Being abslolutly the best whistler there is :roll: , I have never really tried the flute or the fife, and I was just wondering what is the difference between the two?
Do you mean between a flute and a fife?
Flutes are genereally low whistle sized, fifes are high whistle sized.
Fifes are also usually, though not always, played in the 2nd and 3rd octaves while flutes are played mostly in the 1st and 2nd octaves.
-brett
The fife is typically a Bb instrument, played in the second and third octaves of its range
(the first and second overblown notes). It is typically cylindrical or tapered at each end.
The (irish) flute is typically a D instrument, played in the first and second octaves of its range (the ānormalā notes and the first set of overblown notes). It is typically conical, slightly tapered from head to foot.
Both instruments can be made in any key, and the simple-system flute has been played across three octaves (generally this involves a different cork position and strong lips.)
The modern (boehm) flute is played across at least three octaves, possibly more, and is different from either the simple system flute or the fife.
On the off chance that you were really wanting to know what the difference is between a whistle and a flute (or fife), the most obvious difference is that the flutes youād use for Irish music are blown sideways and donāt have a fipple. Nor do they have chiff, as far as I can tell.
The fingering on an āIrishā flute is exactly the same as on a whistle, so you might think you could just pick up a flute and play all the tunes you play on a whistle, no problem.
You would be wrong.
The fingers will work, sure, but the challenge with the flute is all in making it sound good and learning how to blow it without falling faint on the floor every five minutes. That takes time. You can pick up a whistle as a rank beginner and make it sound reasonably good after a week or two of regular practice. You can pick up a flute and still sound like shite after a year or two of regular practice.
I went from whistle to fife to flute (interrupted somewhere along the line by a seven year misadventure with the uilleann pipes). I played the fife like a flute, in the first two octaves rather than the customary ear-splitting fifty-eighth octave range, and it was a good practice for learning the flute. Plus I could get a not-terribly-bad fife for $10.00 rather than shelling out $1,000 for a decent flute. Which is another difference between the flute and the fife: the fife is usually cheaper.
Personally, I play both flutes and whistles. I like flutes for the fact that I have more control of the tone with it being side-blown. Iām talking about when you come to songs with pianissimos and fortissimos and such. Granted, you use more air with a fluteā¦Try it and see what you think!
From
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=26477&highlight=fife+band+flute
I like the fife. The reach is less than a low D whistle and much of the āshrill soundā can be brought under control. Oh and earplugs.