The Didgeridoo

The didgeridoo is one of the oldest instruments in the world. It comes from the Aboriginal people of Australia. The instrument is a long wooden tube, often made from a tree branch. Players blow into one end to make a low, humming sound.

How It Is Made

A didgeridoo is usually made from a eucalyptus branch. Termites, which are tiny bugs, eat out the inside of the wood. This leaves a hollow tube that is perfect for an instrument. People then cut the branch and paint it with colorful designs. Each didgeridoo has its own special sound.

Playing the Didgeridoo

To play, you buzz your lips into one end of the tube. Good players use a trick called circular breathing. This lets them breathe in through their nose while still blowing out. That way, the sound never stops. The didgeridoo is very important in Aboriginal music and stories.

Fun Facts

• The didgeridoo may be more than 1,500 years old.
• It was traditionally played only by men in Aboriginal culture.
• Some didgeridoos are over six feet long.

Did You Know?

Playing the didgeridoo has been shown to help people who snore at night by making their throat muscles stronger.