what is difference between a Whistle and a flute?

Whistle
1

Hi
Thank you for reading my post
what is differences between a flute and a Whistle?
Thanks

2

It’s really simple…and I’m sure someone will post pictures. A whistle is held in front of you and played through a fipple(or mouthpiece). A flute is held sideways and played by blowing air across the embechoure(I can never spell it right) hole.

3

Here’s a non-instrument builder’s observation.

A whistle channels the air through a “windway” and on to a “blade”. The air pretty much always approaches the blade from the same angle. If you cover the holes and blow in with the right amount of air, you will always a sound. The tonal quality and volume are fixed by the design and manufacture of the whistle. Good players can get amazing sounds from a whistle, mostly by fingering, ornaments and so on.

Flutes have similar fingering to whistles, but the way one produces sound is very different. The player must direct a flow of air across the sound hole onto the edge of the soundhole. There is no windway to shape the airstream and no blade as such to receive the air at the same angle every time. I find it much harder to get a consistent sound from a flute because, as the player, my mouth and lips replace functions of the windway. It takes a lot of practice get that airstream just right. That’s the big disadvantage to the flute. The big (huge?) advantage is that when done properly, the player has full control of tonal quality and volume.

4

An Irish flute is transverse. The main different between the flute and whistle is the embouchure, which is arguable more complicated on the flute. Usually in Irish music, people learn the whistle first.

-Casey :slight_smile:

5

Both are flutes, technically speaking.

‘Transverse flutes’ are usually blown sidewise over an embouchure hole.

‘Fipple flutes’ have a blade that cuts the wind blown through
a built-in windway. There are at least two kinds of
fipple flutes–recorders and whistles.

All whistles are flutes (fipple flutes), but not all flutes are
whistles.

6

True.

-Casey :slight_smile:

7

But the main real difference that “make the difference” in between a whistle and a flute is this :

the whistle can save your life !

Think about been in a forest just yourself and a flute and a whistle and suddenly you encounter a bear , what do you do ? Try to beat a bear with a low D wooden flute , well I don’t think it will work , but blowing quickly your whistle could really scares the bear and makes him go away , unless that in front of you there’s a Greazly :astonished: !

Manuel

P.S. sorry for not giving you a serious answer ! :slight_smile:

8

The position is irrelevant. I own a whistle that is blown transversely through a beak soldered onto the side. I also have flutes (quenas) that are endblown.

9

I am not good with definitions, so here are some from wikipedia.
Flute
Whistle
Quena
Irish flute
Whistles often cost the least.

10

Note that I said that transverse flutes are USUALLY side-blown.
And I said nothing about the position of a whistle.

Position is relevant–transverse flutes are typically side blown–
but position isn’t essential, I agree.

11

A young guy called William asked me this question the other day. I had a hard time explaining it in a few words.

12

Actually, tranverse flutes are ALWAYS side blown. That’s why they are called transverse. Quenas and shakuhachis and the likes, on the other hand, can be defined as end blown (fippless) flutes.

But generally I would say whistles are six holed fippled flutes (the fipple is the key!) and fippless/fipple-less/whatever flute is a flute is a flute, no matter where and how you blow it.

Br, Heikki Petäjistö

13

If you want to hear the difference you can go here:


http://www.tinwhistletunes.com/clipssnip/


Have fun. :slight_smile:

Doc

14

$800, amongst other things… :wink:

15

Thanks, Doc, that site is great! I think I’ll stick with my ‘transverse’ Selmer USA & Hall crystal. I like their sounds a lot better. Personal preference, is all. I’ve got a rosewood in D that’s just too long for my fingers to reach & am thinking of trading it . . .
Candi

16

Ah hah! A philosopher. Consider that there are special headjoints
for transverse flutes that curve around in such a way that the flute
is held veritically, like a low D whistle, although one blows
across the embouchure hole just the same. That’s still a transverse
flute, I would say, not an end blown flute. Hence transverse flutes
are usually side blown.

I think there is no ‘fact of the matter’ here. One simply
finds a workable nomenclature and allows some exceptions.
As long as we can communicate and give info.

Anyhow the great divide is between fipple and fippless flutes, as you say.
And there are different species of fippless flutes. Transverse flutes are fippless flutes typically played side-blown.
Quenas et al are, as you say, end-blown fippless flutes, not transverse
fippless flutes. I did leave them out.

There we’ve done it now. A new taxonomy of the Flute Kingdom.
What fun! We can publish a book, The Critique of Pure Drool.

17

Just cause I feel like provoking…

Ah hah! A philosopher. Consider that there are special headjoints
for transverse flutes that curve around in such a way that the flute
is held veritically, like a low D whistle, although one blows
across the embouchure hole just the same. That’s still a transverse
flute, I would say, not an end blown flute. Hence transverse flutes
are usually side blown.

Well yeah, but disregarding the curve you’re still blowing on the side of the tube, no? :stuck_out_tongue:

18

Exactly!

19

Thank you all for replay.
I checked wikipedia and the link which contain sound samples.
now i have a better understanding.
Thanks

20

Now this is a Flute :laughing: :astonished: