Is a recorder easier to play then a whistle ? I’m refering to the fingering, but mostly getting the proper tone.
My biggest problem in learning the whistle right now is getting the proper tone, especially D. I can play very slow and get the proper tone, but when I play faster I scare my dog and he leaves the room…
The fingering is coming along pretty good for some one who is musically challenged.
Bob
I’d say the tone part depends on the recorder and the whistle in question. A good recorder or a good whistle will both have good tone. A crap one won’t.
Fingering a recorder can be difficult as it’s chromatic and has many more notes to learn. But playing fully ornamented whistle is just as difficult in it’s own way. Every instrument can be taken to its extreme and those extremes will be equally difficult across all instruments.
Don’t sweat the tone. I spent a couple of years looking for a whistle with the tone I wanted. Then it became evident that the “tone” I was looking for wasn’t really a tone at all, it was a sound, and that sound comes from knowing how to play it. So, concentrate on learning to play, and the tone will come naturally.
Fingerings on the recorder are nowhere near as intuitive as on the whistle but are certainly learnable.
I think it’s a shame that they don’t have little kids in public schools using whistles instead of recorders. I think lot fewer of them would be turned off to music if they did.
Doc
Whistle is good.
Recorder is evil.
Whistles are easier. People will say “well, with all the trad ornaments, whistles are just as hard if not harder.” But you can push the envelope for technique on recorders as much as any other instrument; Just as far as you want to take it. In terms of ease of tone prodution… Well, it could go either way. The fipple design will have everything to do with the ease of tone production, and their are variations between different makers
The player does have a lot to do with tone production, but in the wild word of whistles, it’s also possible to get a peice of garbage. In your case, sounds like you just need practice. Don’t worry, I need practice too.
Okay, if you can play slowly and get a nice tone, then you know it is possible to get a good tone on your whistle. You are doing something special (whether you are aware of exactly what it is or not) to get that tone and you aren’t able to do that something special quickly yet. That’s all it is and it sounds quite normal. It will come with slow practice. You have to be patient.
I think every instrument has its special difficulties and easier aspects, but all are difficult to play well. Just my observation.
Sounds like you are doing very well, so don’t go getting all distracted by thinking another instrument might work better for you. Just stay on track to give it a real chance.