iDIDJ Australia Didgeridoo Cultural Hub

Hi all,
Can you please give me tips on how to improve my NEAL style (file attached). This is on a F didj. The quality of the recording is not that great on my cheap PC mic.
Cheers!

Hi

First of all thanks for posting your sound file, the forum has been a bit quiet lately, particularly on this thread so maybe this will give us all, myself included, a kick up the ass to post something here.
My advice would be, first of all and as I was advised to do, slow down and try to get a bit more "definition"to your playing as you seem to have cracked the breathing, something which is a stumbling block for a lot of players, which is allowing your rhythm to "roll along" nicely. By more definition I mean really try to practise the separate parts of the basic Neal rhythm so each sounds distinct when you put them together. for example really practise by repetition the "DITH DU" (this, the DITH, should be accomplished by a strong tongue flick downwards from the roof of your mouth(tongue behind teeth to start) and some exhalation from your diaphram to give a punchy "DITH"(this isn't a natural movement for us and getting the flick and exhalation to synchronize may take a little practise but it will come), the DU will almost come naturally as you relax your tongue. You can make a "DITH" sound just with a strong diaphram exhalation whilst closing the air off by your tongue being forced upwards to just behind your teeth but on close listening it doesn't sound as authentic as the correctly executed "DITH".
As for the "DHIRRL" this can be a combination of tongue flick back, throat and jaw drop or just throat and jaw drop or throat or jaw drop separately, each one giving a different kind of "DHIRRL" sound( the word "DHIRRL" is not spoken as you make the tongue flick! it is purely created by one of the above methods). Listen to various players, some use a very strong tongue action ie Larry Gurruwuwi, Nelson Dhapan Yunupingu and Carl Ngalkanbuy for example whilst others play the "DHIRRL" with less or even no tongue and rely on the throat and jaw drop action to create the sound. Again practise and repetition of this sound is needed to gain fluency and definition. The same goes for the DUP's , regular playing, listening to and scrutinizing your favourite sound files is the way to go. Also, even when you get proficient it is a good idea to go back to basics now and then and practise the basic sounds and techniques(SLOWLY). This is especially important if you like me like to play fast styles as its so easy to loose style and technique with this style of play. Don't run before you can walk, getting the technique right from the start by slow diligent, regular practise will pay dividends later on when you want to hit the gas pedal.. best of luck Paul

"Kiss up the ass"? Interesting choice of words Paul! To each his own.

Ooops!!! What a Wally!! what was I thinking? better amend it I think, don't want rumours spreading!! Thanks

Thanks Paul for the advice regarding practising slow first.

Once question regarding the use of voice:
You have mentioned "DHIRLL" does not use voice. In the Hard Tongue CD in track 42, it mentions Yolnu are singing along to get that characteristic "dragging" sound and illustrated using "Dup-pu dhirrl dhirrl". I find that very hard to replicate. Only when I use voice to say "dhrill" along with the tongue movement, I get somewhat close. Can someone please give me some tips on how to get that Yolnu-style '3rd dimension' sound from the Didj. Thanks..

There are different Dhirrls - fast ones tend not to have the accompanying passive voice (PV), but the slower, more drawn out versions do. In my experience the PV is always in the background, but some movements overpower it or drown it out so it's inaudible. Keep experimenting and you'll figure it out.

Kyle

Hi
Sorry, maybe I wasn't that clear. I didn't mean you don't use the voice at all but mean't you don't actually SAY the word DHIRRL, that sound is created by one of the tongue/throat/jaw movements mentioned previously but yes the voice is there in the background which adds a growl like rasping noise which augments the sound. This, as Kyle has already mentioned, is called P.V (Passive voice). Milkay was one of those players who used a very strong tongue technique when playing the DHIRRL part so much so that it does sound as if he literally saying the word.. When you listen to the two tracks at the end of the CD where he says "we use our voice" he didn't mean as respects literally saying DHIRRL but was talking about his passive voice, something actually that Milkay himself was unaware he was doing until it was pointed out to him, I think, whilst he was recording the CD itself. So, the only difference between the two is the PV growl in the background which gives as you say, "the "third dimension". This "Dimension" is heard throughout Neal playing and once you identify it it's everywhere in most clips you listen to. How to create it? well it's Passive so it sort of creates itself and therefore it's difficult to define but it comes from, as far as I can tell, right down at the back of the throat and is something that comes through practise and experimentation. I played for a few years and was wondering why my playing didn't sound right, something missing. I posted on here and Kyle again, I think it was, spotted it straight away, no passive voice.. now I have a job stopping it!!!just keep playing and try to copy the sounds you hear from your favourite players and I think you will find it will creep in to your playing now and then, once you identify it you can work to make it a part of of all your playing.. Best of luck Paul

I'll get back to this one but I just had a listen and its nice for a first recording for sure, that much should be said. Work on lip tension for the overtone note so you're always hitting that note strongly and sharply.

With the tonguings, try creating more "separation" with the accents so that the tongued attacks are slightly raised compared to the drone, keep everything tight, cheeks in.

Other than that, sounds good Kannan, looking forward to hearing your next upload!

Guan