Whistle Intonation

Subject: Whistle Intonation
From: Vixen
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 12:57 PM

I searched the Forum, and didn't find a thread on this, though I'm sure it's been discussed here.

Anyway, here's the situation: In response to a recent bout of frustration with the D pennywhistle, I checked all of my whistles/flutes/recorders against an electronic tuner. The results:
The Boehm flute is consistently on pitch from the bottom to the top of its range.
The tenor recorder is consistently on pitch from the bottom to the top of its range.
The two alto recorders (one plastic, one wooden) are consistently on pitch from the bottom to the top of their range.
My wooden soprano recorder can't be brought up to pitch no matter what I do, but its flatness is consistent from the bottom to the top of its range, so I think it's tuned to A=420 or something.
My plastic soprano recorder is consistently on pitch from the bottom to the top of its range.
My plastic low G whistle is consistently on pitch from the bottom to the top of its range.
My plastic low D whistle is consistently on pitch from the bottom to the top of its range.
My plastic C whistle is consistently on pitch from the bottom to the top of its range.

When I say "consistently on pitch from the bottom to the top of its range," I mean that, once I've got the lowest note to pitch by adjusting the tunability of the instrument, without my making any conscious effort, I can play all the notes to within fewer than 5 cents of variation. With a bit of concentration on my breath, I can put them all "right on" and keep them there.


HOWEVER--every one of my standard D whistles seems to be all over the place--18 cents flat on one note, 13 cents sharp on the next. The only note that is "on" for every D whistle is low F#. This is the case with a Sweet, a Susato, an Oak, a Feadog, 2 Generations, and a Clarke Sweetone. The only two I seem to be able to get close are the Sweetone and the Sweet, and that's with significant concentration on my breath--blowing as usual on some notes, very hard on other notes and much softer on still other notes.

Is the D just the hardest whistle to play? or is it that I've got a bum bunch of whistles? OR, (and I realize this is entirely possible) I just can't play the D whistle???

I'm at the point where I'm going to throw out all my Ds and go buy one strictly on whether it can be played at pitch.

Any advice, Mudcat Whistlers???

V

Subject: RE: Whistle Intonation
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 05:22 PM

1) The D whistles are nearer 'just' intonation than 'even tempered' intonation? Thus perfectly suited to solos...

Subject: RE: Whistle Intonation
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 05:37 PM

P.S. - if you really want to throw them all out - I'll take them.... :-)

Subject: RE: Whistle Intonation
From: Vixen
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 07:18 PM

Hi Foolestroup!

I was hoping you (and a couple of other whistlers) would have some ideas about what the problem is.

I hadn't considered the temperament issue. I'll say this, though, MY temperament is getting disharmonized!

My husband and playing partner, Tim (aka Reynaud), is now playing concertina, and I'm finding that he must have been doing a lot of compensation on the fiddle that he can't do on the concertina. Consequently, my whistle-playing sounds even worse than usual. I'm trying to switch my D whistle tunes to other instruments to get around the discord. Maybe D whistles and concertinas just don't mix well? (the other whistles seem fine...)

V

Subject: RE: Whistle Intonation
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 09:17 PM

Well, I have also had a lot of problems with the low end whistles in D being in tune. Metal whistles go flat if they are cold and must be properly warm. You can find good low cost whistle that are in tune, but it is a case of having to kiss alot of frogs before..... You may want to consider investing in a high end whistle. If you buy a whistle FROM the maker it generally will have a guaranty. I yet to find a good (in tune either to pitch or to itself) generation,oak, or feadog although I know people who have them and they are fine. I have a nontunable Silkstone composite, a Brass burke, a harper, and a copeland that are all wonderful whistles and in good tune. I also have Shaws, which are very affordable, but require LOT of blow, that are perfectly lovely sounding and in quite good tune. Check on Chiff and Fipple. Many of my whistles were purchased from people on the board. One of my favorites a copper Parker was bought second hand for about half the money of new, AND Mr. Parker extended his guarantee to me, the second owner. You can buy a bunch of lower priced whistles till y ou find a goodie, or just spend the same amount and save you time and aggravation and get a lovely hand made whistle.

Subject: RE: Whistle Intonation
From: Vixen
Date: 27 Jan 05 - 12:19 PM

...I was sort of expecting this thread to "acquire" a list of related threads at the top, so I could search through it for more info... Can someone tell me how to get a list of related threads?

V