I have a Dixon A whistle that is one of my favorite whistles, partially because I like the warm, flute-y sound. Well, I have been trying to learn how the play the flute–I’ve got one of those maple Sweetheart Renaissance fifes that I’ve been learning on. I’m still at the stage where I’m just trying to get a good tone, and can do it for about a minute every time I try.
Anyway, I tried the Dixon flute head on the whistle body and, of course, there was a noticeable difference in sound between the flute and the whistle. Mostly, the flute was super-airy, but I think that’s just because I haven’t learned how to get a good, solid, non-airy tone yet.
My question is for people who play flute/whistle combos (like Dixons): Is there REALLY that much of a difference between the whistle sound and the flute sound? I’m just not good enough on the flute to know what it SHOULD sound like, so I can’t compare them.
I know that when I hear a traditional Boehem-style flute, it OF COURSE sounds totally different from a whistle. But, once I can play the flute OK, if I’m playing a whistle/flute combo instrument, will the flute sound that much different from the whistle?
I’m not really good, either, but there is a huge difference between the whistle and flute heads of my Dixon Low D.
Whistle: delicate lower register, a bit stronger upper register, but pretty quiet. Not terribly responsive to ornamentation, especially in the low register.
Flute: booming lower register, not quite as powerful in the upper register, but still louder than the whistle head. Responds faster to ornamentation (though I still have a problems with fast fingering here)
Mind you, I’m still working on both embouchure and fingering for flute, and run out of wind at odd places in the tune. But there are a handfull of tunes I can play on the flute, and when it clicks it’s quite magical.
DCrom did a good job of characterizing the differences between the Dixon Low D flute and whistle heads.
Just be aware that the embouchure requirements for the Dixon flute head are not the same as a good woodenflute. Differences in chimney height at the embouchure and the cylindrical vs. conical body can make switching between the two frustrating. Of course, YMMV
BTW, on the airy sound.. try practicing the flute in a short sleeve shirt. If you feel a breeze on your left elbow, there is air that’s missing the flute entirely. Try to focus your airstream down into the flute more. Good Luck!!
Yeah, just wait till the shindig at Tony’s mom’s house cause I’ll have a few flutes there you can try and you can listen to the different tones I get from the flute (not that I’m an expert or anything but you’ll be able to hear a BIG difference). So big in fact that I’d never even think about owning a low whistle cause it doesn’t even compare to what a flute can do. Now this is the flute snob in me talking mind you… low whistles are for people who can’t play the flute.
Murph, I appreciate your candor and honesty. It is not every FLUTE SNOB that is able to admit to not being an expert.
Fact of the matter is we are both beginners and are thoroughly enjoying our little foray into this aspect of music. We both grew up with more traditional instruments (piano for both of us, clarinet for Renee, cello and trumpet for me.) and have been away from it for a while. This is our “couple hobby” that we finally found after 20+ years of marraige. Other than the whistles, she has a High C nickle fife that we got for a song and a stamp. She makes pretty good work of it. She will not let me get her a “real” flute yet. :roll:
I was out of town but thanks for the info, everyone who replied. I was feeling a bit discouraged because the flute is SO HARD, compared to the whistle, for me, anyway. And I don’t want to spend all this time getting frustrated and such and then have it just sound slightly different.
However, when it works, it’s MAGICAL? Well, this inspires me. And I do love the sound of a flute. I suppose I will press on and perhaps at the SF gathering, I can try a couple of flutes and maybe someone will even tell me what I am doing wrong…or right, if that’s possible!
See you and your flutes in a few weeks!