I just bought a whistle (in D) to give me something a little different (and more portable) from the fiddle. One of the main attractions for me is the sound of slow airs on the whistle. Are there any that work particularly well with this instrument?
After a bit of tinkering with a couple of slow tunes, I started to try and get a slight vibrato effect going on. I’ve been doing this by pulsating my breath slightly, or playing a trill a note lower, but just by covering a tiny little bit of the hole.
Is vibrato often done on the whistle? If so, how is it normally done?
Finger vibrato is probably the most commonly used kind, though a lot of people use diaphragm vibrato, too. It can be done with one or more lower holes, half of them, a bit of the next hole, etc. There's several ways of doing it.
The Women of Ireland is a great slow air for the whistle - I heard Joanie Madden play this and loved it so I got a whistle - now I love the tune on flute as well in a minor or e minor.
Don't overdo the vibrato. Some tunes don't call for it at all. I understand that in the sean-nos (unaccompanied singing) tradition there is almost no vibrato (someone correct me if I'm wrong) and some of the slow airs originated as songs.
But it does sound nice, judiciously used, on some waltzes and slow airs.
Just listen a lot to the playing of someone whose style you admire.
try ned of the hill.. my favourite slow air on both whistle and fiddle!! I played it for my grades in both instruments.
Doesnt need a lot of vibrato as too much kills the tune, but a little bit here and there sound nice. Slurrs and rolls sound the best with the slow airs... but then thats just my opinion!
notes should be on here, but if not then give me shout and i'll send them
youtube is full of great stuff. You can spend hours following the related videos. There's all sorts of styles and even beginners lessons if you fancy checking them out.
I know what you mean sloth. Aires just beg to be played with a nice tone.So why the high notes?
Sometimes you can slide up from the note below. This reduces the attack' on the high ones. High notes require more air pressure ~ but not a significant increase in air volume. When you do this the mouth 'aperture' gets smaller & rounder.
You should be able to get a nice tone up to the high A. When you get to the high B play it like you mean it. But watch out for 'just blowing harder'
Hope that helps. Let us know when you want to take it higher.
I've asked this before - what are "Aires"? Are they, like, American airs? I'm genuinely interested, 'cos I don't get some of the things that go on around this language thing. I mean, is it like when Americans say "erbs", they really mean herbs (with an 'h')?
I prefer to write airs. Just a lark imagining the dismay of fellow English speakers. In a perfect world we . .
Do you think it is putting on airs (or is it 'h'eirs)?
The air that you play is an air. You put on airs, as in 'airs and graces'. I don't know what an "aire" is, unless, perhaps it's something vaguely Spenserian and to do with faeries.
Getting the hang of the high notes a bit now. Its almost like when you pretend to shout, you kind of do everything with more oomf, but dont actually talk any louder.
Sloth, octave jumps appear often in trad tunes so to prepare yourself there's a simple exercise you can do. Play..... Dd Ee Ff Gg Aa Bb Aa Gg Ff Ee Dd.... and keep repeating till you have no squeaks or growls, (D being your lowest D and d being the 1st octave.
Just bought a whistle
Just bought a whistle
Hi all,
I just bought a whistle (in D) to give me something a little different (and more portable) from the fiddle. One of the main attractions for me is the sound of slow airs on the whistle. Are there any that work particularly well with this instrument?
After a bit of tinkering with a couple of slow tunes, I started to try and get a slight vibrato effect going on. I’ve been doing this by pulsating my breath slightly, or playing a trill a note lower, but just by covering a tiny little bit of the hole.
Is vibrato often done on the whistle? If so, how is it normally done?
Any other whistle tips would be appreciated
Thanks
Jake
# Posted on October 22nd 2008 by sloth
Re: Just bought a whistle
Finger vibrato is probably the most commonly used kind, though a lot of people use diaphragm vibrato, too. It can be done with one or more lower holes, half of them, a bit of the next hole, etc. There's several ways of doing it.
# Posted on October 22nd 2008 by JosephofCK
Re: Just bought a whistle
The Women of Ireland is a great slow air for the whistle - I heard Joanie Madden play this and loved it so I got a whistle - now I love the tune on flute as well in a minor or e minor.
# Posted on October 22nd 2008 by williamcoulter
Re: Just bought a whistle
Don't overdo the vibrato. Some tunes don't call for it at all. I understand that in the sean-nos (unaccompanied singing) tradition there is almost no vibrato (someone correct me if I'm wrong) and some of the slow airs originated as songs.
But it does sound nice, judiciously used, on some waltzes and slow airs.
Just listen a lot to the playing of someone whose style you admire.
# Posted on October 23rd 2008 by buttons 'n' whistles
Re: Just bought a whistle
Can you recommend any good whistle players and CDs to listen to? My collection mainly consists of fiddle and a bit of pipes.
Thanks
# Posted on October 23rd 2008 by sloth
Re: Just bought a whistle
For players look no further than
Brian Finnigan - Flook
Michael McGoldrick just google them for info.
Two nice whistle tunes Inisheer & Miss Rowan Davies
Cheers
Mikk
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by mikk
Re: Just bought a whistle
try ned of the hill.. my favourite slow air on both whistle and fiddle!! I played it for my grades in both instruments.
Doesnt need a lot of vibrato as too much kills the tune, but a little bit here and there sound nice. Slurrs and rolls sound the best with the slow airs... but then thats just my opinion!
notes should be on here, but if not then give me shout and i'll send them
Danielle
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by She moved through the fair
Re: Just bought a whistle
youtube is full of great stuff. You can spend hours following the related videos. There's all sorts of styles and even beginners lessons if you fancy checking them out.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by conscientous objector
Re: Just bought a whistle
Give a listen to Liam.
"The Emigrant's Farewell"
Liam O'Flynn's whistle?
Posted on January 31st 2008 by deeor
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/16563/comments#comment343605
video ~
http://www.rte.ie/tv/thefullset/av_20070618.html
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Random_notes
Re: Just bought a whistle
'Give me your Hand' is a nice slow O'Carolan tune.
I also like 'Return from Fingal'
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Random_notes
Re: Just bought a whistle
Thanks for all the recommendations and links
Jake
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by sloth
Re: Just bought a whistle
Another thing question: How do you keep the second octave sounding nice?
Cheers
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by sloth
Re: Just bought a whistle
The same way you get to Carnegie Hall, practice, man, practice.
Have faith, it will come in time, as you learn to control your breath.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by AlBrown
Re: Just bought a whistle
I know what you mean sloth. Aires just beg to be played with a nice tone.So why the high notes?
Sometimes you can slide up from the note below. This reduces the attack' on the high ones. High notes require more air pressure ~ but not a significant increase in air volume. When you do this the mouth 'aperture' gets smaller & rounder.
You should be able to get a nice tone up to the high A. When you get to the high B play it like you mean it. But watch out for 'just blowing harder'
Hope that helps. Let us know when you want to take it higher.
# Posted on October 25th 2008 by Random_notes
Re: Just bought a whistle
I've asked this before - what are "Aires"? Are they, like, American airs? I'm genuinely interested, 'cos I don't get some of the things that go on around this language thing. I mean, is it like when Americans say "erbs", they really mean herbs (with an 'h')?
# Posted on October 26th 2008 by benhall.1
Airing spelling errors
I prefer to write airs. Just a lark imagining the dismay of fellow English speakers. In a perfect world we . .
Do you think it is putting on airs (or is it 'h'eirs)?
# Posted on October 26th 2008 by Random_notes
Re: Just bought a whistle
The air that you play is an air. You put on airs, as in 'airs and graces'. I don't know what an "aire" is, unless, perhaps it's something vaguely Spenserian and to do with faeries.
# Posted on October 26th 2008 by benhall.1
~
You are so adorable!
# Posted on October 26th 2008 by Random_notes
Re: Just bought a whistle
Aww ... do you really mean that, Random?
# Posted on October 27th 2008 by benhall.1
Re: Just bought a whistle
Getting the hang of the high notes a bit now. Its almost like when you pretend to shout, you kind of do everything with more oomf, but dont actually talk any louder.
# Posted on October 27th 2008 by sloth
Re: Just bought a whistle
Sloth, octave jumps appear often in trad tunes so to prepare yourself there's a simple exercise you can do. Play..... Dd Ee Ff Gg Aa Bb Aa Gg Ff Ee Dd.... and keep repeating till you have no squeaks or growls, (D being your lowest D and d being the 1st octave.
# Posted on October 27th 2008 by conscientous objector
Re: Just bought a whistle
thanks for that, bogman
# Posted on October 28th 2008 by sloth