Range/jargon comparing to concert flutes - several questions
Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2020 1:24 pm
Hi.
I am a viola/mandolin player but played concert flute as a kid.
I have the flute - I pull it out sometimes, but that kind of music doesn't do it for me anymore.
I like the fingers-on-open-holes sound of Irish flutes and whistles, but am a little intimidated about attempting to switch from flute to whistle (or possibly Irish flute).
I have been browsing the websites of the mass manufacturers (i.e. affordable for someone who isn't sure) but I can't quite understand the jargon.
For whistles I see "low" "high" and "alto".
1) Are the low and high an octave apart?
2) Is "alto" well defined, or just in keys/ranges at the high end of "low" and the low end of "high"?
For some flute manufacturers I see "Low and High", for others I see "flute" and "piccolo".
3) Is one maker's "low" equivalent with another's "flute", and "high" with "piccolo"?
3b) or is piccolo even higher?
4) How do these rangers compare to a concert flute?
4b) If I take a concert flute range, and chop off the lowest C (middle C), and the top octave, is that about the range of a "D flute" in Irish flutes?
I've heard "high D" or "pennywhistle in D" are the best places to start.
5) is this also true for someone coming from flute background, or would a flute be better to start with?
I'll probably have more questions - but thank you
-Heather
I am a viola/mandolin player but played concert flute as a kid.
I have the flute - I pull it out sometimes, but that kind of music doesn't do it for me anymore.
I like the fingers-on-open-holes sound of Irish flutes and whistles, but am a little intimidated about attempting to switch from flute to whistle (or possibly Irish flute).
I have been browsing the websites of the mass manufacturers (i.e. affordable for someone who isn't sure) but I can't quite understand the jargon.
For whistles I see "low" "high" and "alto".
1) Are the low and high an octave apart?
2) Is "alto" well defined, or just in keys/ranges at the high end of "low" and the low end of "high"?
For some flute manufacturers I see "Low and High", for others I see "flute" and "piccolo".
3) Is one maker's "low" equivalent with another's "flute", and "high" with "piccolo"?
3b) or is piccolo even higher?
4) How do these rangers compare to a concert flute?
4b) If I take a concert flute range, and chop off the lowest C (middle C), and the top octave, is that about the range of a "D flute" in Irish flutes?
I've heard "high D" or "pennywhistle in D" are the best places to start.
5) is this also true for someone coming from flute background, or would a flute be better to start with?
I'll probably have more questions - but thank you
-Heather