All About The Didgeridoo and the Bagpipes

Everyone on Earth has musical interests stemming from their cultural roots and childhood development. Many instruments played by people of a certain culture have similarities and differences. Two of the most culturally influential instruments are the didgeridoo and the bagpipes. These instruments share qualities and are dissimilar in their history, design, and how they are played. Being a music connoisseur and a musician of one of these instruments, I find great interest in the subject. Everyone isn't a musician, but everyone has heard one of these instruments played. Many of them have wondered where they might have originated as well.

The history behind these two woodwinds dates back far into the past. The didgeridoo is an ancient instrument that is said to have been used over 40,000 years ago. The bagpipes are very old too; however they only have been used in the past 3,000 years. Both instruments are used for musical celebration. The didgeridoo was first used in ancient Aboriginal cultural events. The bagpipes also share a cultural significance although it is with the middle-eastern culture. The modern bagpipes have evolved to a Scottish heritage however, both instruments are found in a wide variety of cultures, but the musical vibe remains intact for each musical expression device. The didgeridoo has just recently become wide known into western culture unlike the bagpipes which have been around since early migration of European immigrants. Each instrument is dated before many written records were established, thus creating a shroud over the information.

Along with their historic roots, each instrument has a unique design. First, the didgeridoo is basically a length of hollowed wood. The bagpipes on the other hand are several hollowed tubes that interconnect to one outward tube that expels music. Each instrument uses a mouthpiece to allow for the playing style. Mouthpieces for the didgeridoo are constructed at one end of the hollow tube with a wax allowing for the lips to be placed inside the instrument. Contrary to this style of mouthpiece, the bagpipes use a connected mouthpiece much like a clarinet to put the lips of the mouth up to. The didgeridoo is created using a single piece of wood (type of wood depends on the sound one wishes to produce). This wood is hollowed out using termites in a very primitive fashion even today. The bagpipes' tubes are hollowed using machines to ensure quality of the more complex instrument. Even though both are almost completely dissimilar in design, they create somewhat similar sounds.

There are a few distinctions between the sounds they produce and how they are played. Much like a trumpet, the didgeridoo's sound is created by the buzzing of the lips. Instead of pushing air through buzzing lips, one just has to blow air through the mouthpiece. With any woodwind instrument, there is the hardship of continued playing while running short of breath. The didgeridoo has to be played using air one traps inside their mouth and expels with their cheek muscles. While doing this, the player must breath through their nose at the same instant, thus making it very difficult to master. Similarly to the bag of air trapped in the mouth, bagpipes use an external bag of air to continue notes while the player fills their lungs back with air. Making different sounds is the basis for any instrument. Another reason the Didgeridoo is so hard to master is due to the player's voice being used to create different sounds and pitches. Unlike the talent used in playing the didgeridoo, many holes are drilled in the end of a set of bagpipes to be covered or uncovered to create a different pitch. Each instrument has its complexities when it comes to playing them, but the complexities of each one are poles apart.

Two of the most culturally influential instruments are the didgeridoo and the bagpipes which share traits and differences in their history, design, and how they are played. Next time you hear someone performing one of these instruments, think of how both of them are so much alike yet so unique.