I’m sort of a new player - that is to say, I played up until I was thirteen, by ear, and after nineteen years am getting back into it. After some shock at how suddenly shockingly bad I’ve got I’m really enjoying myself on a sweetone C I got at a folk festival. I have all sorts of questions - like how do you bend the notes, how do you stop your beloved from killing you because all of a sudden you are whistling at all hours of the day and night, etc - but just for now, a quick one. Does tweaking actually improve the instrument, or am I right to just keep on with this one until I’ve broken it in? It sounds lovely on the low register, but I am still a trifle on the squeaky side half way up the second octave.
Cheers you all - and please don’t hold it against me that I abandoned the whistle for so long. (I’ll not mention the recorder years, shall I not?)
slide your finger off the hole to slide up into the next one.
Damned if I know, that’s up there with “What’s the meaning of life?” Garages, basements & cars with the windows rolled up are some places I’ve used
I found Clarke sweetones in C loose alot of air where the fipple meets line that goes up the back. To fix this I’ve rubbed a little candle wax on the “line” & smoothed it out with my finger. Then I used a paper towel to “sand” the wax into the ridge to make it as smooth as possible. I finished it off with two or three wraps of teflon tape to keep everything airtight.
It souds better now, & it was a real dog before. you might want to get a D if you plan on playing trad stuff. I’m a fan of sticking with one whistle, but sooner or later you’ll get WhOA.
This message is almost as fine being posted here as it is in the whistle forum.
I personally think that “tweaking” a whistle is unnecessary unless the whistle is out of tune and cannot be tuned. In that case, some putty or something can be put slightly below the square airway, and also, some people use pliers or something to flare out the outer edges of the bottom of the bore.
I personally have never tweaked my whistles, but I know what can be done to it to change the tone. I also know that some whistles, like Clarkes, Shaws, and Overtons, come brand new slightly flat. Overtons and other metal-mouthpiece whistles can be warmed to sharpen them up. Shaws and Clarkes can be tweaked.
Unless your sweettone (is that it?) is out of tune with itself, or naturally to sharp or flat, I wouldn’t suggest tweaking it. If it is, I’d recommend sending it to Jerry… he tweaks whistles for $12 and I’ve heard good things about his tweaking.
Bending notes can be done by, instead of lifting your finger to go from one note up to the next, slowly sliding it off of the hole. Some people slide forward and point the finger up while sliding; it can also be done by pulling the finger backwards off of the hole.
Your whistle will sound better/less squeaky in the upper octave when you get more familiar with its specific breath requirements. If you’re used to playing a recorder, then perhaps overblowing to reach the second octave is weird at first. It will sound better eventually.
You stop your beloved from killing you by asking if it’s ok before you practice when he’s in a nearby room. Also, practice outside if the weather’s nice, and when he’s not home. Never, ever practice while he has a headache or is trying to sleep late (I learned that the hard way from my sister, who actually stormed into the room and wrenched my Overton out of my hands…)
Growwl Never been called that before