Question: Is circular breathing possible? if so, how does it work?

Josh Makepeace answered on 25 Jun 2013:

Hi 07stoombs – since I’ve been living in the UK, lots of people have asked me whether, as an Australian, I can play the didgeridoo (it’s a traditional Australian wind instrument in case you haven’t heard of it). And I always have to admit that I can’t, because I don’t know how to do circular breathing.

I can tell you that it is definitely possible, instruments like the didgeridoo can’t be played properly without it! So, the main idea is that you want to be able to play a note without stopping to breathe part way through. My understanding of the way you circular breathe is that you take a breath, then start playing the note. When you’re almost out of breath, you’re meant to force the last of the air in your lungs into your cheeks, and then while that air from your cheeks is going into the instrument, you take a quick, deep breath into your lungs through your nose. Then you can start breathing out from your lungs again, and repeat the process.

Now, that all sounds simple, but how you actually manage to squeeze air out of your cheeks while breathing in through your nose is beyond me!! I guess you just have to practice!! 🙂