Dimo buzz dulls

[jetz320]

I saw the topic about dimo change. I change my dimo each time it rips. The creepy thing is, after one peice rips, the next dizi's dimo rips. And then the next one rips. So I change a couple each time!!! It's creepy and anoying. Anyways, When I start to play each day, the dimo seems to loose it's bright tone, and does this ugly dull buzz. It's low and it sounds like a dead jinghu in a dizi sound. So, I use this method of using tape to put the dimo on. I tape 2 sides, and when the sound comes up, I just lift it up, and set it back on. The sound turns normal.


I use 2 kinds of dimo. One kind is a big sheet. I can't do the normal erjiao method on it. It doesn't come out right and it's so fragile!!! The other kind I have, is the kind you guys are familiar with. It's proffesional and I can do the erjiao method on it. But I don't have erjiao yet. I stick it on, and it doesn't buzz that much. It only has a little and about 70 percent of the sound is tape like. For some reason, it only works on my C key dizi. I'm pretty sure it's from Dunhuang. The other ones, are a Suzhou brand. The dimo doesn't work on this brand.


The dimo that comes in a big sheet, it will work on all dizi's. This is kind of weird. Does anyone have an explanation with this? Any help would be great. Thanks!!!! ;D

[blob]

Hi Jetz,
Not sure if this helps..

Firstly, some questions, could you say more about the big sheet dimo "not comming out right" and fragile? Does it tear when you try to stick it? The thickness/amount of ajiao to use it also a factor, diluted in too little water, it becomes too thick to control, but too little, then you are using water and the dimo will fall off soon.

One of the problems I find with the dimo is that it is affected pretty considerably by temperature and humidity changes. If the dimo becomes too tight, it can cause the sound to become dull.
If you were to just paste a dimo like a cellotape, then it will be very dull, since it is too tight and does not vibrate easily.
This is the reason why it is recommended that on the middle regions that there are a number of fine wrinkles that is perpendicular to the dizi and spread out evenly. Number of wrinkles is about 6-7 but depends really. Towards the sides of the membrane hole, it should be even without wrinkles.

Also, another tip is to warm up your dizi *before* you stick the dimo. If you paste the dimo when the dizi is cold, then when you play it, the dizi will expand, making the dimo tighether and tighter, and the sound goes duller and duller.

Also, if you have pasted the dimo with the appropriate number of wrinkles on, and then find the sound is loosing its brightness and reediness, then you should loosen a little the middle regions of the dimo.

Also, finally, the thickness of the dimo is also a factor, the thicker it is the duller the sound. I have yet to get dimos ina big sheet though, the ones I get tend to be still "closed" meaning like flattened cylinders, where I need a blade to open them up.

Hope this helps, I can provide an example of what the dimo should look like which will produce a sound that is bright.. Also, finally, the way you blow also can cause the sound to be less/more bright. So, sometimes a dull sound may just be a bad embouchere day, perhaps the day after that will be better?

Finally finally, can you read chinese? If you can, in the past, and still occasionally, this topic has been discussed in quite a lot of detail in bbs forums like bbs.cndizi.com and bbs.huain.com. Mainly on how to paste the dimo to get a nice sound and what you should do if you loose that sound.

[jetz320]

It's fine. I just have to adjust it once before I play. And also, I live in California so there aren't many big climate changes. I keep my dizis in a case.