what is the hardest playing technique

topic posted Thu, June 19, 2008 - 5:14 PM by  Todd
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Muti rythems like Ondrej Smeykal or toots like Mike Jackson?
posted by:
Todd
Philadelphia
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  • Re: what is the hardest playing technique

    Thu, June 19, 2008 - 7:24 PM
    Hmmm... doesn't Ondrej do ALOT of toots?!?!?

    Technique is all-encompasing in the overall sound of a musician.

    You can have a didge player with great vocal technique, but they might have little or no rhythmic capabilities...
    Another might have a fantastic sound quality, but never uses dynamics.

    A great player does ALL of these techniques well.

    <Did that answer your question?> ;)
    • Re: what is the hardest playing technique

      Thu, June 19, 2008 - 8:11 PM
      Yes it does, but I can't get those toots right! Drives me nuts (not that I'm all ready nuts).
      I would like a DVD of really advanced playing. Even "advanced" didgeridoo CDs seem pretty basic.
      • Re: what is the hardest playing technique

        Fri, June 20, 2008 - 8:05 AM
        I'd say if we discuss the hardest playing techniques, traditional playing is right up there. So much there.

        All things considered, I'd say what is difficult depends alot on the player and the didgeridoo. Like some of my sticks are a challenge to get even one toot from, forget 3, 4, 5 or more. But if I practiced that long enough... I may get there.

        Allan
        • Re: what is the hardest playing technique

          Wed, June 25, 2008 - 8:50 AM
          I'd go with the deriditu-deriditu technique, as exemplified by Jeremy Cloak of Resonance, and the NE Arnhem Landers as the most difficult.
          Definitely, Ondrej has brought the "gut blast" technique to new levels, and it is certainly amazing.. But, to me, not as difficult as the quick tonguing techniques.
          In the end, though, what is that you want to hear? Is it extremely fast simple 4/4 rhythm with drum tracks, or more complex rhythmic structure, and acoustic instrumentation?
          • Re: what is the hardest playing technique

            Fri, September 12, 2008 - 12:32 PM
            "Even "advanced" didgeridoo CDs seem pretty basic."
            Haha, TRUTH right there!
            • Re: what is the hardest playing technique

              Fri, September 12, 2008 - 5:15 PM
              Thats my point. There are advanced playing CDs for many,many other instriments, but not the didgeridoo!
              • Re: what is the hardest playing technique

                Sun, September 14, 2008 - 12:10 PM
                Dave, I'm guessing that you've only heard recordings of Ondrej and that you assume there's studio magic involved. To call his style 'gut blasting' is a definate mis-nomer, unless gut blasting is something you can do for two hours straight without breaking a sweat or needing even a sip of water. I haven't heard anything that comes anywhere close to his level of technicality, and I've seen ALOT of didge performers.
                I think the real answer to the original question of this thread is that the hardest playing technique, and the most rewarding, is to play from the heart.
                • Re: what is the hardest playing technique

                  Sun, September 14, 2008 - 3:23 PM
                  very well put Chad! after watching and closley looking at Ondrej play at didgefest i am dumbfounded by the level of technicality in his playing. it was like tsunami, it started out light and slow then progressivly got to a roaring peak that didnt relent, normally advanced players will do something similar but they come down off the "peak" in a short time, once Ondrej gets to the peak he stays there for the duration of his set. his stuff is from his heart, Trad style is from the tribes heart, so while both are extreme opposites of each other and technically challanging on the same ( but different) level, not one is better or harder or more rewarding than any other, just depends on the direction you want to go.

                  btw.. anyone have a fast forward button.. im ready for Indidj and JT already :)

                  take care!

                  -Jaylon
                  • This is the maximum depth. Additional responses will not be threaded.

                    Re: what is the hardest playing technique

                    Thu, September 18, 2008 - 5:26 PM
                    Yeah Definately agree that Ondrej is tapping into some otherworldly energy sources. after seeing him here in poland with my mates... we almost all chucked in the didges and turned to Heroin hehe ;p

                    Chad i remember u saying some time ago that he was starting to experiment with crystal didges - any updates for us?? it would be nice to c him release a more mellow cd, not that his 2 didge solos aren't legendary :)
                    • Re: what is the hardest playing technique

                      Thu, September 18, 2008 - 5:53 PM
                      If what I was told is right he brought a crystal didge to Didgefest but it was broken on the flight here.
                      • Re: what is the hardest playing technique

                        Thu, September 18, 2008 - 6:09 PM
                        i had a link to a guy who makes crystal didges not all that long ago, i heard a few soundclips.. they were ok. if someone really put the time into creating the right bore shapes and wall thickness in the right areas they might sound pretty good.

                        if he had one broken that is a shame, cant be cheap to make and if he was bringing it to play it must have been a fantastic didge!
                        • Re: what is the hardest playing technique

                          Thu, September 18, 2008 - 11:07 PM
                          yep, the airlines broke a crystal didge of Ondrejs. It was very very different from any crystal didge I'd ever seen before. I'm probably not exagerating when I say the crystal was 10 times as thick as the crystal didges at JT4
                          • Re: what is the hardest playing technique

                            Fri, September 19, 2008 - 5:58 AM
                            No, I didn't assume that there was studio magic.
                            But, I'm probably wrong.. No worries.
                            • Re: what is the hardest playing technique

                              Fri, September 19, 2008 - 9:52 AM
                              I just sold a didge that Ondrej borrowed because his crystal D had broke,he used it for his recent west coast performances. We did a 2 minute video of him playing it to go along with it's pictures and description bhumsiva.com/didj-for-sale-360 When he performs he also uses a mic at his nose to catch his breathing which adds another percussive layer. This little vid was a one shot, no warmup or nothing. Too bad you can't see his new shoes better that I had just made for him. Wooden midsoles, springbok pelt with hair on hide for uppers. No!!!! I'm not back in the biz of making shoes so please don't pressure me anyone. While Ondrej was here we spent time in my shop and made his ideal didge in C that'll stay here so when he comes to tour he can carry fewer didges. I'll eventually make him a full set of performing didges so that when he flys to the U.S. he won't have to carry any sticks at all as the airlines always breaks them and also charge through the nose for oversize baggage. It was such a great opportunity as a crafter to have his perspective at my side. It was more than just inspirational, it changed the way I see things and all my sticks will reflect it.
                              • Re: what is the hardest playing technique

                                Fri, September 19, 2008 - 1:30 PM
                                I saw that change on your site probably the next day, you must have updated not long after we talked on the phone? that stick sounded awesome, suited his style very very well and sold FAST. who is going to do sound clips for the others in that group? im not dead set on a D and if i can scrounge up the funds i might find what i want in that group. I noticed the shoes, so did My wife, we were both pretty sure you had whipped him up a pair. take care

                                -Jaylon
  • Re: what is the hardest playing technique

    Sat, September 20, 2008 - 10:51 PM
    The underwater technique s quite challenging to master I've heard. Seriously, the hardest technique is the one the mind believes to be the hardest. Does anybody here play two didjs. at the same time?

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