Buying a Second Didgeridoo: Why Players Often Choose a Contrast

Many didgeridoo players eventually own more than one instrument. When it comes to choosing a second, a common piece of advice is to pick something noticeably different from the first. This explainer looks at that advice and the reasoning behind it. It draws on a short video from a free buyers guide series in which Benny from Didgeridoo Breath, a didgeridoo retailer, discusses buying a second didgeridoo.

When a second didgeridoo makes sense

The advice in the video is aimed at someone who has been playing for a while and has developed a sense of how to work their way around the instrument. At that stage, a player has a reference point: they know how their first instrument responds, and they are in a position to appreciate how another one differs.

The recommendation: diversify

Benny’s recommendation is to mix it up. If the first instrument was a small didgeridoo, for example one bought as part of a starter pack, he suggests the second could be a large one with a deep, resonant note. The aim is to diversify one’s style and experience what it takes to play an instrument with different characteristics.

How didgeridoos differ

Didgeridoos vary considerably from one to the next. Length has a strong influence on pitch: shorter instruments generally play higher, while longer instruments produce a lower, deeper sound. The width and shape of the hollow inside also affect how an instrument feels and responds. Because each didgeridoo is made from a tree hollowed by termites, no two are identical.

This variety is what gives a second instrument its value. Moving from one type to a contrasting type exposes a player to a different set of demands.

What a player notices when switching

In the video, Benny describes his own experience. His first didgeridoo was a small instrument he received as a birthday gift. Years later he bought his first instrument of his own choosing, a large didgeridoo in the key of B. He identifies two main differences:

• Pressure. The larger instrument felt different to play, requiring him to adjust to a new level of back pressure.
• Speed. He had to play at a slower pace than he was used to.

He describes the change as a challenge, but one that left him a better player in the long run.

Why contrast helps

The reasoning behind the advice is that skills developed on a single instrument can become tied to that instrument’s particular response. Playing something with a different pitch, pressure and pace requires a player to adapt, which can broaden both technique and musical range. A second instrument that closely resembles the first offers less of that benefit.

Summary

The usual advice for a second didgeridoo is to choose a contrast with the first, such as a large, deep instrument after a small one. Players should expect differences in pressure and speed, and a period of adjustment, but the experience can strengthen their overall playing. The full buyers guide series, along with structured lessons for players at every level, is available from Didgeridoo Dojo.