A question on measurements...

Whistle
1

I’m going to start crafting my own low D whistle soon, and I’ve got myself some 3/4" (OD) brass pipe. I know it may not be the orthodox size for low D whistles, but I have no idea what is. At any rate, I’ve got a set of directions for crafting a traditional tinwhistle. They include ratios between the placement of each hole relative to the acoustic length of the whistle, so those are definitely transposable to my situation.

My main concern is with the fipple “window” (if there is a correct term, please let me know). The window size given to me in the directions is for a high D whistle, and I don’t know if I should change it because I am making a whistle a whole octave lower. Does the fipple window have a great impact on the tone or pitch?

What’s more, the directions given to me called for 5/8" OD pipe, so I have no idea what the overall length of my flute should be. Using simple physics, I found that 343 m/s = 293.67 Hz * wavelength. Therefore, the standing wave frequency based on the lowest D for this kind of whistle (D4, at 296.67 Hz…correct?) calls for an acoustic length of 23 inches. This matches up with the average length I have seen mentioned for most low D pipes. I don’t know, however, if that length is accurate, seeing as I’m not sure if my 3/4" OD pipe matches other whistle dimensions. My plan is to cut off the acoustic length at 25", and remove small portions until I get a correctly-tuned low D.


Well, congratulations to anyone who followed that thing through all of the way! I would appreciate any help that anyone can give.


-Eric

2

Eric,

You’re going to need a bore size between 7/8" and 15/16" for a low D tube.
The 3/4" OD tube you now have would be a good choice for a low G instead.
Keep your window width around 5/8 the bore diameter, and the window length should be around half the width.
And use Flutomat or TWCalc to calculate your finger hole layout.

3

There is something optimistic about a person who, in the face of dozens of whistle makers, many of whom have nearly perfected the craft, still wants to find a piece of tube and drill some holes and see if he can make something he can call his own. Patrick and Michael and Glenn all started that way, I’m betting. This how I know that there will always be great whistles, no matter how many makers eventually meet their own maker.

4

look up the low tech whistle on line it will give ideas about how various changes effect various qualities and it is fun, I make them for my friends