I expect one of our tinkerers to come along any minute now with instructions on how to cut and fit an Acme whistle to a Generation tube. With a little mesh or grille over the opening to keep the pea in the chamber.
Of course, if it’s just that sound you want, learn flutter tonguing and you’ll have the full range of any pennywhistle to play with.
I haven’t tried this at all, but in my mind what you would need to do if you are thinking of mounting a short section of tube to “extend” the whistle, is to block the end off altogether (making the bell note the last open hole)- otherwise, the pea may stop working entirely. The vent holes will need to be rather small. The tube would have to be of a small diameter, I would think - like a G whistle - or maybe a bullet casing might work??? Alternatively, you could mount the tube in one side of the whistle, but this will basically convert it into a “side-blown” typish thing - probably not what you are after, and impossible to play. A small slide would probably work best, since it doesn’t offer the airstream any alternative venting, and any additional vents holes will probably reduce the volume of the whistle. “The mini trombone police whistle…” lol.
As for tuning it… it may work out that you can figure it the same as for any standard penny whistle. I would try the “percentage method” first, I think. That may get you close enough in the first try or two to figure out what adjuments may be necessary, but you may also end up having to make a slide with one vent hole to get it right.
Are you coaching a soccer team of oompa loompas or something?
Basically, it sounds like a the original idea would be a small 4 note ocarina with a pea. For a non vessel flute played with one hand, one might as well find a tabor pipe.
Something like Boatswain call seems like it was designed for what you are doing. I seem to remember someone using a Marine Safety Whistle in a similar way, but I haven’t been able to figure it out. As a side thought, these can be found cheap, and have 2 chambers that could be drilled/altered for different sounds.
yes but the bosun’s call is not loud enough
airway too small
plus needs a pea for more pea-rcing sound
ocarina, yes but not sure how to add a pea
also needs to be one hand playable, which i planned to do by using half holing and air velocity control to intonate
tabor pipe, too big to go around neck, can;t add pea
I’ll have to try blowing my safety whistle and see if I can get some ships calls off of it using my hands to shade the notes like the navy guys do. It doesn’t have a pea, but they two slightly different pitches to cause a similar kind of warble.
here is my current thought
button on top [or on the side may be simpler]
spring loaded sliding hole cover on the bottom
[on bottom to drain spit]
screen over hole to keep pea in
Ahhh keys… that’s what oboists call them as well
and they are a pain when they leak
and they don’t slide
just saying
simpler is better
unless it is too simple
this is a sentence of no value
this one too, except that it provides visual symmetry
now we just need somebody to produce an example of a sliding key
I was half joking with my previous suggestion. But now that you describe what you’re doing, it’s actually a pretty reasonable idea.
Get yourself a Generation G pennywhistle, for around $7. It’s light and small, around 9 inches long. You can hang it around your neck by slipping a 3/8" O-ring onto the tube, pushing it up to the head, and attaching a cord to the O-ring.
It’s also loud. Like eardrum-piercing loud. And about the same high pitch as a police whistle. It should carry pretty well in an outdoor setting. That takes care of your louder than yelling.
It has holes. With one hand (left or top hand, 3 fingers), and blowing in the high 2nd octave, you can play at least 3 separate notes - fingered G,A,B. Four notes (with F#) if you use your pinky. Five notes is you play a 3rd octave D (oxxooo). That takes care of your entertaining tones, and playable with one hand. Of course, you can use your right hand if you prefer.
That leaves the pea whistle brrrr sound. Instead of just blowing, you vibrate your tongue at the same time. This is called flutter tonguing. It’s using the Spanish “rr” sound in words like “perro” or “carro”, exaggerated and drawn out. If you’ve never done it, you may have to practice a bit until it clicks for you. But many people find they can learn it pretty quickly. The result sounds just like a police or referee’s whistle. And of course, you have the choice of the straight sound or brrrr sound. Or even funny trills by wiggling your fingers quickly.
I don’t know a great example of flutter tonguing. Ian Anderson used it on flute with Jethro Tull. And I have one whistle clip where I play a couple of flutter tongues as a joke, at around 0:12 and 0:16.
The Generation is what I’d use if I were you. Cheap, available, wearable, sturdy, waterproof, loud, one hand playable. And a lot easier than drilling holes in a police whistle.
- Mod.