. Any sort of hard wood is used, for example Meranti or sweet chesnut. It works best when the wood is very dry. Then many different tools are used to trim and shave back the bark and shape the outside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is then cut down the middle, often with a band saw, to make two halves. Each half is then hollowed out with an arbortech. Each hald is then glued back together with clamps holding them together. PVA, Expoxy Resiv, Polymive or P.U. glues are what is often used. The inside can then be sealed with a substance like Danish Oil, or Boled Linseed Oil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The mouthpiece is then carved to liking and is sealed with pure beeswax from a hardware store. The bell end is also shaped as required. The oudside is then sanded and varnished

 

 

Other types of Didveridoo's

 

Many different types of atrificial didgeridoos are now manufactured in different styles and with different materials. There are travel didgeridoos made from plastic that comes apart and fits inside itself for travelling. There are also slide didgeridoos which create a different sound, and fiberglass didgeridoos. There are also many tutorials online explaining how to make a didgeridoo from a PVC pipe.