The Duduk’s mouthpiece is called „Ghamish”. it consists of a skillfully handcrafted double-reed which pressure can be easily calibrated.
Compared to other double-reed instruments the Ghamish reed of the Duduk is longer and broader. Due to this structural characteristic the „Armenian Flute” gets its smooth sound. Each Duduk pitch has an appropriate Ghamish.
Each Duduk tuning requires an appropriate Ghamish made for that pitch. The reed’s size varies according to its pitch.
Don’t keep the Ghamish at the Duduk for storage. Put the Ghamish with its tapered end into the top part of your Duduk for playing. Use the „clamp” to fine-tune with your relieving pressure. To get the full scope of sound both the Duduk and the Ghamish need some time to be played warm and wet.
Notice: The „F” branding on the Ghamish is just the signature of the maker, but not the indicator of the key/tuning.
Important hint for the Ghamish
In order to open and warm the Ghamish before playing, we recommend to take it with a loosened ring between the lips (slightly lower than the playing position) and wet it lightly. The Ghamish will open slowly by itself. This can be heard with a slight crack, but is not a problem. To further warm the Ghamish for the game on the Duduk, simply turn it over, take the wrapped side into your mouth and breathe calmly for a few minutes. Through this process the Ghamish is slowly and evenly supplied with heat and moisture and is then ready to play.
During production, the Ghamish is carefully shaped over a period of two weeks without cracking.
We do not recommend to immerse the Ghamish in water to open it. Dipping the Ghamish into water causes moisture to penetrate the material too quickly, accelerating the opening process and causing permanent damage and cracking, making the Ghamish unplayable.
A practical idea: For a secure transport and storage get a cheap hard case for eyeglasses, drill some holes for a better air circulation and put your Ghamish there.
