I understand, at a layman's level, how embouchure affects tone in a flute; the whistle is a different story. Does the way we blow into the whistle change the tone because of a different airflow pattern into the whistle? Does embouchure merely help the player fine-tune the air pressure entering the fipple? I could be missing something else. It is just curiosity, as I know that the result is the same either way.
You control the sound of a whistle by the air flow, not by the shape of your mouth and lips. And embrochure is all about controlling the tone and pitch by shaping your mouth and lips. So while embrochore is vital to a flute player, the way I define it, it is not even a factor in whistle playing.
Can't remember where, now, but I know I've seen it written that embouchure makes a big difference to playing Susato whistles. I think embouchure must make a difference, somehow, because you can get, not only different volumes, but different tones out of just about any whistle. Some more than others.
Yes Ben, the embouchure makes a difference to all whistles. There is a big difference in tone between a loose blowing technique and a playing with pursed lips. Narrowing the airflow for example can make it easier to make high notes smooth on a whistle with a lot of back pressure and creates a punchier sound.
If you have a Bb, listen to the difference between playing it "straight" and then almost in a flute-like position, i.e., held sideways (to the right if you're right-handed) and blowing so that only about half your air goes into the whistle. To my mind it gives a lovely breathy, almost woody tone.
I have a MK low D and found that embouchure makes a huge difference. I was playing with pursed lips the way I used to play my clarinette. The problem was that it seemed it would load up in the airway and produce bigger and bigger back pressure. It would get slower and slower till it was unplayable. I would clean it out and start all over. But the same thing would happen again. I tried everything. The strange thing was that it seemed there wasn't anything in the airway??
Eureka! By trial and error I found it. I changed my embouchure. I pushed my lips out and placed the mouthpiece loosely between my lips and blew. Wow. No loading. There never was any loading. I was creating excessive back pressure with my tight lips. I was closing down an already very small airway. The whistle was not designed for this. Problem solved.
Flute/Whistle Embouchure
Flute/Whistle Embouchure
I understand, at a layman's level, how embouchure affects tone in a flute; the whistle is a different story. Does the way we blow into the whistle change the tone because of a different airflow pattern into the whistle? Does embouchure merely help the player fine-tune the air pressure entering the fipple? I could be missing something else. It is just curiosity, as I know that the result is the same either way.
# Posted on October 29th 2008 by Stuporman
Re: Flute/Whistle Embouchure
You control the sound of a whistle by the air flow, not by the shape of your mouth and lips. And embrochure is all about controlling the tone and pitch by shaping your mouth and lips. So while embrochore is vital to a flute player, the way I define it, it is not even a factor in whistle playing.
# Posted on October 29th 2008 by AlBrown
Re: Flute/Whistle Embouchure
Can't remember where, now, but I know I've seen it written that embouchure makes a big difference to playing Susato whistles. I think embouchure must make a difference, somehow, because you can get, not only different volumes, but different tones out of just about any whistle. Some more than others.
# Posted on October 29th 2008 by ethical blend
Re: Flute/Whistle Embouchure
Yes Ben, the embouchure makes a difference to all whistles. There is a big difference in tone between a loose blowing technique and a playing with pursed lips. Narrowing the airflow for example can make it easier to make high notes smooth on a whistle with a lot of back pressure and creates a punchier sound.
# Posted on October 29th 2008 by bogman
Re: Flute/Whistle Embouchure
My bet is if you get botox injections it will reduce the range of notes you can play on pennywhistle.
# Posted on October 29th 2008 by Ben Steen
Re: Flute/Whistle Embouchure
If you have a Bb, listen to the difference between playing it "straight" and then almost in a flute-like position, i.e., held sideways (to the right if you're right-handed) and blowing so that only about half your air goes into the whistle. To my mind it gives a lovely breathy, almost woody tone.
Max
# Posted on October 29th 2008 by cyber-bullying is a criminal offence
Re: Flute/Whistle Embouchure
I also had the feeling that the way of blowing can make a tone difference in the whistle. Expecially in the whistles lower than the high D ones.
# Posted on November 1st 2008 by gian marco
Re: Flute/Whistle Embouchure
I have a MK low D and found that embouchure makes a huge difference. I was playing with pursed lips the way I used to play my clarinette. The problem was that it seemed it would load up in the airway and produce bigger and bigger back pressure. It would get slower and slower till it was unplayable. I would clean it out and start all over. But the same thing would happen again. I tried everything. The strange thing was that it seemed there wasn't anything in the airway??
Eureka! By trial and error I found it. I changed my embouchure. I pushed my lips out and placed the mouthpiece loosely between my lips and blew. Wow. No loading. There never was any loading. I was creating excessive back pressure with my tight lips. I was closing down an already very small airway. The whistle was not designed for this. Problem solved.
# Posted on July 4th 2011 by rellis