respondents who said they are all relatively similar - skip to those who said they vary

Every didg is different, but there all holowed tree's

but that's mostly an answer based on ignorance, upon closer study i'd be sure to change my answer...

As per my definition. I would assume most any Didge made by Aboriginies for THEIR use would be considered a Yidaki.

most yidaki are of similar types, there are regional / maker variations

They all should give the right feedback regardless of length, pitch etc.

I just think they are

They tend to be straight between 4 & 5ft in length with small bells & made from Eucalyptus.

Its all bamboo or euky??

Sizes..from bore at end to mouth piece and length and perhaaps key...each one has its own authentic paint work regarding the artist etc??

respondents who said they vary

Different ceremonial types belong to different clans.

Just briefly... Yolngu Yidaki vary because of creation events in the ancestral past. That means today certain Yidaki are longer and therefore deeper than others. This varies from clan to clan. There are many different playing styles also, depending on the type of Yidaki (ie, long, short) and the clan compositions. They are often decorated with different designs reflecting ownership of clan land and reference to the ancestral past.

As you move from east to west the size and shape change. Gove area the didge is of approx mouth height ===> chest height or shorter as you travel west.

different lengths, conicality, sound, paint/decoration

I know the Dhuwa and Yirritja moieties prefer slightly different instruments. I have read, for instance, that the Yirritja instruments tend to be shorter than the Dhuwa. I have also read about sacred/secret didjeridus of exceptional length which are only used in special ceremonies. I have only limited knowledge of these matters, though, and I would imagine there are many other different types of instruments depending on locality and clan affiliation.

In a broader sense (i.e. didges from that area) I see varying length, sound, painting. Compare e.g. Yirrkala yidaki and Wugularr

It seems I remember reading that they do vary some between different groups within NEAL, but it's been a while, so I'm not real clear as to who and how.

Even though you could probably get a very universal yirdaki, one that would be capable of numerous styles and techniques, I got the impression that most Yolngu instruments are crafted with only a few things in mind, pursuing certain characteristics. Instruments like that would respond best when played the way their maker intended them to.. comparing the two sticks from my bunch, one a big Dhuwa and the other a little Yirritja, both quite typical representors of their moieties (just a guess) even though both are of the same fundamental note, is like comparing dawn and dusk. Strong differencies in some aspects, yet very subtle in others. But then again, I`m only a rank novice player...

djaly style, blanassi style, hudson's didges. they're all different and play different.

There are instruments with specific characteristics and special ceremonial names older instuments are often of lower pitch, different families have certain characteristics they use in choosing the trees and making a yi_daki from it. So there are many varieties, there are differences how much the bore is worked, some yi_dakis have totally natural bore as the termites made it and it is only worked on the outside, some makers widen the bell end and/or adjust the shape at the mouth side.

In particular the Dhuwa Yirdaki tends to be deeper in tonalita' and more slow playing whereas the Yirritja yirdaki tends to be shorter, higher in tonality and faster playing.

I think they vary from straight, shorter sticks with almost no taper and little back-pressure (as we think of it).... to longer more tapered instruments with more back-pressure and wider harmonics.... which may or may not be an adaptation to western influences.

Surely, just as an artist has his/her own style of painting, so do Yidaki craftsman. I've seen Yidakis made differently, and also sound differently. The rhythms however have similarities, even though they sound to be so complex to the untrained ears. Even though Dhuwa and Yirritja Yidaki Mi's have their own style of playing the yidaki, the rhythms thus far in my learning have similarities. Perhaps this is because they have roamed the land and sea together for so any years. Knowing the elements of nature is divided between the to clans, they can play eachothers rhythms and know the differences. What I'm not sure about is if there are rhythms that they don't play in front of eachother. They two clans do have their own style of playing since the Manikay Mi (singer) have different melodies that belongs to them. The Yidaki Mi follows the singing and Bilma and so I would imagine that this is a factor for suddle differences in their playing styles.

There are, for instance, sacred ones and none sacred... Dhuwa is mostley long and a bit lower in key, Yirritja ones are shorter...

I do not know the ins and outs of the various types, but I have seen references to different styes fo instrument that are used for different purposes. For example the instrument that one would perform on is different from and instrument used in a ritual.

Different shapes, sounds?

Instruments from Western areas I found tend to have a more tapering flare in the lower section of the instruments and of shorter length,whilst the Eastern areas have a longer instrument with pronounced flare in the last third of the instrument`s length.
Western instruments have a higher fundamental note whereas the Eastern variety have lower fundamental notes.

Different styles and voices from the ones I have played and heard.

We have many clan and area who has own style.

I don't know.

I don't know much about it, but I do know that in different areas the yidaki vary and are played differently.

Yidaki are of two types ...from the two opposing moieties Dhuwa/Yirrijta.... longer/shorter ... and so pitched lower/higher

size, sound, design

Don't know enough to comment.

Well, I have seen a good number of instruments from Arnhemland, and they do seem to range in size and shape, and in key.

As far as I know a lot of different types excist for all kind of occasions and rituals.

there are many kinds i quess , like wugular didgeridoo's and all.. but don't know many names

Didgeridoo's coming from different types of eucaliptus tree's... stringy bark - redwood, "probably making a fool out of myself"

different key's different style of artwork, different types of wood

Dhuwa and Yirritja use different species of tree, as well as vary the length and pitch of instrument. Different totems and playing styles.

the flooding/burning cycles combined with soil type and tree variety tends to make N.E. Arnhemland sticks more likely to have a tapered bore than other areas which might have more even bores yet this doesn't mean that all N.E.A. sticks are going to follow that style.

Generally, Dhuwa longer, lower keyed, relatively slower rhythms relating to dhuwa spirit forms, Yirritja opposite. More specifc Yirdaki for certain ceremonies such as v. long ot short.

Having twice visited Arnhem Land and being a self-confessed 'didj freak' I am aware of the differences in regional and moeity specific yidaki types. The Dhuwa 'Djungarrin' instruments that Djalu and Badikupa create tend to be longer whereas the Yirritja yidaki, in general, are shorter and higher pitched. I have seen some of the more celebrated 'sacred' types of instruments including very short high pitched instruments adorned with feathers and very long instruments (7ft) that are used to represent the voice of Wititj during parts of the Wagilag story.

It depends on what level we are talking about. Yidaki is one generic Yolngu term for what we call didgeridoo. Yolngu would differentiate their types of yidaki based on a whole lot of factors - correct me if I am wrong.

I didn't try a lot of Yidaki but I'm really think that they are many varying types

less or more long, more or less faster among the counties.

i read some text (manikay.com or idij.com) but i don't know the reality of theses text, i mean i've never put a feet in Arnhem land so it's not concrete

Don't know anything

Yidaki vary in size, pitch and artwork style according to the clans that uses them

by clan i think

Seems like most were originally rather tubular as opposed to conical. It seems like big bells and flairs that are now common have had an influince of traditional didj crafting.

I have seen and heard many examples including yours, but don,t have deep knowledge.

I've read that there are different yidaki for different usages, and that there are even yidaki made of bamboo.

Different styles in painting following different Clans.

Mainly two different styles a) David B... and b) those of the easternside.
The styles are changing in response to market demands, also the native musical style is evolving. This affects the build of Yirdaki and playing styles.

I only know there are differences, depending on region and also on "time" (older instruments/styles/playing might differ from current), but not in detail when or what.

each yidaki have an artwork inspired by the clan and by the feeling of the yidakimaker.

Each region produces its own sound therefore the make their Yidaki's to suit.

Key, length, and art work vary; however, Yirdaki is completely different to what the 95% of shit which is out there.

Fashions seem to change.The oldest instruments I have seen all seem to be of fairly uniform type-no extended bell mouths etc.Then there was the 'fashion' for Yidaki with extended bell mouths of the type so often played by Mukuma Yunupingu some years ago.I also believe that personal prefernce of the individual craftsmen,moiatal affilliation and ceremony specific instruments lend diversaty to Yidaki.

long small, and shorter types

Its seems most are made from stringy bark, but i've seen them made from different varieties of euc.. It seems some makers use modern tools thus having different shape and sound characteristics compared to some makers that dont use modern type tools (chisels/angle grinders etc..).

conical shape (no big bells) made from Stringybark Euclypt (sometimes Woolybutt) decorated with traditional bands and/or raark designs and painted with traditional colours (red, white, black, yellow - sometimes green and pinkish colour). I think I remember something about Dhuwa moiety playing deeper yidaki and Yirritja playing higher keys.

I know there are different types, but that is about all I know.