I recently visited a music shop in Chicago and looked a couple fo low D whistles. I was told that one was an Overton - it was goldish brass colored, very heavy and sounded good. But, I wanted to see if it was in tune so I played it to a Korg electronic tuner and every note showed up flat. Is this an issue w/tuners, whistles, me? (FYI - I have a Dixon low D and some folks have suggested that this too is flat.)
Playing with Dirk's low whistle is always a challenge, intonation wise. Is it just low whistles in general? I don't have nearly so much problem with the higher whistles...
well, I find, that you can get some range in the notes just with how you blow them. Personally I can adjust overall blowing to change pitch naturally, but your milage may vary...
the real test, ofcourse, is when the whistle is warmed up. after its been played for a bit.
but really, don't overtons have a tuneable version?
check out www.thewhistleshop.com I'm sure you'd find one there if there was one
The best way is to buy a tunable low whistle.
Sometimes low whistle to be in tune has to be warmed up - my friend uses a piece of cloth to polish it.
Phil Hardy has in his shop low whistles signed "Lunasa", all whistle signed that sign are personally tested by Kevin Crawford - I have heard a conversation between friend from my band and Kevin while we were on Lunasas concert in Habumg in November.
The whistle was undoubtedly cold. All whistles will play flat when cold, even soprano whistles. But it is more noticeable in low whistles. Also, if it was brass and not aluminum, it was very likely a Chieftain Gold and not an Overton at all. To my knowledge, Neither Bernard or Collin have ever used brass in their whistles. Phil Hardy however used to make a line in brass. They have since been discontinued. The best way to tell is to look for the overton name stamped on the whistle footjoint, and on Colin's variety, a signature on the inside of the bore.
I know a piper who plays Low whistle as a feature instrument, and his habit is to find a radiator to warm the whistle up before playing. If my memory serves me right, this is an issue with metal flutes also, ie. warm up time. Most players I know seem to do a lot of huffing and puffing to warm up the instrument before playing. I've also seen a guy using a length of 3/4 inch pipe lagging to keep his whistles warm, this is also useful as it also affords protection to the whistles in transit.
I agree regarding the temperature of the instrument.... every low whistle I've ever used goes flat when cold (the high ones do to but to a far less noticeable degree; besides they warm up almost instantly once you start playing...)
I also concur re: tuneable whistles...
One thing that's rarely discussed with low whistles is pitch and dynamic capability... There are some that have a really nice tone and pitch scale in the centre of the sound but they have no potential for dynamic contrast or fingerless pitch-bending (ie: with the air column)....
I've said it before and lord knows I'll probably say it again: the best low D whistle I've yet to play is the tuneable Cillian O'Briain... Even in the top octaves (when warm it can produce lovely third octave d and e) it has dynamic potential and the pitch is lovely...
Good luck finding your perfect lo-whistle Finian (Oh and happy New Year too....)
You are just not using enough pressure blow a little harder. I have the opposite problem with my non tunable high whistle in thelowere register I blow too hard and it is sharp but in a loud session I can hear myself better because I am sharper than everyone else.
Some are tunable, some are not. It also might have to do with the temperature in the room. The cold and the heat will affect the intonation of the instrument.
Low Whistles in tune?
Low Whistles in tune?
I recently visited a music shop in Chicago and looked a couple fo low D whistles. I was told that one was an Overton - it was goldish brass colored, very heavy and sounded good. But, I wanted to see if it was in tune so I played it to a Korg electronic tuner and every note showed up flat. Is this an issue w/tuners, whistles, me? (FYI - I have a Dixon low D and some folks have suggested that this too is flat.)
# Posted on December 31st 2004 by Finian
Re: Low Whistles in tune?
Playing with Dirk's low whistle is always a challenge, intonation wise. Is it just low whistles in general? I don't have nearly so much problem with the higher whistles...
# Posted on December 31st 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Low Whistles in tune?
well, I find, that you can get some range in the notes just with how you blow them. Personally I can adjust overall blowing to change pitch naturally, but your milage may vary...
the real test, ofcourse, is when the whistle is warmed up. after its been played for a bit.
but really, don't overtons have a tuneable version?
check out www.thewhistleshop.com I'm sure you'd find one there if there was one
# Posted on December 31st 2004 by sifudave54
Re: Low Whistles in tune?
The best way is to buy a tunable low whistle.
Sometimes low whistle to be in tune has to be warmed up - my friend uses a piece of cloth to polish it.
Phil Hardy has in his shop low whistles signed "Lunasa", all whistle signed that sign are personally tested by Kevin Crawford - I have heard a conversation between friend from my band and Kevin while we were on Lunasas concert in Habumg in November.
# Posted on January 1st 2005 by padre
Re: Low Whistles in tune?
The whistle was undoubtedly cold. All whistles will play flat when cold, even soprano whistles. But it is more noticeable in low whistles. Also, if it was brass and not aluminum, it was very likely a Chieftain Gold and not an Overton at all. To my knowledge, Neither Bernard or Collin have ever used brass in their whistles. Phil Hardy however used to make a line in brass. They have since been discontinued. The best way to tell is to look for the overton name stamped on the whistle footjoint, and on Colin's variety, a signature on the inside of the bore.
# Posted on January 1st 2005 by uilleann_craic
Re: Low Whistles in tune?
I know a piper who plays Low whistle as a feature instrument, and his habit is to find a radiator to warm the whistle up before playing. If my memory serves me right, this is an issue with metal flutes also, ie. warm up time. Most players I know seem to do a lot of huffing and puffing to warm up the instrument before playing. I've also seen a guy using a length of 3/4 inch pipe lagging to keep his whistles warm, this is also useful as it also affords protection to the whistles in transit.
# Posted on January 1st 2005 by Backer
Re: Low Whistles in tune?
I agree regarding the temperature of the instrument.... every low whistle I've ever used goes flat when cold (the high ones do to but to a far less noticeable degree; besides they warm up almost instantly once you start playing...)
I also concur re: tuneable whistles...
One thing that's rarely discussed with low whistles is pitch and dynamic capability... There are some that have a really nice tone and pitch scale in the centre of the sound but they have no potential for dynamic contrast or fingerless pitch-bending (ie: with the air column)....
I've said it before and lord knows I'll probably say it again: the best low D whistle I've yet to play is the tuneable Cillian O'Briain... Even in the top octaves (when warm it can produce lovely third octave d and e) it has dynamic potential and the pitch is lovely...
Good luck finding your perfect lo-whistle Finian (Oh and happy New Year too....)
# Posted on January 1st 2005 by bestcraic
Re: Low Whistles in tune?
You are just not using enough pressure blow a little harder. I have the opposite problem with my non tunable high whistle in thelowere register I blow too hard and it is sharp but in a loud session I can hear myself better because I am sharper than everyone else.
# Posted on January 1st 2005 by Why Bother?
Re: Low Whistles in tune?
Some are tunable, some are not. It also might have to do with the temperature in the room. The cold and the heat will affect the intonation of the instrument.
# Posted on January 2nd 2005 by nfiddle
Re: Low Whistles in tune?
Thanks!
I tried 'warming' it up a bit and my Dixon was in tune ...
# Posted on January 3rd 2005 by Finian