Brain Teasers
Is it a Kookaburra or a Kangaroo?
Riddle
Riddles are little poems or phrases that pose a question that needs answering. Riddles frequently rhyme, but this is not a requirement.Riddle
I am a pipe, but you do not smoke me.
I am a natural musical instrument,
but am not made from brass.
I contain no holes to finger, or strings to pluck.
You can beat me, but I am not a drum;
yet when played correctly I am very rhythmic.
My sound is circular, and also very unique.
What am I?
I am a natural musical instrument,
but am not made from brass.
I contain no holes to finger, or strings to pluck.
You can beat me, but I am not a drum;
yet when played correctly I am very rhythmic.
My sound is circular, and also very unique.
What am I?
Answer
A Didjeridu (Didjeridoo)It is a unique wind instrument of the Australian Aborigines of northern Australia. It is sometimes described as a natural wooden trumpet or "drone pipe" made from a hollowed out branch. Musicologists classify it as an aerophone because you have to blow air through it to produce a sound. During a performance, the musician can also strike the outside of the instrument with a stick, which makes a rhythmic beat. Circular breathing (that is, breathing in and out at the same time) is needed to produce a continual drone-like sound over voice sounds, which can be superimposed to add more rhythmic patterns. The player can also imitate local birds and animals, such as the kookaburra and kangaroo.
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Comments
Very interesting! Thanks for sharing your country with us!
My pleasure, and thanks Gebbie.
I had no idea on this! nice job!
Yet another interesting slice of Australia! Thanks for bringing these great bits of Australia to us Jazz!
Thanks Brainster! I really enjoy trying to figure out new bits of Australiana.
Just about to press "reveal" when I realised what it ia! Doesn't anyone know about Rolf Harris?
It would be fun to do a teaser on Rolf. The Goodies did a full episode on taking the Micky out of him! Hilarious!
This one was great! The title got me thinking about Australian instruments...and I don't know that many, so I got it right The riddle was well written too...I only got thrown off by "very unique" at the end. It's one of my pet peeves But I can let it go this time
Piece of cake. My son's class had been playing the Didjeridoo in school last year. Performed at the Christmas program.
Thanks for the fun teaser.
Thanks for the fun teaser.
It was fun, but HARD (then again, I'm not much of a research person. ) Good job, Jazz!
Thank you galaxy
Jazz, your teasers are great. being an Aussie, they are way too easy for me, but I delight in the read nonetheless. keep it up
Since my knowledge of Austrailian instruments amounts to zero, there was no way I could have gotten this. Thanks for raising my level of awareness.
My pleasure Also the aborigines invented circular breathing too.
I've enjoyed hearing didges for years! Whenever possible. How do you do the circular breathing, though? I have a new friend who may let me blow on his. It would be fun to learn how to do it right!
Also... I never knew about the stick beating on it thing. That threw me a little, but I was still pretty sure it was a didge.
More, more!
Also... I never knew about the stick beating on it thing. That threw me a little, but I was still pretty sure it was a didge.
More, more!
I knew it was Austrailia from the title, and thanks to my studies in that country, I knew it was a didjereedo (sorry I can't spell )
So great teaser!!
Very nice!
I've seen (and heard) this instrument many times but couldn't recall the name. Fun trivia to know. Also made me think of Kenny G. I've been told he can hold a note indefinitely on his soprano sax using circular breathing. Thanks for the great riddle!
would wind chimes work, too?
Had it by the second line
Not too bad a one, though
Not too bad a one, though
I had to read it twice, but then I got it. Haha, probably wouldn't have if I didn't own a didjeridu myself. Loved the teaser. Very cool.
My pleasure
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