Does anybody own any whistles in Db, Ab or F#? If so, I’d like to know what you have, what you think of it and what led you to buy a whistle in that key.
Just got a new B#, but that’s not in your listing. Sorry 
On 2002-11-28 12:34, Zubivka wrote:
Just got a new B#, but that’s not in your listing. Sorry >
Come in Wendy, that’s your cue.
Navaho Flutes (although Pentatonic - somewhat) are keyed with the bell note in F#.
Of course, you could buy a native american flute for that key.
There is nothing complicated about making whistles in these various keys, they’re just not that popular.
Wombat, apparently Daniel (î just above î ) shies from suggesting it directly. This is all to his honor, b.t.w.
I get it from his website that he could do about any PVC or copper body in any key/scale/mode for about any tuneable whistle you already have…
See http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/kadima/whis-pvc.htm
The Dixon head adapter at the bottom of the page looks cool, too.
At his prices, you can’t loose experimenting…
Well what are the Most Popular Keys? D, Eb, and G??? Maybe C??? 
Thanks for the feedback so far. I do know about Daniel’s whistles. I also know that Mike Burke makes whistles in each of the keys I mentioned.
I really would like to hear from anyone who owns and plays whistles in these keys though. Perhaps I should explain why. Often makers renowned for making fine whistles in certain keys make whistles less sought after in other keys. Unusual keys are especially problematic, or so I’ve heard, because, due to the low demand, the maker has no great incentive to put time into designing a really good whistle in that key. (Let me hasten to add that I have no reason at all to believe that Daniel or Mike would make whistles that exhibit either of these faults.)
Well that’s why I want feedback. But why do I want whistles in those keys? I’ve come reluctantly to the conclusion that Db might be a comfortable key for me to sing in and still play guitar in DADGAD (down a further half step.) The whistle keys I cited are those that would be appropriate for that key. Usually, with relatively unusual keys, I can find some whistle or other that will do. But Db has me empty handed at the moment. Now, I bet I’m not the only person who finds it a bit of strain to sing in D.
Wombat, thanks for pointing this out.
Also, this Re-bemolle whistle would be handy for Minor Bb and Eb.
Would probably work on the base of a standard bore D, with a slightly longer tube (and fingering).
On 2002-12-01 22:21, Wombat wrote:
why do I want whistles in those keys? I’ve come reluctantly to the conclusion that Db might be a comfortable key for me to sing in and still play guitar in DADGAD
The wiz of Oz and BAGDAD all in one!
I just don’t know which whistle maker will make the adapter fipple :roll: so you can play the guitar (btw, it’s a nice one, you can afford breaking some strings!), sing AND whistle at the same time 
May I suggest you start out easy, like with a boatswayn’s pipe, build up your skills with a tabor pipe, and then only proceed to the full 10-hole chromatic 3-octave whistle ? 
On 2002-12-02 02:58, Zubivka wrote:
On 2002-12-01 22:21, Wombat wrote:
why do I want whistles in those keys? I’ve come reluctantly to the conclusion that Db might be a comfortable key for me to sing in and still play guitar in DADGADThe wiz of Oz and BAGDAD all in one!
I just don’t know which whistle maker will make the adapter fipple :roll: so you can play the guitar (btw, it’s a nice one, you can afford breaking some strings!), sing AND whistle at the same time >May I suggest you start out easy, like with a boatswayn’s pipe, build up your skills with a tabor pipe, and then only proceed to the full 10-hole chromatic 3-octave whistle ? >
You’re right, Zub, the chromatic is a bit beyond me at the moment. The trick is to play slide DADGAD guitar. You play the whistle with both hands using one nostril. (The other nostril is for circular breathing.) Simultaneously, you sing while picking the guitar with your teeth Hendrix-style. You fret the guitar using the whistle as a slide. Easy, peasy. Now don’t try this at home folks unless you have a very good ergonomic chair.
No no,
You play the guitar in your lap and put the whistle on the floor with foot keys installed on it for one foot operation and a little hose running up to your mouth. Then some drum sticks taped to your elbow for the snare drum. The remaining foot operating the bass drum. Just don’t try shlepping this stuff around too much!
This is an interesting variation Daniel. I’ll give it a go. But I still don’t see how I can avoid the nostril tricks unless I sing through the whistle as I play it. Oh I get it; with that racket I’ll need the extra drums to distract attention. Nicely thought out. But I’ll still need the ergonomic chair won’t I. And I won’t be schlepping it about; my audience will have to come to me.
I’ve been experimenting with some whistles in the key of C##, maybe even some Ebb, for those interested in the truly odd…
On 2002-12-03 07:40, brewerpaul wrote:
I’ve been experimenting with some whistles in the key of C##, maybe even some Ebb, for those interested in the truly odd… >
Deskant or garklein ? 
You DO know some of us are interested in the harmonic minors… So you’re unfair making fun of us stuck with our diatonic instruments
I sense it! I sense it! Brewerpaul is about to go chromatic.
I just made another Ahava-Rabba scale high-D whistle, this thing is really fun to jam with.
Scale: D Eb F# G A Bb C D
http://www.bingamon.com/ahava-rab-jam.wav WAV File 1.7MB
On 2002-12-03 22:48, Daniel_Bingamon wrote:
I just made another Ahava-Rabba scale high-D whistle, this thing is really fun to jam with.
Scale: D Eb F# G A Bb C D
http://www.bingamon.com/ahava-rab-jam.wav > WAV File 1.7MB
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This really has me intrigued Daniel, but I can’t get your sound files to play on my computer. (Not only yours, by the way.) Still I know what Klezmer sounds like and would like to be able to play those scales. (I have loads of Klezmer CDs from the old Dave Tarras and Naftule Brandwein records up to very experimental modern stuff—my having a part-Jewish extended family has something to do with it I suppose.)
It says on your web site that the last interval is big—3 half steps—in this scale. Don’t you mean the stretch from holes 4 to 5 rather than holes 5 to 6? (From Eb to F#?)
[ This Message was edited by: Wombat on 2002-12-04 02:38 ]
Great idea, Daniel! A while back I retuned an otherwise excellent Generation Bb to play this scale (but with Bb as base note, of course). As far as I know, the scale is also known as a Maqam Hijaz scale in Arab music.
Jens, you are right. The Arabic community does use this scale in their music as well.
There are a few other Klezmer keys that are shared by the Arabs as well.
Some of the Arab scales are even half of a halftone.
I think Miserlou is partly in this scale (ahavaraba/hijaz) as well.
I’ve working on playing some Klezmer tunes on whistle, one of them I’m working on “Nahkt in Gan Eyden”.
I’m not sure why some systems have trouble with the WAV file. I know it long and takes a while to download. You might try right clicking on it and saving it and then playinh it with the windows ‘Sound Recorder’ program under Programs/Accessories/Entertainment.
That is what I recorded it with, so it should be able to play it back.
[ This Message was edited by: Daniel_Bingamon on 2002-12-04 07:12 ]
Doesnt’it depend quite often on the souncard model+settings on PC’s ?
When I make QuickTime VR’s for both Macs, PC, the pix and animation always work fine, then the sound highly depends on which PC…