Painted vs Natural Didgeridoos: Does the Finish Change the Sound?

Didgeridoos are sold in a range of finishes, from bare wood to glossy polish to detailed painted artwork. A common question is whether the finish affects the sound. This explainer answers that question and describes the main finishes you are likely to see. It draws on a short video from a free buyers guide series, in which Benny from Didgeridoo Breath, a didgeridoo retailer, addresses the question directly.

Does the finish affect the sound?

No. According to Benny, the finish of a didgeridoo is purely aesthetic. The sound of the instrument comes from the shape and size of the hollow inside the trunk, along with the player’s lips and breath. Paint or polish on the outer surface does not change any of that.

This is consistent with how the instrument works. A didgeridoo is classed as a wooden brass instrument: the player’s vibrating lips set the air inside the tube resonating. What shapes the sound is the bore, the length and the mouthpiece, not the decoration on the outside.

The main types of finish

Benny describes three broad looks.

Natural

A natural didgeridoo is plain eucalyptus, with the wood left largely as it is. It shows the colour and grain of the timber.

Polished

A polished didgeridoo is the same type of eucalyptus, polished to give it a shiny, more refined appearance.

Painted

A painted didgeridoo carries artwork, often by an Aboriginal artist. The example in the video was painted by an artist from Katherine in the Northern Territory. Painted instruments are valued for their artwork as well as their sound.

Why sound has to be judged separately

Because the finish has no bearing on the sound, and because every didgeridoo is unique, the appearance of an instrument tells you very little about how it will sound. For that reason, Benny recommends listening to a sound sample of the specific instrument. Two didgeridoos with the same finish can sound quite different, and two with very different finishes can sound alike.

Does the finish affect the price?

The finish can affect price, but for reasons unrelated to sound. A separate video in the same buyers guide series explains that artwork is one of the factors that raise the price of an instrument, alongside the maker’s time and the work on its tone. A painted didgeridoo may cost more because of the artistic work involved, not because it plays better.

Summary

The finish of a didgeridoo, whether natural, polished or painted, is a matter of appearance and personal preference. It does not change the sound. Anyone choosing an instrument should judge the sound on its own, ideally by listening to a recording of that particular didgeridoo, and then pick the look they like best. The full buyers guide series is published by Didgeridoo Dojo.