“Navigating the Confusion: Finding the Right Didgeridoo for Holistic Use”
Even if you are an experienced holistic operator or a discerning enthusiast, you have likely tried to understand which didgeridoo is useful for a sound massage, a sound bath, or meditation.
However, information online is scarce.
The few available resources are often propagandistic and based on clichés. They often do not demonstrate the product’s effectiveness. Many blog articles talk about the healing power of the didgeridoo, and many makers follow these ideas without doing real research in music therapy or psychoacoustic.
Therefore, lacking evidence, you struggle to understand who is right and which instrument is truly useful for your pleasure or profession.
The video shows Andrea Ferroni playing some sounds from his didgeridoo demonstration at TEDx Bellano.
The HoliStick Knowledge
Andrea Ferroni, the designer of HoliStick, completed a three-year program in music therapy at APIM in Turin and worked for 15 years in “Noise & Vibration” analysis at Stellantis, focusing on human perception of sound and vibration. Using the same expertise, he authored the most comprehensive book on “Didgeridoo Sound Design,” which includes an in-depth study on the design of the didgeridoo’s shape, crucial for creating a specific sound timbre. The book also covers the influence of materials and their tactile effects or aesthetic perception, which are essential factors in this field, related to the acceptance of the instrument.
There are no universally recognized scientific studies proving the benefits of one frequency over another. Even if we delve into this topic, if each frequency had a specific benefit, a piano would certainly be more useful, don’t you think? But here we are talking about the didgeridoo, which can only play one note at a time, along with its harmonics.
The didgeridoo, due to its irregular shape, emits both harmonics and numerous inharmonic components, which makes its timbre so natural. A low fundamental frequency gives it an earthy sound, a timbre rich in harmonics makes it warm and enveloping, while the inharmonic components add naturalness through its small imperfections. It is said that nature is perfect, but it is also true that the repetition of identical patterns makes vision and sound decidedly unreal.
Our Unique Solution to the Holistic Operator
Our Solution Focuses on the Following Key Aspects, in Order of Importance. You’ll Find All the Details Below:
- Timbre and Playability
- Unique Harmonic Tuning
- Aesthetics and material
- Size and Handling
Timbre and Playability
The internal shape of the instrument is designed to accentuate low frequencies without compromise. Those who love the didgeridoo appreciate it primarily for its tonal quality. It’s a well-established experience to associate the deep sound source with a large object, such as the earth in this case.
This required a “large neck” of 53mm (inner diameter), a feature that typically affects backpressure. Therefore, the entire shape and mouthpiece area have been meticulously crafted to achieve unparalleled playability in this category.
Moreover, while our ears are drawn to deep frequencies, they also enjoy high frequencies, which are typical of vocal formants and additional harmonics created by the musician using the tongue and vowel positions.
A fundamental contrast: deep frequencies for emotional grounding, and high frequencies for variation and musical dialogue.
Over 20 years of experience in didgeridoo design and acoustic simulations for performance enhancement were crucial in achieving this result.
Unique Harmonic Tuning
Through our collaboration with Dr. Frank Geipel, the inventor of CADSD (Computer Aided Didgeridoo Sound Design), we fine-tuned my first prototype, created in 2022 and named “Crystal” for its exceptional acoustic brilliance.
This prototype was specifically designed to align with the previously described timbre and playability. With Frank’s extensive assistance, we optimized the shape using CADSD advanced software to enhance the tuning of the instrument’s intrinsic resonances (*simplified as “toot”). This meticulous calibration significantly reduces the presence of dominant inharmonic components at low frequencies. As a result, the sound produced by the HoliStick Didgeridoo is truly sublime.
Aesthetics and Material
The chosen material for our didgeridoo is wood. Wood was selected because it is the most typical choice for didgeridoos, offering a warm touch and often evoking positive or neutral memories. Among the various types of wood, we chose chestnut, sourced from the Pellice and Chisone valleys where we craft these beautiful instruments. Chestnut is a hard, moderately heavy wood—important for maintaining a comfortable weight for the player—and highly durable. The timber is harvested from managed forests where thinning occurs but full deforestation is avoided to maintain safe slopes and ensure lush vegetation.
The wood is carefully polished and left with a transparent finish to highlight its natural grain.
Additionally, the didgeridoo features understated yet noticeable decorations, incorporating sort of “handmade circles, symbols recognized across various cultures like:
- Ouroboros – Ancient Egypt/ Greece: A serpent biting its own tail, forming a circle.
- Enso – Japan (Zen Buddhism): A circle drawn with a single brushstroke, often incomplete.
- Yin and Yang – China: Two interlocking teardrop shapes forming a circle, representing duality and balance.
- Mandala – India/Tibet (Buddhism and Hinduism): Intricate circular designs representing the universe.
- Dreamcatcher – Native American: A circle with an inner web, used as an amulet.
- Ankh – Ancient Egypt: A cross with a loop at the top, symbolizing life.
- Celtic Knot – Celtic Culture: A circle with a cross in the center, symbolizing eternity.
- Black Sun – Western Esoteric Symbolism/Neopaganism: A black disc surrounded by rune-like rays.
- Peace Symbol – Contemporary Western Culture: A circle with a vertical line and two diagonal lines inside.
- Olympic Rings – International Sports Culture: Five interlocking rings representing the continents.
- Smiling Emoji – Contemporary Digital Culture: A yellow circle with two dots for eyes and a curved line for a smile.
Colors reminiscent of the “rainbow” can be found to:
- Rainbow – Natural Phenomenon: A spectrum of colors visible in the sky after rain.
- Peace and Inclusivity – Civil Rights Movement: A flag with horizontal stripes in rainbow colors.
- Chakra – Indian Philosophy/Yoga: Seven energy centers in the body, each associated with a color.
- Iris – Human Anatomy: The colored part of the eye, which can vary in hue.
- Electromagnetic Spectrum – Physics: The full range of electromagnetic radiation, with visible light being a small part.
- Holi – Hindu Festival: A color festival in India where people throw colored powders.
- Opal – Mineralogy: A gemstone that can display all the colors of the rainbow.
- Rainbow Totem – Native American Cultures: In some traditions, the rainbow is viewed as a celestial serpent or totem.
- Newton’s Prism – Physics/Optics: An experiment demonstrating the dispersion of white light into rainbow colors.
- Aura – New Age Spirituality: An energy field believed to surround the human body, often described in various colors.
The choice of decoration is intentional and does not align with any specific culture, philosophy, or genre. By incorporating elements that resonate with a wide range of symbols without fully embodying any particular one, we keep the message neutral while still creating an additional point of attraction.
Size and Handling
Size and handling are crucial aspects when holding a large instrument for an extended period. The choice of a low, yet not excessively low, pitch and a wider-than-usual internal diameter to enhance the harmonic structure of the instrument has allowed us to create a didgeridoo of significant but manageable size. This approach avoids compromises that would undermine the relational essence of this instrument.