I'm rather curious about what other people do when faced with a tune (like the Golden Eagle or the Pumpherston Hornpipe) which simply does not fit on the instrument. In the case of the Golden Eagle - the two middle Cs are not friendly. What do you do? I tend to play an octave up, or a third up, depending on how it sounds but I'm just a little curious about other people's approaches.
This will make me sound like a lazy bugger, but if a tune doesn't fit well on the whistle I generally tend not to bother learning/playing it - there is no shortage of great tunes that fit perfectly within the range of the whistle. If a tune has an occasional note below the bottom D (I'm thinking of Martin Wynne's #1 & #2), I'll just play the offending notes an octave higher.
it depends on how the note is used, if it is just one quick note off either end of the whistle, I sort of just leave a short rest there, or I play variation that is all on a d whistle
but if it is a strong note that really anchors the melody, well...you're sort of out of luck
but if I'm by myself, I just play the tune in D regardless of what key most people play it in
another option is another whistle, like a C whistle, but that's not always going to work itself out either
but that's my options: play a variation, change the key, change whistles, or have a drink
some fiddle tunes just have too big a range, too, so if that's the case there's realy nothing you can do
Have you heard this version of "Golden Eagle"? Donncha O'Briain http://www.rogermillington.com/tunetoc/goldeneagle.html
It depends on the tune. There are a few tunes which are very comfortable, for me, on a different whistle. I usually have a G,C & A whistle. I also have a Low C, which I don't always bring. Nice sound.
1) Switch to the octave above
2) Switch to a "C" whistle
3) Switch to a descant recorder
4) Take up the fiddle, button accordian etc.
5) Obtain low "C" by covering all holes and also covering almost all of the end of the whistle with the little finger of your right hand - very difficult
5) Go the the bar and get a drink instead - much easier
The soultion of Mix O'Lydian of covering with the little finger gave me another idea: you can try placing the whistle above your leg and cover the end of the whistle also ;)
Im just trying to see if this works for Erin shore
Fitting tunes to Whistle
Fitting tunes to Whistle
I'm rather curious about what other people do when faced with a tune (like the Golden Eagle or the Pumpherston Hornpipe) which simply does not fit on the instrument. In the case of the Golden Eagle - the two middle Cs are not friendly. What do you do? I tend to play an octave up, or a third up, depending on how it sounds but I'm just a little curious about other people's approaches.
# Posted on December 22nd 2009 by MartinJongleur
Re: Fitting tunes to Whistle
This will make me sound like a lazy bugger, but if a tune doesn't fit well on the whistle I generally tend not to bother learning/playing it - there is no shortage of great tunes that fit perfectly within the range of the whistle. If a tune has an occasional note below the bottom D (I'm thinking of Martin Wynne's #1 & #2), I'll just play the offending notes an octave higher.
# Posted on December 22nd 2009 by Pat Mustard
Re: Fitting tunes to Whistle
I'm with Craic on this one - why make life hard?
# Posted on December 22nd 2009 by showaddydadito
Re: Fitting tunes to Whistle
if a tune doesn't fit well on the whistle, then I'll try playing on another instrument - simples!
# Posted on December 22nd 2009 by Mr Hippy
Re: Fitting tunes to Whistle
it depends on how the note is used, if it is just one quick note off either end of the whistle, I sort of just leave a short rest there, or I play variation that is all on a d whistle
but if it is a strong note that really anchors the melody, well...you're sort of out of luck
but if I'm by myself, I just play the tune in D regardless of what key most people play it in
another option is another whistle, like a C whistle, but that's not always going to work itself out either
but that's my options: play a variation, change the key, change whistles, or have a drink
some fiddle tunes just have too big a range, too, so if that's the case there's realy nothing you can do
# Posted on December 22nd 2009 by Nate Ryan
Re: Fitting tunes to Whistle
Have you heard this version of "Golden Eagle"? Donncha O'Briain
http://www.rogermillington.com/tunetoc/goldeneagle.html
It depends on the tune. There are a few tunes which are very comfortable, for me, on a different whistle. I usually have a G,C & A whistle. I also have a Low C, which I don't always bring. Nice sound.
# Posted on December 22nd 2009 by Ben Steen
Re: Fitting tunes to Whistle
Tats what the A row on my accordion is for!
# Posted on December 23rd 2009 by scordion
Re: Fitting tunes to Whistle
Choice of solutions:
1) Switch to the octave above
2) Switch to a "C" whistle
3) Switch to a descant recorder
4) Take up the fiddle, button accordian etc.
5) Obtain low "C" by covering all holes and also covering almost all of the end of the whistle with the little finger of your right hand - very difficult
5) Go the the bar and get a drink instead - much easier
# Posted on December 23rd 2009 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Fitting tunes to Whistle
The soultion of Mix O'Lydian of covering with the little finger gave me another idea: you can try placing the whistle above your leg and cover the end of the whistle also ;)
Im just trying to see if this works for Erin shore
# Posted on May 9th 2010 by Meci_Xana
Re: Fitting tunes to Whistle
Ahmm ok...after the test...I think it's better to change part of the tune to a higher octave. Good luck.
# Posted on May 10th 2010 by Meci_Xana