Western Style... which key?

[Saemo]

Hi,

I'm from Iceland and I don't speak french so I have no idea if I'm posting this question in the right section... :13:

I was wandering which key is the best for western style playing? I have been watching some videos on youtube and all the didges seam do be quite high pitched..?

It is hard to find didgeridoos in Iceland but I found Two Djalus, both of them are pretty low pitched... one is C and the other is C#. I can buy them cheap but I don't know if they are good for this kind of playing? I want to learn both the traditional style and the western.

Any comments would be appreciated

[Gecko]

Very good ask ! :icon_chepa: I think to play "traditional" it's better to play with F, F#, or E (But I'm not sure). and for the "western style" : I don't know !

Welcome on FD

I'm from Iceland and I don't speak french so I have no idea if I'm posting this question in the right section...

:6:

[Saemo]

Thanks man... wish I could understand you guys, would love to browse your threads!

[Tooope]

Hi mate!
Welcome on board!
So, for your question: In the western Arnhem land style, you "have" to use a kind of didgeridoo called "Mago" and the most usual keys are the C#, E, E# sometimes the F
Just ahve a look on the Net with The White Cockatoo Performing Group (www.whitecockatoo.com/) or on youtube (ttp://www.youtube.com/ididjaustralia) you can also check about the big master David Bl*n*si
Enjoy...
Cheers

[Saemo]

Hi there,

Thanks alot for your answer... but that's not exactly the style I'm talking about.. I'm talking about the style these guys play http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=thewillstyle

I thought it was called the western style... guess I was wrong :7: what is it called... and what kind of didgeridoos are good for it

[Titou]

Hi, Saemo, welcome on board!

Well, the key is a bit low pich, but if these didges are made by Djalu', then i suppose that they are speedy enough to play both traditionnal style and ... let's call it occidental style :6:.
Actually, the shape that you must avoid to play fast is what we call "big bore": like two or more inches (5... 6 cm or more) at the mouth end. With a stick beginning with about 3 cm diameter hole, there won't be a problem.

[Saemo]

Thanks Titou!

They are Djalu sticks and the hole at the mouth end is about 3 cm so they should be ok I'll probably buy one of them to morrow...

[lich]

welcome here !
good to see didj player in Iceland ! :8:

the only thing is :
- if it's not easy to find a didjeridoo in Iceland
- if you can buy one (or even both) cheap
- if you have money

-> don't hesitate anymore !
buy one or both :1:

[choukroute]

Hi there,

Thanks alot for your answer... but that's not exactly the style I'm talking about.. I'm talking about the style these guys play http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=thewillstyle

I thought it was called the western style... guess I was wrong :7: what is it called... and what kind of didgeridoos are good for it

hi there

if you want to play this style, most of keys will fit, just make sure that the key is not "extreme" (like A, or G, it's possible to have a nice style with these keys but it's just harder to play...)

if you want to play a fast occidental style you'd better use a high keyed didge, but not necessarily
if you want something more quiet you can play a lower didge

but there is no real rule about keys, everything depends on the instrument


actually some keys work for almost any occidental style : you can easily play fast (like the pepole on these videos) with a E, but such a didg can also be used for slower stuffs
with a C, C# or a D, that's the opposite, you can play amazing slow sounds, but you will also be able to play fast


a Djalu is rare in Iceland I think, and if you can buy one ... GOGOGO :7:
Djalus are always amazing intruments, you can play both traditionnal style and occidental style (or "western style" as you say, that's the same ), a C# seems balanced to play any kind of music with a high quality stick (but that's personnal, if I had to choose I would prefer a C# but just chose the one you feels the better... or both!)

I hope I was clear enough, but if I wasn't : GO BUY THESE DIDGES

[Mikah]

Hi Saemo!!!!!

First of all, welcome onboard mate!!!!

I'm part of the happy wobbly wobblers you mentionned on you tube... We generally use E, F, F#, sometimes G didges to play fast occidental style wobble wobble didg (western style refers to Western Arnehm land, WAL style, hence toooope's answer) ... Usually with a big bell end and a thrusting back pressure, didges on which you gotta pump it hard...
these djalu didges you're talking about must be great for traditional NEAL style, and these lower keys are prefered by the older traditional players... Young guns rather play on higher keyed didges, but with a completely different technique than ours.
Do you have any sounds and pictures of these djalus?! What's the price?!

If you want further information on trad playing in english, please check the serious sticks forum (http://www.serioussticks.com)
If you want tips and tricks on wobbley wobble, just send an email to me or anybody around here...
Most of the guys you saw on Utube videos are on this french didgeridoo forum: mainly here

have fun and play it loud!!!!!!! :6:

[coco49]

If you have the opportunity to buy Djalu's yidaki, the only thing you have to check is that you like them, if they are real Djalus, they are certainly good for fast playing, even if the C or C# keys are quit low, traditionals yidakis are made for a rythmic play and they can be played fast.
You can play both traditional music (WAL and NEAL even if they would be better for NEAL style) and modern music like wobble, if you have enough money and if you like the sound of these didges, just run and buy it.

[Saemo]

Wow, thanks all of you for your answers!! I really really apriciate it

I went today and bought the C# Djalu, and I'm shure it's the real deal. It might be pretty low pitched for the wobbly wobble but I couldn't let it go. I'll just get a higher pitched later...

I got it for $330... the thing is that didgeridoo was kind of a hype in Iceland 3-4 years ago, that is when this store got these didges, then they cost around $850. The hype died and the store couldn't sell the didges and they have been sitting there for 4 years soooo the shop owner made me a great deal !

Mikah, I will contact you if I have any questions about the wobble... I love that style and it is quite a mistery to me so I'm shure I will have some questions... any starter tips??

I will post a picture of the stick in the "show your didge" thread...

Thanks again for your answers!