Instruments of the world: didgeridoo

Didgeridoo (say: did-jer-ee-do)

The didgeridoo is an old instrument. Aboriginal people in Australia have played it for about 2,000 years.

Part of Aboriginal culture

The didgeridoo is played at special events in some Aboriginal communities. There are often dancers and singers too.

Popular instrument

Today people around the world play the didgeridoo.

How do you play this instrument? You blow into it. You breathe in a special way so the sound does not stop.

Making a didgeridoo

This Aboriginal man is making a didgeridoo out of a tree trunk.

• First, he looks for a hollow trunk. It is hollow because termites have eaten the inside.

• Then, he cuts the trunk. He takes off the bark. He cleans out the inside.
• He might paint the didgeridoo too.