making wooden flutes and whistles

15 May 99 - 08:10 AM (#78652)
Subject: making wooden flutes and whistles
From: Ana

can anybody help with information on making wooden flutes and whistles particularly making the bore and hole sizes. many thanks

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15 May 99 - 12:33 PM (#78697)
Subject: RE: making wooden flutes and whistles
From: Bev Lawton

Ana one of the best places to start looking for information is here : *CHIFF & FIPPLE*

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16 May 99 - 12:41 AM (#78806)
Subject: RE: making wooden flutes and whistles
From: alison

Hi,

Here's a really good How to build things site I don't know if it has wood, but it certainly teaches you to make them out of PVC pipe etc..

Slainte

alison

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16 May 99 - 01:21 AM (#78813)
Subject: RE: making wooden flutes and whistles
From: Ana

Hey; thanks guys - Alison, did you try for the blicky clue thing? It didnt show on the message - I'd appreciate you trying again. But yes, wood's the thing! Neat "chiff..." site thanks again.

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16 May 99 - 01:37 AM (#78816)
Subject: RE: making wooden flutes and whistles
From: alison

Oops,

How to build things site

Try again.....

slainte

alison

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16 May 99 - 12:46 PM (#78896)
Subject: RE: making wooden flutes and whistles
From: Bev Lawton

I am a bit of a wood turner on the side and one bit of advice I can give you regarding the tuning of whistles but I gues it applies to flutes as well. Irrespective of the note you wish to tune the whistle to they all give thier lowest note when all the holes are covered by the fingers - therefore tune the whistle BEFORE you cut the fingerholes but after cutting the mouthpiece and fipple (both of which make a BIG difference). Cut the whistle off LONGER than the final length required (approx 25mm)(it's EASIER taking wood OFF than trying to put it ON!!!) With no fingerholes in your bored and newly fippled tube/whistle use an electronic tuner to tune to (say) D keep shaving/cutting small amounts off the end until it is at the pitch you require. As with the length cut the finger holes SMALLER than first required (again easier to remove more than to add) Start with the hole AWAY from the mouthpiece (next lowest note) gradually enlarging the hole until it comes up to pitch. Positioning holes is part science part black art I have an article somewhere (at work) which explains it a LOT better than I can. So get going - at least you can avoid the major pitfalls. A BIG TIP : Try PLASTIC piping FIRST it's a LOT cheaper than wasting good wood!!! Bev Lawton

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16 May 99 - 01:01 PM (#78899)
Subject: RE: making wooden flutes and whistles
From: Bev Lawton

Ana this site descibes making a LOW D whistle out of copper pipe but the principal is exactly the same! have fun!

*MAKE A LOW D WHISTLE*

Bev Lawton

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17 May 99 - 11:26 AM (#79137)
Subject: RE: making wooden flutes and whistles
From: Jon W.

Go to this site and join the Musicians and Instrument Maker's forum (yes they let Mudcatters in) and check out the section on wind instruments. The people who frequent the site range from first-timers to professional instrument builders and they are a wealth of information and eager to share most of it.

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