Thank you so much. I have previously played the trumpet and Blues Harmonica and just purchased my first Zurna. For some reason, it seems impossible to just find simple lessons, let alone a fingering chart. Much appreciation for what you have done.
A newbie on duduk here, thanks so much for putting this lessons together, really grateful. I play other winds like low whistle or chalumeau, but find the duduk changelling especially to tune, I got an inexpensive instrument just to start to study so still not sure if it´s me not tuning or the instrument itself LOL but will be following all lessons thoroughly :)
Hi, Yes, the duduk can be a challenge to play in tune. Best way to check if you're in the ball park is to check your octaves. If they're wildly out of tune, you will need to adjust your reed, and if that doesn't work, you may need to upgrade to a better quality instrument. I recommend www.dudukworld.com I don't get a commission or anything...they're just good people and they're duduk and reeds are well made. Good luck.
Hello ! Just got my duduk today and your lessons are tremendously helpful ! One thing I struggle with is keeping a note. I can play a note fine but then it sort of « dies » and I only hear a stream of air in the reed. Is it a problem with my breathing technique ? Another problem I have is that I lose a lot of breath trying to get the first note out, it’s only air and then the note can finally be heard but I wasted 50% of my air reserve Thanks again for your helpful advice !
Very helpful tips for beginner duduk players. Quality instrument is a first thing you need to learn the instrument . Best duduk making masters are form Armenia. Woodwind instruments made by master MKS are the best there is. G.Dabaghyan Levon Minassian and other world wide known players use instruments made by master Karen (MKS)
Hi Vick. Thanks for the tip on Master Karen. But I see that he is no longer making instrument. Yes, the best duduk makers (and players) are from Armenia, and you have to start with a very good instrument.
Hi. Thank you a lot for this tutorial. I just wanted to ask, why duduk has so many holes that are physically impossible to reach? Is there a way of playing it flipped 180 degrees or something?
Bom dia!!! Tenho muita vontade de aprender, mas se houver a possibilidade de você fazer o vídeo legendado em português serei muito grato, e tenho certeza que atingirá um grande público aqui no Brasil, obrigado e um abraço.
Hey, Mark. How's it going? I have a question. I have received a duduk as a gift from a friend and curiously enough, it has got two thumb holes! One of the upper side and one on the lower side of the back of the instrument. What does this mean? I am assuming that the instrument is just for decoration. Any info would be appreciated! Thanks for the lessons!
Two thumb holes? Your guess would truly be as good as mine on this one, Narek. Sounds like either a souvenir wall hanger, or some new fangled cutting edge invention by a virtuoso! ;-) Good luck! M
Duduk Lessons Hello! I have an instrument like Narek's. I bought it off of eBay. But more than that, I am a bit concerned about the instrument sounding a "G" when I play an "A" (all 6 fingers down and also the thumb). Could it be that I have bought a rather less than acceptable instrument? I am quite accustomed to playing the bassoon (I am a member of the Barcelona Symphony!) so I think that I am probably blowing more or less correctly, but I just can't bring the pitch up more than a half step (to G#). Any thoughts or advice on this matter would be very much appreciated! Cheers
Noé Cantú Garza Hi Noe. It could well be that you do not have a good instrument. I would suggest www.dudukworld.com Manvel is great. Tell him that I sent you.
Hello again. I looked on Manvel's website. I noticed that he sells a fair number of instruments of different pitches, one of which is G. It might not be truly so but the G and the A duduk appear to be of the same length. I doubt that that is true but who knows. Anywho, I've written to the folks who sold me the instrument to inquire about the possibility that they might have sent me a G duduk instead of an A duduk. Perhaps at some point in the fall I could take some Skype lessons with you? I think I might have to perform the duduk solos in a live "Gladiator", the movie.
Hi Mark, thanks for the wonderful video. There is not a lot of source on how to play the duduk. I tried visiting your website, but I am not able to for some reason. I have been playing the violin for quite a while (7 years), but ever since I heard the duduk, I have not been able to shake the sound off. I have become really smitten by its mournful voice. I am not able to summon up the enthusiasm to go back to violin (and that's painful too!). So after a lot of mulling over, I have decided to pick up the duduk. You say in your description that you do Skype lessons. That would be great. Its my first wind instrument, and I am quite terrified of it. I have no idea where to start! Any help is much appreciated! Much Love Vivek
Hi Vivek Yes, I too am smitten! However, I don't really do Skype lessons anymore. I would suggest that you contact Manvel at www.dudukworld.com He gives Skype lessons that are translated by his daughter. He's a real nice guy and a duduk master. Good luck!
Mark, wonderful! Today I got my original armenian one! ^^)) (A tune) Something I am not realy checking out here on this clip: you are using THREE Fingers of the left, and THREE fingers of the right hand, don´t you? Isn`t it about using four and four fingers, for all 8 holes ?????? Thanks
I can get sound without any fingers on the holes but once I cover them, I get no sound. Is there a certain angle I should be holding the instrument at? Thank you!
Hello, Mark, my name's Filipe, right from Brazil. First of all just wanna let you know that your videos are pretty amazing. I just bought my duduk, A, and trying to struggle with it, 'cause I can't seem come up with a good sound, rather, can't almost make a simple harmonic sound comes out of it! the sound from your duduk seems to be different when you play it, though mine is in A key. What am I suppose to do to handle this more efficiently ? thanks!
+Filipe Kramer Hi Filipe. How many reeds do you own? Or is it just the one? If you can afford it, get a few from a good maker. This may solve your problem, if you find a good one. If you just have the one reed, can you tell me if air is freely flowing through it? Or is it difficult to blow through?
thank you for the concern. As for my duduk reed I think that since I've been playing regularly the instrument, the reed is growing open, and I can play in tone now! all I've been struggling with is regard the duduk sound 'cause , I don't know how to breathe properly to come up with that sound the duduk has..kinda 'shrill' one at the end of the reproduction of the note. I have acquired a new reed as well.. it is still to come over, so, I would love to know which exercises I should take to improve my breath range and all those types of techniques.
+Filipe Kramer Hi Filipe. Sorry to hear that you're having troubles. I'd strongly suggest getting a video lesson on Skype to get you on the right path. I would suggest contacting Manvel at www.dudukworld.com. He'll be able to sort out your problems. Good luck.
Hey mark I have a quick question. Are you familiar with the Duduk playing in chronicles of narnia? If so, is that a double-octave Duduk, or a single-octave?
Hi Evan. Vague memories of the duduk in this score. It's mostly likely a typical duduk. But I could be wrong. The extended range duduks are rarely used.
Hello, i am from germany and thought about to learn how to play the Duduk. Its a amazing instrument. How much should a beginner spend on a Duduk? Can you recomend me a instrument? Which ton is usally good for a beginner? Tenor A? Greetings
Hi Felix. Sorry for the delay. I rarely check this channel! I'd suggest going to www.dudukworld.com. The duduk and reeds are good quality, fairly priced, and straight from Armenia. Buy at least 2 reeds, because it's always, always a bit of a crap shoot with reeds. Yes, go for an A duduk to start. Most of the time players use this duduk. The other keys are more like specialty duduk. Good luck!
A very nice find! Are the finger positions absolute? When I got my duduk, my right hand took over and put itself on top with the left on the bottom. I have tried to "fix it", but my hands only protest.
So I'm having issues because my hands are too small- my pinky can't reach the fourth hole. Otherwise I'm getting some nice sound from it (I play flute and oboe) but I actually can't reach that hole!!!!
OUH, you are playing MAJOR-Scale with that technic! Is that the point? (I asked below) Could definately be, because my Duduk from minimum down to maximum up is a natural-minor-scale, isn`t it? :-)
Hello! Why is it that you use your knuckles on the duduk, rather than the fingertips? I play several other wind instruments, and I'm still waiting for my duduk to come in the mail, but I feel like it would be hard to adapt. Is there anything wrong with playing using the fingertips? Thanks!
Hi Daniel, This is traditional, and I would suggest learning this technique. I find it gives me more control over the sound. You'll see the same technique with many other folk instruments, such as the Bansuri and Shakuhachi flutes Cheers, Mark
I'm looking to buy a Duduk for it's been my dream for several years already. What key do you recommend me buy? Like the typical dle yaman, narnia solo. avatar tsungi horn solo, what key are they played on for I know you can buy different duduks in different keys? Your response will really help me for I've been saving up for one for a while now.
I believe that mey is the Turkish word for düdük/դուդուկ... In Azerbaijan they call it Balaban. Düdük/mey is indigenous to Armenia. (btw. I'm from Iraq!)
Good question. The bottom hole is almost never used. However, for fun, you can cover up all of the holes, then lean the duduk into your knee, covering up the bottom hole. This will give you a note a whole tone lower than the range of the duduk. So on an A duduk, you'll get a low E.
Duduk Lessons Thanks for the reply. I played around with it and got some sound out of it. But it's harder to play than I though. Somehow I'm out of air very fast. I guess exercising more will do the trick
Sorry for the delay (Christmas). The duduk does take a lot of air, no way around that. It's hard to tell if your reed is properly adjusted without actually seeing it. Good luck. M
It's so kind of you to give these lessons for free here. Thank you!
You are very good, sir!
Yes, I'm armenian and this is amazing! :)
God bless you, mate!
Thanks so much. Quite a compliment!
Cheers
Amen!
Oh this is so useful. I have just bought a dudûk and was puzzling over the hand position. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much. I have previously played the trumpet and Blues Harmonica and just purchased my first Zurna. For some reason, it seems impossible to just find simple lessons, let alone a fingering chart. Much appreciation for what you have done.
Entranced by the sound when I first heard on Peter Gabriel' The Feeling Begins (Passion SDTK). Thanks Mark.
Thank you very much for the videos! This is so helpful for a beginner like me!
My pleasure. Glad that you're getting something out of the lessons!
Cheers,
Mark
A newbie on duduk here, thanks so much for putting this lessons together, really grateful. I play other winds like low whistle or chalumeau, but find the duduk changelling especially to tune, I got an inexpensive instrument just to start to study so still not sure if it´s me not tuning or the instrument itself LOL but will be following all lessons thoroughly :)
Hi,
Yes, the duduk can be a challenge to play in tune. Best way to check if you're in the ball park is to check your octaves. If they're wildly out of tune, you will need to adjust your reed, and if that doesn't work, you may need to upgrade to a better quality instrument. I recommend www.dudukworld.com I don't get a commission or anything...they're just good people and they're duduk and reeds are well made. Good luck.
Hello ! Just got my duduk today and your lessons are tremendously helpful ! One thing I struggle with is keeping a note. I can play a note fine but then it sort of « dies » and I only hear a stream of air in the reed. Is it a problem with my breathing technique ?
Another problem I have is that I lose a lot of breath trying to get the first note out, it’s only air and then the note can finally be heard but I wasted 50% of my air reserve
Thanks again for your helpful advice !
Very helpful tips for beginner duduk players. Quality instrument is a first thing you need to learn the instrument . Best duduk making masters are form Armenia. Woodwind instruments made by master MKS are the best there is. G.Dabaghyan Levon Minassian and other world wide known players use instruments made by master Karen (MKS)
Hi Vick. Thanks for the tip on Master Karen. But I see that he is no longer making instrument. Yes, the best duduk makers (and players) are from Armenia, and you have to start with a very good instrument.
Love your duduk series! I can't tell if my eyes are playing tricks on me, but are your fingernails slightly elongated?
Hi Dave,
No illusion. I'm a longtime guitar player!
Cheers,
M
So so helpful, Thank You very much for your time! 🙏🏼
Hi. Thank you a lot for this tutorial. I just wanted to ask, why duduk has so many holes that are physically impossible to reach? Is there a way of playing it flipped 180 degrees or something?
They aren't. One you push with your belly. Flipping not possible as the inner space is conical and the lower opening is small.
I have a duduk with 8 holes is that normal?
Hi. Your fingering for the left hand is incorrect.
THanks for doing this, it's very helpful
Hi , I have just got a Duduk , I notice each side of the reed has a strip of tape . should this be removed to make the reed vibrate properly ?
What key or scale is the Duduk in the opening of your video?
Bom dia!!!
Tenho muita vontade de aprender, mas se houver a possibilidade de você fazer o vídeo legendado em português serei muito grato, e tenho certeza que atingirá um grande público aqui no Brasil, obrigado e um abraço.
Hey, Mark. How's it going? I have a question. I have received a duduk as a gift from a friend and curiously enough, it has got two thumb holes! One of the upper side and one on the lower side of the back of the instrument. What does this mean? I am assuming that the instrument is just for decoration. Any info would be appreciated! Thanks for the lessons!
Two thumb holes? Your guess would truly be as good as mine on this one, Narek. Sounds like either a souvenir wall hanger, or some new fangled cutting edge invention by a virtuoso! ;-) Good luck!
M
Duduk Lessons Hello! I have an instrument like Narek's. I bought it off of eBay.
But more than that, I am a bit concerned about the instrument sounding a "G" when I play an "A" (all 6 fingers down and also the thumb).
Could it be that I have bought a rather less than acceptable instrument?
I am quite accustomed to playing the bassoon (I am a member of the Barcelona Symphony!) so I think that I am probably blowing more or less correctly, but I just can't bring the pitch up more than a half step (to G#).
Any thoughts or advice on this matter would be very much appreciated!
Cheers
Narek Avedyan Hi Stver, sorry....I'm at a loss to explain this. Perhaps there's someone else that could chime in on the double thumb hole mystery!
Noé Cantú Garza Hi Noe. It could well be that you do not have a good instrument. I would suggest www.dudukworld.com Manvel is great. Tell him that I sent you.
Hello again. I looked on Manvel's website. I noticed that he sells a fair number of instruments of different pitches, one of which is G. It might not be truly so but the G and the A duduk appear to be of the same length. I doubt that that is true but who knows. Anywho, I've written to the folks who sold me the instrument to inquire about the possibility that they might have sent me a G duduk instead of an A duduk.
Perhaps at some point in the fall I could take some Skype lessons with you? I think I might have to perform the duduk solos in a live "Gladiator", the movie.
Very hard for me to get a sound out of it
Hi Mark, thanks for the wonderful video. There is not a lot of source on how to play the duduk. I tried visiting your website, but I am not able to for some reason. I have been playing the violin for quite a while (7 years), but ever since I heard the duduk, I have not been able to shake the sound off. I have become really smitten by its mournful voice. I am not able to summon up the enthusiasm to go back to violin (and that's painful too!). So after a lot of mulling over, I have decided to pick up the duduk. You say in your description that you do Skype lessons. That would be great. Its my first wind instrument, and I am quite terrified of it. I have no idea where to start! Any help is much appreciated!
Much Love
Vivek
Hi Vivek
Yes, I too am smitten! However, I don't really do Skype lessons anymore. I would suggest that you contact Manvel at www.dudukworld.com He gives Skype lessons that are translated by his daughter. He's a real nice guy and a duduk master. Good luck!
Thank you for the videos !!
You're welcome!!
Mark, wonderful! Today I got my original armenian one! ^^)) (A tune) Something I am not realy checking out here on this clip: you are using THREE Fingers of the left, and THREE fingers of the right hand, don´t you? Isn`t it about using four and four fingers, for all 8 holes ?????? Thanks
Hi Arno,
Most of your playing is done with 3 + 3. Unless you play in the lower range, then you switch fingerings.
I can get sound without any fingers on the holes but once I cover them, I get no sound. Is there a certain angle I should be holding the instrument at? Thank you!
Hello, Mark, my name's Filipe, right from Brazil. First of all just wanna let you know that your videos are pretty amazing. I just bought my duduk, A, and trying to struggle with it, 'cause I can't seem come up with a good sound, rather, can't almost make a simple harmonic sound comes out of it! the sound from your duduk seems to be different when you play it, though mine is in A key. What am I suppose to do to handle this more efficiently ? thanks!
+Filipe Kramer Hi Filipe. How many reeds do you own? Or is it just the one? If you can afford it, get a few from a good maker. This may solve your problem, if you find a good one. If you just have the one reed, can you tell me if air is freely flowing through it? Or is it difficult to blow through?
thank you for the concern. As for my duduk reed I think that since I've been playing regularly the instrument, the reed is growing open, and I can play in tone now! all I've been struggling with is regard the duduk sound 'cause , I don't know how to breathe properly to come up with that sound the duduk has..kinda 'shrill' one at the end of the reproduction of the note. I have acquired a new reed as well.. it is still to come over, so, I would love to know which exercises I should take to improve my breath range and all those types of techniques.
+Filipe Kramer Hi Filipe. Sorry to hear that you're having troubles. I'd strongly suggest getting a video lesson on Skype to get you on the right path. I would suggest contacting Manvel at www.dudukworld.com. He'll be able to sort out your problems. Good luck.
thank you friend! Good luck!
José Augusto You're most welcome!
Hey mark I have a quick question. Are you familiar with the Duduk playing in chronicles of narnia? If so, is that a double-octave Duduk, or a single-octave?
Hi Evan. Vague memories of the duduk in this score. It's mostly likely a typical duduk. But I could be wrong. The extended range duduks are rarely used.
Hello, i am from germany and thought about to learn how to play the Duduk. Its a amazing instrument. How much should a beginner spend on a Duduk? Can you recomend me a instrument? Which ton is usally good for a beginner? Tenor A? Greetings
Hi Felix. Sorry for the delay. I rarely check this channel! I'd suggest going to www.dudukworld.com. The duduk and reeds are good quality, fairly priced, and straight from Armenia. Buy at least 2 reeds, because it's always, always a bit of a crap shoot with reeds. Yes, go for an A duduk to start. Most of the time players use this duduk. The other keys are more like specialty duduk. Good luck!
A very nice find!
Are the finger positions absolute? When I got my duduk, my right hand took over and put itself on top with the left on the bottom. I have tried to "fix it", but my hands only protest.
Hi James.
I think you're fine. Go with what you're comfortable with.
Cheers,
Mark
Dove posso acquistare le ance?
So I'm having issues because my hands are too small- my pinky can't reach the fourth hole. Otherwise I'm getting some nice sound from it (I play flute and oboe) but I actually can't reach that hole!!!!
Thanks a lot !
OUH, you are playing MAJOR-Scale with that technic! Is that the point? (I asked below) Could definately be, because my Duduk from minimum down to maximum up is a natural-minor-scale, isn`t it? :-)
Hi. Yes, from your lowest note, it will be a natural minor scale. So on an A duduk, starting from the lowest note will give you an F# min scale.
i just started with my A duduk and cannot get a single sound out of it - just air.......what am i doing wrong.
Hello! Why is it that you use your knuckles on the duduk, rather than the fingertips? I play several other wind instruments, and I'm still waiting for my duduk to come in the mail, but I feel like it would be hard to adapt. Is there anything wrong with playing using the fingertips? Thanks!
Hi Daniel,
This is traditional, and I would suggest learning this technique. I find it gives me more control over the sound. You'll see the same technique with many other folk instruments, such as the Bansuri and Shakuhachi flutes
Cheers,
Mark
Ah, that makes sense. Well I guess it can't be that hard to learn. Thanks for the response!
I play mey and is it the same as duduk?
I'm looking to buy a Duduk for it's been my dream for several years already. What key do you recommend me buy? Like the typical dle yaman, narnia solo. avatar tsungi horn solo, what key are they played on for I know you can buy different duduks in different keys? Your response will really help me for I've been saving up for one for a while now.
+MasTArrrRR Sorry for the late reply. Definitely start with an "A" duduk. It's by far the most common key.
Is this similar to a clarinet? I've been playing the clarinet for 8 years now and this seems quite similar.
Sounds also similar to the zurna, kaval, and taragot, IMHO these followed each other from the Caucasus to the Balkans.
Armenia
Hey! Can someone please explain me why some people call this instrument a duduk while others call it mey?
I believe that mey is the Turkish word for düdük/դուդուկ... In Azerbaijan they call it Balaban. Düdük/mey is indigenous to Armenia. (btw. I'm from Iraq!)
My duduk has two holes in the back - one at each end. Can you explain?
Good question. The bottom hole is almost never used. However, for fun, you can cover up all of the holes, then lean the duduk into your knee, covering up the bottom hole. This will give you a note a whole tone lower than the range of the duduk. So on an A duduk, you'll get a low E.
In duduk all halls are useful.
Is it possible to make one of these
No, they are harvested from apricot trees as is.
🇧🇷
Somehow I cannot get any sound out of my reed at all.
Hi. This could be because the reed is too closed down, or too open. Can you get much air flow running through it?
Duduk Lessons Thanks for the reply. I played around with it and got some sound out of it. But it's harder to play than I though. Somehow I'm out of air very fast. I guess exercising more will do the trick
Sorry for the delay (Christmas). The duduk does take a lot of air, no way around that. It's hard to tell if your reed is properly adjusted without actually seeing it. Good luck.
M
🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲❤😘👌