Hello, I'd like to ask your advice as a beginner. I'm interested in the Chromatto because it looks like an amazing solution to the problem of half tones. But I'm not sure which reed to go with. I've been teaching myself for a while, but I have one of those souvenir instruments from the tourist market in Yerevan and I know that's got serious limitations. Given that I have some experience (and I'm a professional musician), do you think I could get away with the medium reed?
Thank you for reaching out to us for advice. As a beginner, it is understandable that you may have some questions about playing the duduk, particularly with regards to playing half-tone notes on the instrument.
Regarding the souvenir instruments from the tourist market, we understand your concerns. These instruments are generally not properly tuned and may cause problems when you are trying to play properly. Our advice is, if you are committed to playing seriously, to invest in a proper instrument. This will make your life so much easier and will allow you to fully explore the rich and beautiful sounds of the duduk.
Regarding the reeds: for A Chromatto duduk, the reeds are the same as for traditional A duduk. Medium reeds are a great place to start, as they will give you the capacity to play easily and get a nice warm timbre. We have put together an article about the reeds, which you can explore to learn more.
In summary, our advice is to get a properly tuned instrument, whether it is a Chromatto or a traditional duduk. This will make your life so much easier and will allow you to fully explore the beautiful sounds of this unique instrument. And for reeds, Medium Reeds are a great place to start.
We hope that this information is helpful to you. If you have any other questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to help.
Sincerely,
Your Dudukhouse Team
]]>The duduk is a traditional Armenian woodwind instrument, typically made of apricot wood, with a unique and hauntingly beautiful sound. It's a non-tempered instrument, meaning that the sound and pitch are produced by a combination of the player's fingers, lips (embouchure), and the instrument's reed.
There are many different keys of duduk, from F to D. For beginners, it's advised to start with a duduk in A or Bb, as they are easier to play and have a warmer timbre. Duduks in A are the most popular and widely played, and almost all beginner students start with this key. If your friend already has an A duduk, you might want to consider gifting them a Bb or a G instrument, which will allow them to have more choices when it comes to the scales and sounds they can play.
Reeds are also a crucial factor in producing a proper sound, and you may want to consider purchasing an extra reed as well. Professional instruments from reputable sellers come with specially selected medium reeds that are suitable for any beginner, both to play easily and produce an amazing sound.
Investing in a professional instrument from a respected seller has many benefits. The wood used to make the instrument will be properly dried to ensure it serves for many years ahead, and the instrument will come with a warranty. You'll have professional support and can ask questions at any time. Moreover, instruments will be properly tuned and come with proper reeds.
At Dudukhouse, we pride ourselves on offering only the highest quality duduk instruments to our customers. We work with top Armenian duduk makers, including Karen Mukayelyan (MKS), Georgy Minasov, Vamelo, GGA, and Sevada, to ensure that our customers have access to the best instruments available. These makers are masters in their craft, having honed their skills over many years to create instruments that are played by top duduk players around the world. Each of their instruments is unique, handmade, and crafted with the utmost care and precision, ensuring that they produce a warm, rich, and authentic sound that can last for many years ahead. Owning such an instrument means an investment in a piece of musical history that will bring joy and inspiration for years to come.
If your friend can read music, it might be a good idea to purchase a Duduk Methodology Book and/or link them with a teacher to help them on their journey. Dudukhouse can help you connect with them.
The duduk is a beautiful and unique instrument, and gifting one to a friend can be a meaningful and thoughtful gesture. We hope this guide has helped you understand the key factors to consider when purchasing a duduk as a gift for a beginner. Remember, investing in a professional instrument from a reputable seller is crucial to ensuring that your friend enjoys the full potential of the instrument for years to come.
]]>The duduk is a traditional double reed wind instrument that originated in Armenia. It is known for its unique and haunting sound, which is often used in traditional Armenian music as well as in contemporary music, film, and television. The duduk is a versatile instrument that can be played in a variety of musical styles and settings.
One of the most important factors in the sound of the duduk is its key. Different keys of the duduk produce different tones and pitches, which can have a significant impact on the overall sound of the instrument. As a beginner duduk player, it is important to understand and choose the duduk in the the right key for your skill level and musical goals.
In this article, we will discuss the different keys of the duduk and how they affect the sound, as well as the factors to consider when choosing the right key for beginner duduk players. We will also cover the factors to consider when purchasing a duduk, and recommend some popular and reputable brands for beginners.
When choosing a key for a beginner duduk player, the most commonly recommended key is A. The reason for this is because its sound is in the middle range, and it produces the famous velvety sound that the duduk is known for. This makes it the most versatile and easiest key of duduk for beginners to start with. The second best choice for beginners is the key of Bb, which is half-tone away from A and has a timbre that is very close to A. This key is also a good option for beginners who are looking to expand their collection after they have learned to play duduk in A.
Duduks in G and F have a longer body than the duduk in A. This allows them to produce a lower pitch than the A duduk. The G duduk is also a great option for soloing and can be used to create a deeper and more powerful sound. The G and F duduks are typically viewed as having a baritone range. Its lower pitch makes it perfect for accompanying other instruments and adding a rich, low-frequency foundation to the music. Due to its lower pitch, the F duduk is more challenging to play for beginners, but with practice, it can add a lot of depth and color to the music.
It's worth noting that duduks in A, Bb, G, and F all share the same reed. This means that if you already have one reed for one instrument, you can use it for all of these instruments. This can be a cost-effective solution for beginner duduk players who are just starting to expand their collection. It also means that if you already own a duduk in one of these keys, you can easily try playing the others without having to purchase additional reeds. This allows for more flexibility and experimentation with the instrument and its different sounds.
The duduk in B has a slightly higher pitch than A. It is not as popular as the A duduk, mostly because of the scales it is able to perform. For example, the duduk in B allows for easy play of the scales of B Major, C# Minor, and Ab Minor in concert pitch. These scales are not easy or preferred for beginners to play. Because of this, the duduk in B is less popular among beginners. However, it makes no difference if you intend to play solo with a drone sound in the background. It's still a good choice, although not as common. It is important to keep in mind that the duduk in B requires more skill and experience to play than the duduk in A, so it's a better choice for more advanced players.
Duduks in C and D
Duduks in C and D are the highest pitched instruments being produced. D duduk, also known as the piccolo duduk among players, is mostly used to play dance tunes, thanks to its high pitch and the fact that Armenian dances require more lively and happy sounds. The challenge with these two instruments, especially with the piccolo duduk, is that the highest notes on these instruments are very challenging to play for beginners. For example, to play the high note C on a D duduk might require an instant relaxation of the embouchure, which beginners will not be able to do, resulting in a sound that is not pure. It's worth noting that duduks in C and D have their own specific reeds that won't work with any other duduk. This means that if you are looking to play a C or D duduk, you will need to purchase a specific reed for it. These instruments require advanced skills and experience to be played effectively and are not recommended for beginners.
When purchasing a duduk, there are several factors to consider. For beginners with or without previous musical training, starting with an A (or Bb) duduk is a great option. The majority of duduk music is played on an A duduk, so you will have a wide variety of reference music to compare your sound against. If you prefer a deeper sound, then a G duduk may be a better fit.
For composers and musicians looking to add polyphony to their duduk music, an F or A Bass duduk may be a good option. B and C duduks are more specialized and should be considered if you are playing in a band or orchestra and need to perform specific tunes in a specific key that other instruments cannot accommodate. For example, if you need to play a melody in C# minor, then a B duduk would be the optimal choice.
Lastly, if you are already proficiently playing the duduk in A or similar, have built your embouchure, and looking to enrich your duduk polyphony or play dance melodies, then a D duduk may be a good option.
In conclusion, the duduk is a versatile and ancient instrument that has a wide range of keys available for purchase. Factors to consider when purchasing a duduk include your skill level, the type of music you wish to play, and the specific key or keys you need for your performances. Beginners should start with A or Bb duduk, while more advanced players may prefer the deeper sound of G or the versatility of F or A Bass duduk. B and C duduks are great for those playing in bands or orchestras, while D duduk is perfect for dance melodies. The great news is that regardless of the key, the fingering for all duduks is the same, so if you have learnt to play duduk in A, you will be able to play duduks in all other keys.
]]>We have added chromatic fingering along with diatonic fingering for the very first time. With this fingering chart, any duduk book on the market is guaranteed to work. First-time duduk players should grab the chart, get their books, and start laying down proper foundations right away. The chart also provides reed aperture information and explains how to open reeds correctly.
The chart is available to anyone free of charge. You can download it here.
]]>In terms of importance, reeds are the most important part of the instrument. As long as the duduk body is adequately dried and tuned, you will not encounter any problems with it.
Reeds pose a completely different challenge. They may sound fine on a sunny day but degrade when it is raining or you are in a different city. In fact, the pitch might even change by an entire step if it is too cold.
It has nothing to do with craftsmanship, but is a result of the fact that reeds are made from natural materials. The same is true for almost every woodwind musician (e.g. oboe, saxophone) who plays with natural reeds. Musicians are able to observe how reeds respond to changes in temperature, humidity, and even when the performer feels a change in emotions.
To better aid duduk musicians in choosing the right reed, we decided to create this comprehensive guide. You'll learn about different types of reeds, their purpose, and ways to invest wisely depending on where you're at in your musical journey. It's time to get started.
The four kinds of reeds known in Armenia are buzzing, soft, medium, and hard.
The buzzing reeds are generally very soft and produce a buzzing sound - hence the name. These reeds are usually only sold to foreigners with souvenir duduks. Armenian duduk players do not like to play with them because of the sound quality. In some cultures, however, the buzzing sound of duduk is standard in folk music.
A soft reed is the easiest to play. It is less stressful for the embouchure and permits the players to produce a duduk sound easier. Because soft reeds are less demanding on the embouchure, they allow musicians to play longer without becoming tired. The quality of the sound in general depends a great deal on the musician. Beginners have a hard time with any reeds, but many well-known duduk masters prefer to play with soft reeds.
Medium reeds offer the best balance between sound and stress on the embouchure. Their sound is great and they are generally ready to play right away like soft reeds.
Hard reeds are the toughest to play but produce the most splendid sound. They need to mature in order to develop their best qualities. Playing hard reeds can be challenging in the beginning. Even the most experienced players can play only a few minutes in the beginning. You can help them mature by playing with them regularly (even for a few minutes a day). The moment they reach their peak of maturity, they are very easy to play, have a powerful sound, and have a very steady intonation. Take good care of them and you can have them for many years. One story holds that Vache Hovsepyan played music with the same reed for about 18 years. When the reed finally broke, he was devastated like he had lost someone very dear.
It is important to note that not all reeds are the same, even though they are classified as such. Individual properties of reeds in the same category can differ greatly. There can be a small percentage of reeds that have superior physical and sound qualities. At Dudukhouse we carefully select these reeds and classify them under the Elite category.
The classification we described in the previous section remains the norm today. When selecting reeds, it is not sufficient to consider only their firmness. There are other factors to consider, such as the purpose.
Most musicians keep separate reeds for practice and performance. This is obvious. You should try to extend the life of reeds as much as possible once you come across good ones. You should cherish those that are exceptional. Practice with your performance reeds all the time and they will die sooner. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t play them at all. For example, try playing your practice reeds for 80% of your practice time and your performance reeds on the remaining 20%. This will keep your performance reeds in good shape and extend their lifespan. They will also last longer if you keep them clean and in good shape.
It would be best to use soft reeds if you plan to play dam (drone accompaniment). Drones require significant amounts of air and keep constant pressure on the lungs, cheeks, and overall embouchure. Hence, using soft reeds is an established practice in this context.
The same goes for playing bass duduks. Because bass duduks generally have longer bodies, they require more air to pass through the instrument. This puts more strain on the performer than playing traditional duduk. This is why soft reeds will be a great choice again.
You should also choose reeds based on where you are in your musical journey. It is always advisable for beginner duduk players to start off with either soft or medium reeds. This is especially true if you do not have access to a duduk teacher who is available for in person lessons. Once you feel comfortable, you can start using harder reeds to further strengthen your embouchure and improve your sound.
After you have had experience with playing, try experimenting with firmer reeds. There are different preferences among Armenian duduk master players when it comes to choosing reeds. While some duduk players prefer playing only hard reeds to make their instruments sound unique, others prefer playing soft or medium reeds. Regardless of the choice, the sound quality of a true duduk master is always excellent. Therefore, a good guideline is to try and find what works for you personally.
When duduk reeds are properly cared for, they can last for many years. Depending on how often you play and store them, the average lifespan varies significantly. Improperly closed caps can, for instance, impair reed performance by misaligning the mouth as time goes by. There are videos on the internet from amateur players who state that soaking reeds in water will help open them. Don't do it! Excess humidity will ruin the reeds.
My own experience and discussions with duduk players validate that reeds that are properly cared for may last no less than 2-3 years at the very least. Therefore, consider the purchase of a reed a wise investment that needs to be handled with care. Trust me, the effort will pay off.
In order to buy a proper reed, you should have an idea of what key duduk you will be playing. If you have duduks in more than one key, you are likely to require different reeds for each. There are reeds that are compatible with duduks in different keys.
Duduk in A is the most commonly played duduk which is why reeds in A are the most common. Duduks in A,G, Bb, F, and A bass generally share the same reed. This means a reed designed for A duduk can also be used on Bb duduk. Duduks in B and in C also share the same reed that is different from A duduk reed. The reed for duduk in D is a bit shorter than the rest. Below are a few general guidelines about reeds and duduks.
Reed in |
Works with duduk in |
A |
G, A, Bb, F and A Bass Duduk |
B or C |
B, C |
D |
D |
It is important to note that these interchangeability guidelines apply only to professional instruments manufactured by master craftsmen or duduk players. It is impossible to predict the sound of souvenir instruments, which are sometimes advertised as professional instruments on the internet.
All that we have written above doesn't alter the fact that reed characteristics are still highly subjective and personal. A novice player may sometimes find the softest reed too hard to play.
Contrarily, experienced players with strong embouchures might find a medium reed too soft. So, our advice to you is: always experiment! With time and practice you should be able to distinguish between different reed types and play great duduk music with whatever reed you choose. Best of luck on your musical journey!
]]>Tip #1
Both the body and reed of the duduk need care. The body does not require much maintenance, while the reed needs extra attention since it is very delicate.
Tip #2
Before playing, check whether your reed is open or closed, as humidity levels may affect this. The reed should never be pushed from the sides if it is closed. Pour some water inside and let it sit for about 15-20 minutes.
Tip #3
Adjust the reed mouth opening and pitch by moving the regulator (parda, փարդա). As the regulator is lowered, the aperture of the reed is closed, causing pitch to be higher. Conversely, if the regulator is moved up, the aperture will be enlarged and the pitch will be lower than before.
Tip #4
It is very important to close the reed correctly after playing it. Correct placement of the cap protects the reed and makes it play well for many years to come.
Tip #5
Most reeds need to be played in order to improve their sound. These days, reeds are crafted to already play well. When purchasing reeds, choose medium or hard reeds rather than soft reeds that make a buzzing sound. Play them out to attain the top quality sound.
Tip #6
Artak has presented examples of good duduk sounds as well as what not to do. Check it out at 8:20.
Tip #7
Duduk fingering. Artak demonstrates two main duduk fingering types and discusses what to avoid when holding duduk. Relaxing your fingers will help you play better and progress faster.
Tip #8
Breathing. Duduk requires complete lip relaxation when playing notes A and higher in contrast to other woodwinds (e.g. oboe, clarinet). Artak explains how the lips can be placed properly on the reed.
Tip #9
First lesson. For the first lesson, just play as long as you can, focusing on finger relaxation, sound, and clarity.
Consider what you’d like to accomplish--do you want to play seriously, or are you interested in how duduk works, or do you just want a souvenir? Duduk is not a beginner instrument, and won’t be a casual instrument like a guitar or piano. Learning to play duduk well can take years, and mastering it to find your timbre can be a lifelong journey. If you’re new to the musical world in general, consider learning on an easier instrument and coming back to duduk after you have built up your musical repertoire.
If you do want to play long-term or just learn to play a few songs competently, you’ll want to invest in a good duduk and quality reed. A professional instrument has the advantage of producing the proper sounds, the correct pitch and right set of notes.
When looking to buy a duduk, the first place most people will check is Amazon, eBay or even Etsy in search of the famed Armenian instrument. You might have browsed as well and found beautiful duduks that are made in Armenia, and looking like something a professional musician like Jivan Gasparyan would play. You might even be lured in by the inexpensive price, especially if you’re just starting to dip your toes into the water and are hesitant to spend a few hundred dollars on an instrument you haven’t played before. However, you’ll find that once the duduk arrives, it sounds nothing like what you expected.
Be sure not to fall into this trap. These are cheaper, souvenir-quality instruments that look great, but some dishonest sellers will market them as professional instruments. These types of souvenir duduks are often beautifully made but are crafted from cheap wood, not tuned properly, and the reeds don’t play well. Though you might find exceptions, they are rare and it is a gamble buying from an online marketplace that doesn’t specialize in selling instruments. These cheaper duduks are great as decor, but they are not intended to make music.
Professional instruments are made of dried and aged apricot wood. The sound that this wood creates is the best for duduk instruments and has been used for duduks for centuries. The apricot wood is dried for seven to 30 years, to ensure that when played and exposed to humidity from a musician’s mouth and breath, it won’t be prone to cracking. When a duduk is made from properly dried and aged wood, it can last many years and the sound will improve overtime as you play and break it in.
The most important reason to invest in a professional instrument is that it is properly tuned. Duduk is a challenging instrument to play because it is a non-tempered instrument. For example, a piano has notes assigned to its keys and to play a note or set of notes, a musician simply presses the required keys. Duduk is different because to play a certain note, the sound relies on the musician’s fingering, positioning, breath, and embouchure, which is a combination of using the lips, tongue and teeth. If any of these factors is off, even slightly, you will not produce the correct notes. As this is typically the case for beginners, having a properly tuned instrument is a requirement so that progress won’t be impeded by the duduk being out of tune.
When looking for a properly tuned instrument, you can find them either from a master craftsman or from specialized stores. Many professional duduk players also make instruments and sell them under their own name, so that is a sensible option as well because you’ll be sure that you’re getting a properly tuned instrument.
When choosing your first duduk, you should pay attention to the key of the instrument. Duduk’s musical range is very limited, only around 1¼ of the octave. Duduks are made in a range of keys, but an individual instrument can play a limited number of scales. If you’re going to be playing drone, this won’t be a problem. However, if you want to play with another instrument (like a guitar or piano), it might make more sense to invest in duduks of several different keys.
Today, duduks are made in a wide variety of keys, from an F in bass to a G in piccolo. The most common key that you hear, which produced the famous Armenian timbre is the key of A or Bb. If you’re a beginner just getting into duduks, a good place to start is in the key of A. As the most widespread key, if you get a teacher, they will also have a duduk in A as well, so they can tune it when you play.
Later on, as you progress, you can invest in duduks in other keys as well since you might need higher or lower pitches when playing other musical pieces. However, this is an issue for after you’ve become competent on the duduk.
Even more important than the duduk are the reeds. You could have the perfect duduk, finely tuned, but if the reeds aren’t good, you’re going to have a problem. Ask any woodwind musician and they’ll tell you about how reeds affect the quality of the sound. As with reeds for other instruments, duduk reeds are generally made from Common Reed (Phragmites australis) by hand. It is generally quite difficult to get a reed that is 100% excellent quality. They are made from a natural material that is very easily affected by external conditions like temperature and humidity that can change the way they sound, even during day-to-day playing.
Reeds are classified are soft, medium and hard. Soft reeds are easy to play but they don’t produce the best sound. Hard reeds on the other hand are hard to play in the beginning, because they require the musician to work with them to reach maturity. Once mature, hard reeds produce the best sound possible. At Dudukhouse, we further class our reeds into two more types: Medium Elite and Hard Elite. Check out our reed product pages for more information.
If you are a beginner musician, we recommend starting with a couple of soft and medium reeds. These will be easier on your embouchure and will help you to produce the correct sound quicker as you learn. With more progress, you can think about investing in our Hard or Hard Elite reeds, as they will not just help to develop your embouchure but also help in making better sounds and truer notes.
So now you’ve got your first instrument and you want to learn to play. The only question left is where to start? A lot of beginner students turn to online video classes and instructions, such as those on YouTube. It can be a great way to get familiar with your duduk and learn some basics, but ultimately it can end up hindering your overall progress.
You’ll find that there are not a lot of English-language instructional videos that provide proper instruction. As the duduk has gotten more popular over the last decade, and in the absence of professional duduk instruction, many amateur and beginner duduk musicians started to teach the instrument without having the proper understanding and education of duduk musical skills themselves. Students new to duduk might follow their instructions, only to later discover that they aren’t able to play properly or produce the sound they wanted to. They might end their musical journey with the duduk out of disappointment and frustration, losing the enthusiasm they once had.
One reputable place to start your musical education is under the tutelage of Artak Astryan, who offers a series of free Duduk Masterclasses with Artak Asatryan. Artak has been playing duduk for more than 25 years, and is a professional performer and educator. Keep in mind that without a qualified instructor, your learning foundations will be set incorrectly and that can hinder your learning process as you try to progress.
The best way to learn duduk is with a professional teacher. A qualified teacher will help significantly in setting up proper foundations that you can build upon to reach your goals efficiently. Duduk used to be taught by ear, but a professional teacher will also use music notation.
If you find it difficult to locate a professional and qualified teacher, please reach out to us and we will help to connect you with a teacher near you. You may also find it useful to have a teacher that offers online classes, so regardless of where you live, you’re able to find professional instruction from Armenia or elsewhere.
If you’re seriously thinking about playing an Armenian duduk, and playing it well, here are a few things to remember:
The legendary duduk master-player, author, teacher and inventor of the extended range duduk Georgy Minasov (Minasyan) was making world-class duduks since 1963. After his passage in 2020 his work is continued by his grandson - talented musician and duduk player Georgy Minasyan Jr.
GGA professional musical instruments are recognized all over the world. Hayk and Galust Galstyans are folk masters and have been making Armenian folk brass instruments for 40 years. The instruments are exclusively hand-made works made from the best quality apricot tree wood and subdued to proper and thorough processing and the wood is dried for 7-10 years. As a result of professional work instruments have high quality sound, clean tire and unique sound. The Galstyans put their love of their profession, many years of experience, the Armenian national traditions of making brass instruments into each instrument and work with great responsibility.
Vamelo is an Armenian musical instrument manufacturer founded in 2017 which produces professional Armenian duduks, reeds, cases and accessories. Vamelo takes pride in being the first duduk manufacturing company in Armenia, which was previously an individual craft. We handcraft fine duduks revealing the inner beauty of uncompromised Armenian sound. With our foundation in the fascinating history of traditional duduk making we are dedicated to continuing this proud tradition alongside contemporary technological advancements. At Vamelo, we believe that the fusion of tradition and contemporary technology creates high quality and enchanting products.
If a duduk master is also a master duduk player then he can take every new instrument to a rehearsal to test it out! This is how master Sevada Iritsyan - a musician, duduk player of the State Dance Ensemble of Armenia, musical director of the ensemble "Karin" creates his instruments. Creates with love and meticulous attention to detail. That's why his instruments are one of the Dudukhouse favorites!
Born in Yerevan, Armenia, Artak Asatryan has been playing duduk since age six. At nine years old, he played in the Armenian State Children Philharmonic Folk Instruments Orchestra as a first duduk player and soloist. Since then, Artak has over 20 years of duduk playing and teaching under his belt. In 2012 he founded the Tsirani Ensemble and has been a soloist and the artistic director of the group since that time teaching duduk at the same time.
This master duduk player started making his own instruments in 2021 and Dudukhouse is proud to represent him. Artak's duduks are beautiful instruments meticulously tuned and offer accuracy, flexibility, centered tone, and projection.
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