iDIDJ Australia Didgeridoo Cultural Hub

Hey people

just recorded myself fooling around in Neal style. All your feedbacks/suggestions are welcome.

Cheers

Mahir

fascinating and unique style. Not sure quite what you are after but perhaps try more of a double beat with the tongue retraction and retroflex in the dhirrl dhirrl dhirrl vamp, and fool around with releasing the tongue from the roof of the mouth like dhirrl-lo, dhirrl-lo, dhirrl-lo for variation.

There are some pretty interesting electronica sounds in your recordings, I am curious if they are coming from the instruments or artifact in the recordings.

Yes, there's a very electronic sound going on. I reckon it's due to the recording equipment, but it's interesting nevertheless and sounds like something that could be used to dramatic effect!

Hi Guys,

I see what you mean. Not quite sure why I got it but will look into that. The mic I used is a good one but maybe the settings are not ok. Anyhow, will try to upload other samples in the upcoming days.

Mahir

I think there is distortion there Mahir because when you do the vocal calls, one can hear it quite clearly. One thing about recording... try different set-ups like different microphone placements and also where you play can have an effect on recording quality and sonic outcome. What your ears hear is not necessarily what the microphone picks up; in my experience, what sounds good to my ears does not sound good in a recording, and vice versa, when it doesn't sound good to my ears, it sounds good in a recordings! (That's only when I record myself, when I record guys like Laga or any of the greats, they sound fantastic regardless of set-up and environment!). With my set-up, playing out in a non-enclosed open space, indoors, on a tiled surface, and into a corner all have different results so play around with different combinations/permutations until you find one that sounds pleasing to you.

I applaud your attempt in the last bit of your clip, from 35 seconds onwards! I recognise that as in the style of that magical Quincey Matjaki clip. In my experience, it is the hardest thing to learn and do well as it requires a combination of impeccable technique and precise timing to sound good. Its something I've struggled with for a long time trying to deconstruct the composition and the rhythmic patterning and I remember grilling Yomsie about this when he was still alive, those were fun times when I stayed with him and we would play all day and night in his living room, and he would tolerate my repeated and incessant questions and requests to slow down and to do the mouth sounds. Still fresh in my mind those times, he was a patient and good teacher and I a poor student.

Anyway just wanted to say good effort but I'll listen again and offer some feedback.

Guan

Talking of Quincey Matjaki, here is a file I recorded about 9 months ago (about the first 15 secs of the said clip) two attempts

Paul

Hi Mahir,

I've had a listen again and this is what I can comment on... first few seconds from 5-12 seconds, tonguing seems ok but you're playing a bit flat, use lip tension to create accents and also try to do a bit of "popping"... at the moment, your tonguings sound slurred, this is especially apparent at the start (5-12 seconds) when those accents should be sharp and 'pop-like'.

15-20 seconds is good, I like it and it sounds right!

The rest of it, 30 seconds onwards, is too difficult at this stage I think, try a nice simple pattern like dith-dhu-durrung-durrung-dith-dhu-durrung-durrung-dith-dhu-durrung-durrung repeating.

Guan

Here's a little clip about what I mean about sharp tongued accents. I got thinking about how to create the most explosive power from the mouth and it comes from 5 things: 1) expulsion of air from the diaphragm (ie. air is traveling through the windpipe) simultaneously with 2) forward movement of the tongue simultaneously with 3) cheeks-in simultaneously with 4) increased tension in the lips and narrowing the opening of the lips from which air passes simultaneously with 5) power from the throat/vocal cords.

When you get these 5 things right, that's what creates nice tongued accents with a ring to them.

Try a drill where all you do is what I'm doing in the attached clip, short sharp bursts of sound using the 5 things above, try bending or 'inflecting' the fundamental note using your lips and tongue. You'll soon discover its not as easy as one thinks, really works the muscles in the oral cavity!

Guan