Duduks

An Armenian folk instrument, duduks are a cylindrical instrument made of apricot wood and in typically 28, 33, or 40 cm in length. Duduks have 8 or 9 holes and a thumbhole which provides a range of one octave. The double reed, known as the ramish or yegheg in Armenian, is typically 9-14 cm. in length, and is surrounded by a thin flexible wood binding that slides along the length of the reed. This binding is used for tuning the duduk, controling the opening and closing of the reed.

Duduks have a warm, soft, and slightly nasal timbre. The sound is controlled by adjusting the pressure of the lips on the reed and by covering the finger holes. Although the duduk is tuned to be untempered and diatonic, chromatic notes can be obtained by partially covering the finger holes. Duduks are typically played in pairs with the lead duduk playing the melody and the second duduk playing a sustained pitched called the dam - a tonic drone that serves as a constant counterpoint to the melody. The player of the dam maintains this drone by using a circular breathing technique, inhaling through the nose and storing the air in puffed up cheeks while maintaining lip pressure on the reed. The duduk is also typically accompanied with a dhol, the double-sided Armenian drum.

IMPORTANT NOTICE! Health and sanitary regulations prohibit the exchange or return for credit of any mouth blown instrument. In addition, because of shipping problems in the past, we no long ship Duduks outside the United States.