This may not even be possible, but I need some help here. I can’t seem to get the high B, C, and D without causing everyone within a three block radius to bend over with their hands over their ears and shout great obscenities at me on my Clarke original. Is it even possible to play those notes at a resonable volume on a Clarke?
For the past couple of years I have just avoided these notes like the plague, but have recently become annoyed at my inability to get them out. It’s wierd really. The volume seems fine up to the A, but there’s a HUGE jump in volume levels (and pain levels) when I try to go from an A to a B, and we don’t even want to talk about the high C or D…
So, do I have a bad whistle, or low levels of skill, or both?
Are you talking about second octave B, C, and D, or third octave? You should be able to get those notes in the second octave alright, but if you’re trying to get into the third octave, it’s no wonder your neighbors are suffering!
Check out my recent thread on avoiding the Phineas Gage syndrome.
Also check out a low volume whistle. An Oak is better. Best of all is the Cillian O’Briain improved Feadog. I super-tweaked a Feadog and I can now play high B without disturbing anyone…even myself.
I’m talking about the second octave. the leap in volume is unbelievable, from the high A to the B. I thought it was just me (and it still could be) but I tried my Walton’s C and could get up to the equivalent area with little problem. Could it be the stiff air requirements of the clarke?
On my Clark original, I get a big jump in volume between second octive G and A and an even bigger jump between A and B. There is not so big of a difference between B and C. On my whistle, I can’t get a third octive D. Given the volume of second octive A, B and C, I think that if I did manage to get the next D out, I would be shattering glass.
[ This Message was edited by: Mike J on 2003-02-26 19:04 ]
On 2003-02-26 18:17, mdutr0 wrote:
This may not even be possible, but I need some help here. I can’t seem to get the high B, C, and D without causing everyone within a three block radius to bend over with their hands over their ears and shout great obscenities at me on my Clarke original. Is it even possible to play those notes at a resonable volume on a Clarke?
You’re not alone. Bill Ochs warns about playing those high notes without ear protection. Of all my whistles, only the Burke narrow bore will cruise up to 3rd octave D without exceeding my pain threshold.
Oaks are quieter than most whistles, yes. They also require very little breath, so if you’re a couch potato with no lung capacity, they’re nice in that respect as well.