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Posted by: Dreamfullofzen May 18 2009, 01:49 PM

Hey all,

just got a Duduk, in A, from a place that sells them in the UK.


I'm happy and making progress on it. I was wondering what the consensus was on Karen Hakobyan duduks? i saw a thread mentioning them being compared to other duduks, but i didn't understand if it was being shown for being high quality or low quality...

As far as i can tell it's good... but then again.. what the hell do i know?

I'm just curious, is it common to half hole different scales on an A Duduk, or do most players just use a Duduk close to the Key of the piece of music they're playing?

I ask since allot of arabic stuff i know is in D, and D Hijaz for example would be D Eb F# G A Bb C, which on an A duduk means half holing the A to get the Bb, Half holing the B to get the C, Half holing the D to get the Eb, and finally half holing the F# to get the G..... would it make more sense to get a Bb Duduk to play a scale like that?

just curious... because the blowing required for the half hole stuff, and then to add vibrato... well.... i reckon it'll keep me busy for the next 5-10 years........

I'll post a short clip of me noodling around later on.

Posted by: Duduk May 18 2009, 06:04 PM

Hello

welcome to duduk.com



practicing will sure make the differences

please stop by http://duduk.com/Arm-music-ins/Duduk/Duduk-Info/index.html
you will find some info on basics of duduk playing


tuning: you can find the fingering chart for Standard A duduk at http://www.duduk.com/chart/duduk%20fingering%20chart.htm

if your duduk & your reed are new ( and assuming it has a good or dissent tuning ) it will sound bit sharp at first, after playing it for a week or so you will get a falter more natural sound, so for now, concentrate on your playing and basics, all be fine wan you have the basics

take your time don't rush

sorry i'm bit pressed on time this day....

Moses

Posted by: RonsMusic76 May 20 2009, 05:59 PM

I think the Bb duduk would require the least half-holing for D Hijaz. The only downside is that you won't get a complete octave of the maqam from D to a higher D. The notes on a Bb duduk are:
G A Bb C D Eb F G Ab Bb.

If you can find a duduk in F that might work but it would take more complex fingering:
D E F G A Bb C D Eb F

Good luck!

Posted by: Dreamfullofzen May 22 2009, 06:43 PM

Thanks moses,

First thing i did before ordering the duduk was reading the info!

and yes for the moment i'm just training to play it (breathe, lip muscles, vibrato, half holing in tune, etc).

That said i'll probably order some reeds soon to break them in too with this one, and maybe buy another duduk in A to compare it to the KH duduk and see the difference in sound.

Makes sense Ron, i think i'll just stick with the A duduk and see what can be done, not that i'm fussed per say, i was just thinking at some point if i decide to Jam with some musicians here how i'd go about it, since not all of them would be able to transpose i think...



I'll record something soon with the duduk and post it.

Posted by: Dreamfullofzen May 22 2009, 08:52 PM

Hmm.. i read on the forum about the KH duduks only being aged 2 years, and i think that would explain allot.

I mean the duduk i have sounds okay and the tuning is okay (well the top notes aren't but that's down to me i believe! not the duduk). But it certainly does not have the rich sound that i hear in other duduk clips/videos. It's definately....well, doesn't have the warmth and body that those ones do.

It could be just me though.

Either way I'll place an order with you guys soon. One Quick question: do you ship to Egypt? if not i guess i can have it shipped to the UK and have someone bring it with them.

Posted by: Duduk May 23 2009, 09:45 AM

Good friend your on the correct path:) at first it will be bit confusing, bit hard, but the result, the result is a beautiful sound of duduk that only ~0.001% ( gave or take a 0 ) of the people on earth can produce, and each song you play or bring into existence will be something new...
have fun..

MOses

Posted by: Dreamfullofzen May 23 2009, 07:55 PM

I tried crappy mic'ing today, just wanted to improvise abit around F# minor, and try keeping in tune. I noticed that the gamesh was too wide and i was playing very flat... so i've made sure it's more in tune now and using my lips and vibrato more to keep the notes in tune...

here's the crappy first take i did... lol

www.dreamfullofzen.net/Music/DUDUK IMPROV FIRST ATTEMPT.mp3



Thanks b.t.w, i agree that there is no instrument that does what Duduk does, and i don't care if it takes me 10 years to be able to produce those kinds of sounds.... it's worth it.....

Posted by: Dreamfullofzen May 27 2009, 08:31 PM

b.t.w, would anyone be interested in synthesizer drones to practice over?

Posted by: Duduk May 27 2009, 09:44 PM

HI
i can;t get the link to work

Posted by: Dreamfullofzen May 28 2009, 06:17 AM

sorry moses, i didn't type it out fully, if you just copied and pasted it into your browser it would work.
here it is done properly:

http://www.dreamfullofzen.net/Music/DUDUK%20IMPROV%20FIRST%20ATTEMPT.mp3

Posted by: Dreamfullofzen May 30 2009, 07:34 PM

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dreamfullofzen/

some pics of my duduk are there.

Posted by: Brian Dec 13 2009, 10:50 AM

Just thought I'd share some info with everyone here.
I found the duduk relatively easy to play, having never played a reed instrument before.
I purchased the "A" duduk and figured it can be played naturally in A flat or tuned to A.
I'm guessing that possibly all duduks can have a semitone tuning ability.
I recorded the following within a week of getting my first duduk.
It features duduk, cello and strings

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh3KISclzv0

Best Regards
Brian
http://www.youtube.com/user/Brain1962

Posted by: Duduk Dec 14 2009, 05:08 PM

amazing !!!

Posted by: Brian Jan 2 2010, 01:02 AM

Hi again
I got my "F Piccolo Duduk" for Christmas from my daughter.
Its quite easy to play in the lower 2/3 register, though the highest notes take some practice and skill to hold the pitch and sustain.
It sounds great though, a little like a soprano sax at times.
It features in the mid section of this video, embraced either end with the lower "A Duduk".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbk0IrAvZeI

Best Regards
Brian
http://www.youtube.com/user/Brain1962

Posted by: Dreamfullofzen Jan 13 2010, 10:15 AM

Hey Brian,

Congratulations on your Duduks.

In regards to the Duduk being relatively easy to play... well, it is in some aspects..... and not so in others.

At the moment you're just playing normal diatonic scales and playing simple melodies.... Once you get deeper into the instruments real use, and start encountering the scales and modes tradionally used on the instrument, and the techniques required to play them properly, then you see how complex and difficult the instrument can be.

That said i would agree with you in that it's easier then i thought it would be. I've only been playing since April of last year, and have made more progress then i thought i would in such a short amount of time.

you can check out my vids here:
www.youtube.com/user/dreamfullofzen

Posted by: Lynx Jan 13 2010, 08:39 PM

Dreamfullofzen, are you still playing the same duduk or have you bought another one in A?

Posted by: Dreamfullofzen Jan 16 2010, 11:50 AM

Yup, still the same duduk,

why?

Posted by: Lynx Jan 16 2010, 02:08 PM

I was just asking because I can see that your new reeds make a considerable difference. I read elsewhere that with your old reeds you felt your head swelling by the effort required to blow and that's exactly what I'm feeling!

I'd like to contact Dabaghyan and order some reeds

Posted by: Dreamfullofzen Jan 16 2010, 07:39 PM

Hey,

Indeed they do, a huge one at that. The reed that came with my duduk is very low quality and extremely thick/stiff. The amount of air i had to blow was ridiculous, and doing vibrato and half holing with it was an
exercise in futility.

You should do that. Email me if you need anything.

Cheers,

DFZ

Posted by: Brian Feb 5 2010, 12:28 PM

Dreamfullofzen
Agree with your comments.
I will check out your Youtube site also.

Here is the latest song featuring the duduk.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1wxmOgJXno

I've kept it very simple, as I find "less is more"

Many Regards
Brian

Posted by: Brian Feb 28 2010, 01:18 PM

Here is the Duduk in a "slow smooth jazz" feel....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBE_WAJmODY

Posted by: Duduk Mar 3 2010, 12:40 AM

now i'm jealous my kid just told me that your music better then my music

Well Done !!!