Apologies if this has already been discussed, I’m fairly new to the site. I’ve searched the existing discussions but couldn’t easily find an answer.
I’ve been learning Low D for about 9 months but am struggling to find enough time to practice. One of the problems is that I don’t like to practice after about 8pm in case I disturb the neighbours (I live in a semi), also “other half” complains that my “flute” is too loud. If I try to blow gently to get a quieter sound the notes in the upper octave go a bit flat and that generates other comments. I've been restricting myself to tunes in the lower octave but I wondered if there were any low Ds that were known to be quieter than others.
For info, I play a non-tuneable Dixon, I bought an inexpensive whistle in case I found I didn’t like it – and now that I find the whole thing totally addictive I’m thinking of getting a better one.
I started almost 9 years ago and I can really understand what you're saying - I have 5 neighbouring flats around mine
When I want to play late, I just play in my car... The acoustics are not so bad
Visit the Chiff & Fipple whistle forum, http://forums.chiffandfipple.com/viewforum.php?f=1, and search on "mute." It's a topic that's been discussed repeatedly there, and people have devised various solutions, typically involving placing something removal (like putty or a pipecleaner) into the whistle's windway. You'll probably have to experiment to find what works best with your whistle.
The Dixon is one of the easiest to mute. There are some makers who make, for an 'extra' cost, muted whistles, but the margarine tub does the trick too, if less elegantly. I now of no one that would do that to a low whistle, but maybe someone out there has, but then your usually dealing with something that isn't reversible. Why not take the cheap option and 'reuse' ~ even better than 'recycle'.
Thank you everyone who suggested a solution.
I tried ceolachan's suggestion last night and succeeded in muting the whistle so much thaat even I couldn't hear it. I'll have to try again.
Try Park's Every Whistle (http://www.parkswhistles.com/Default.aspx). They sound good and have a built in mute. You can go from silent to loud with the twist of a ring.
A long time ago, when I used to rehearse my rock band at home, the good neighbours would hurl bricks onto the roof. After a few years the bricks got replaced by them ringing up with requests ..., ;)
If you can hear their tvs and stereos playing, I reckon that gives you carte blanche to practise, at least early in the evening. If the place is as silent as the tomb, does it mean the walls are v. thick and no sound carries, or they're all sitting in silence waiting for you to start ?
Try some discrete enquiries. If there are no small children being put to bed near you there's no reason for complaint. The Great Pipes are another matter - apparently a man who practised from the middle of Hampstead Heath, London, was served with an ASBO.
Is there such a thing as a quiet whistle?
Is there such a thing as a quiet whistle?
Apologies if this has already been discussed, I’m fairly new to the site. I’ve searched the existing discussions but couldn’t easily find an answer.
I’ve been learning Low D for about 9 months but am struggling to find enough time to practice. One of the problems is that I don’t like to practice after about 8pm in case I disturb the neighbours (I live in a semi), also “other half” complains that my “flute” is too loud. If I try to blow gently to get a quieter sound the notes in the upper octave go a bit flat and that generates other comments. I've been restricting myself to tunes in the lower octave but I wondered if there were any low Ds that were known to be quieter than others.
For info, I play a non-tuneable Dixon, I bought an inexpensive whistle in case I found I didn’t like it – and now that I find the whole thing totally addictive I’m thinking of getting a better one.
Thanks
# Posted on November 30th 2008 by Fiona A
Re: Is there such a thing as a quiet whistle?
I started almost 9 years ago and I can really understand what you're saying - I have 5 neighbouring flats around mine
When I want to play late, I just play in my car... The acoustics are not so bad
# Posted on November 30th 2008 by deFacto
Re: Is there such a thing as a quiet whistle?
Visit the Chiff & Fipple whistle forum, http://forums.chiffandfipple.com/viewforum.php?f=1, and search on "mute." It's a topic that's been discussed repeatedly there, and people have devised various solutions, typically involving placing something removal (like putty or a pipecleaner) into the whistle's windway. You'll probably have to experiment to find what works best with your whistle.
# Posted on November 30th 2008 by boxist
Muting a whistle ~
Discussion: HELP!!! ~ learning the whistle (& muting it)
# Posted on October 6th 2007 by Greg M
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/15402
Discussion: Lowering down the volume (for neighbors' sake)
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by Anal
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/16471
The Dixon is one of the easiest to mute. There are some makers who make, for an 'extra' cost, muted whistles, but the margarine tub does the trick too, if less elegantly. I now of no one that would do that to a low whistle, but maybe someone out there has, but then your usually dealing with something that isn't reversible. Why not take the cheap option and 'reuse' ~ even better than 'recycle'.
# Posted on November 30th 2008 by ceolachan
Generally ~ the thicker the plastic tongue the greater the muting, the quieter the result...
# Posted on November 30th 2008 by ceolachan
Re: Is there such a thing as a quiet whistle?
Thank you everyone who suggested a solution.
I tried ceolachan's suggestion last night and succeeded in muting the whistle so much thaat even I couldn't hear it. I'll have to try again.
Regards.
# Posted on December 1st 2008 by Fiona A
Re: Is there such a thing as a quiet whistle?
Try Park's Every Whistle (http://www.parkswhistles.com/Default.aspx). They sound good and have a built in mute. You can go from silent to loud with the twist of a ring.
Pete
# Posted on December 2nd 2008 by braccio
Re: Is there such a thing as a quiet whistle?
Blob of blu-tac at the side of the ramp does the trick. Cheap, easy and available.
# Posted on December 2nd 2008 by Mozle
Re: Is there such a thing as a quiet whistle?
As an aside:
A long time ago, when I used to rehearse my rock band at home, the good neighbours would hurl bricks onto the roof. After a few years the bricks got replaced by them ringing up with requests ..., ;)
# Posted on December 2nd 2008 by Mozle
Re: Is there such a thing as a quiet whistle?
If you can hear their tvs and stereos playing, I reckon that gives you carte blanche to practise, at least early in the evening. If the place is as silent as the tomb, does it mean the walls are v. thick and no sound carries, or they're all sitting in silence waiting for you to start ?
Try some discrete enquiries. If there are no small children being put to bed near you there's no reason for complaint. The Great Pipes are another matter - apparently a man who practised from the middle of Hampstead Heath, London, was served with an ASBO.
# Posted on December 2nd 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Is there such a thing as a quiet whistle?
Listen to Pete (braccio) -- get a Parks whistle! Has volume adjustment. Excellent idea and a nice little whistle.
http://www.parkswhistles.com
# Posted on December 2nd 2008 by justwhistle