So, here is the question. A lot of fiddle tunes are in the key of A. What are the options for playing these tunes on whistles. Here is what I come up with:
A. Play with a D whistle half holing the G#.
B. Play on an E whistle and transpose the tune down to G fingering?
C. Play on an A whistle and transpose the tune up/down to D fingering?
If I am correct on the above, what is the recommended approach? I have trouble with G# half holing but I am guessing this is the most common way to do it.
If you are going to use a different whistle key, which one would you use. I think that using the E whistle would be an easy translation which begs the question of why whistles in the key of E are not more common. I can find only a few makers that sell E whistles!
I use a D whistle for playing (American) fiddle tunes that are in the key of A. I’ve gotten used to the half-holing, and don’t have much trouble with it. I’ve been meaning to buy an actual A whistle for awhile, though. Too damned cheap…!!
Well, for me it depends a lot on the tune. How the notes lay out and such. You’d probably best be off with all 3 whistles if you’re really concerned with playing in A. An A, an E natural, and of course the D.
If you play flute as mentioned, there’s another option if yours is all keyed up.
Susato makes an E, Syn had/or has an E, Burkes come in E, And I’m sure there’s many other makers who produce E whistles, most of them on the pricey side however, unless money isn’t an option for ya.. Check the front page and look for the guides to inexpensive, expensive, and low whistles.
I’m taking the cheaper route. I’m hopefully going to modify an Eb into an E natural whistle if all goes well.
Playing on a d whistle, you can also get that G# note (in the second octave, which is where it generally shows up in tunes) by cross-fingering:
XXOXXO where the far left x is the hole next to your face closed. It doesn’t work in the lower octave on any of my whistles.
Tony
Interestingly, when you play XXO-OXX or XXO-XXX (depends on the whistle)in the second octave it sharpens the note, making it Bb/A#..
Could have something to do with sharpening the third fundamental of XXX-XXX, which is high A?
If you play a second octave E, and then lift the top finger, like OXX-XXO, it sharpens the note, making it a windy, thin sounding F natural. Although it’s only the second fundamental, I think it’s the same principle.
I like having a low E whistle handy, and just play the tune as if it were in G. Perfect example is Foxhunter’s Reel which occurs in G and in A. I can and do play it in A on a D instrument if needs be, but I much prefer the phrasing and ornamentation I get when playing it in G.
A long time ago I swore I was going to get a D whistle custom-made so that the G was sharp, so that I could play these kinds of tunes without having to learn to do anything new. I’m lazy that way.
I never did end up doing it. I’m even lazier that way.
In most cases transposing to a comfortable key for the instrument in mind is the best option. D and G (major) for a whistle, C, D, A and E (major) for the guitar, etc. But sometimes playing G sharp isn´t that difficult. If it´s a fast moving scale like - D-E-F#-G#-A its kind of hard, but if it´s like - A-G#-A it´s relatively easy. It´s a good idea to get your G sharps right in any case, a lot of tunes swiches keys from D to A.
Wanderer- I have a normal D whistle on which I carved out the G hole until it gave G sharp. I use it for studio work where G sharps are required, and I have to sightread (I’m pretty bad at sight-transposing).
