I “won” (1) an out of tune whistle recently. It’s a bamboo/wood whistle. I think the chap who was giving them away said it was key of C# and a bit It really is nice to play, but because its out of tune you can’t really play it with anything else. Is it possible to retune it some how to a more acceptable key, perhaps D? I’d like to play it with other things.
I guess the only way I could see that happening is if I rebore it somehow? That’s not really possible cos I don;t have a clue how to do it, nor know anyone who could do it for me.
(1) I chose it myself, because i wanted to see what it was about, and knew prior that it was out of tune. Bad shipment!
The problem can be solved by cutting your whistle in half! Yes, that’s right!, in half. By adding a tuning slide between the top tonehole and the voicing you can cure the fundamental scale of your out of tune whistle.
If this whistle were made of metal it would be more difficult. Search your local hardware stores for a copper or aluminum “splice” of at least 1" length that will fit your OUTSIDE diameter snugly. PVC is a poor option, but workable. if it is a loose fit, you can add a layer of waxed thread on both sides of the joint. If you’re picky, you can glue thin cork sheet. Cut the instrument with a thin scroll saw blade at a point 1/3rd the distance between the voicing and the top tonehole and closest to the voicing.
Tuning toneholes: If a tonehole is flat, use a cone of sandpaper to undercut the hole a little and make it larger. If the tonehole is sharp, add thin layers of clearcoat nail polish etc. until the note is to your liking.
It really is nice to play, but because its out of tune you can’t really play it with anything else. Is it possible to retune it some how to a more acceptable key, perhaps D? I’d like to play it with other things.