Late last night, I was handed two "five key" fifes that havent been played for the past couple of years. On quick inspection they looked o.k. I tried to play one and had difficulty in the upper octave. Does it just need blown in or what ??
I think they are hardwood, or maybe polymer - hard to tell....after a few beers. I'm expected to play for a crowd of people tomorrow.
Any ideas on how I can quickly get a sweet sound, apart from asking someone decent to play ??????
P.S. Any notes I did get required me to nearly blow a hole in it.
Gotta get this fife working
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- Posts: 20
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- Location: Belfast, N. Ireland
I played a fife in few different marching bands for 5 or 6 years . A little ignorant musically, but could play practically anything by ear. I've played loads of different types of Fifes, but not for many years.
I tried one of them again tonight - too much hassle, a little improvement, but not worth the bother.
I ended up going back to my whistles.
They definitely need some sort of attention, as I've recently played similar flutes quite easily.
I would love to stay in and maybe work at it a little, however, I'm an Irishman, and have another "seriously important" type of session lined up tonight.
Any comments would be gratefully accepted.
I tried one of them again tonight - too much hassle, a little improvement, but not worth the bother.
I ended up going back to my whistles.
They definitely need some sort of attention, as I've recently played similar flutes quite easily.
I would love to stay in and maybe work at it a little, however, I'm an Irishman, and have another "seriously important" type of session lined up tonight.
Any comments would be gratefully accepted.
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- Posts: 20
- Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2001 6:00 pm
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Belfast, N. Ireland
Update:
The flutes are:
1. Matchetts of Belfast
2. Miller Brown of London
Messing around this morning and have got one of them playing every note reasonably, it's amazing what the assistance of a hairdyrer can do, although High D, E, F & G are a bit of effort. (Keep in mind that these notes are actually in the third octave, or somewhere excruciatingly high)
I think I will "tinker" until I get them both reasonable, however, I have no desire to hold on to them. I will give them back to their owner. Must think of the neighbours, and my own eardrums.
Having spent the past few months rediscovering the joys of whistling, I think I will wait until my tune repertoire increases and then purchase an Irish flute.
On the subject of Irish flutes.
I am soon to return to live in Belfast, approx Easter. Is it best to buy a flute here in Canada, or are they cheaper, in Ireland.
The flutes are:
1. Matchetts of Belfast
2. Miller Brown of London
Messing around this morning and have got one of them playing every note reasonably, it's amazing what the assistance of a hairdyrer can do, although High D, E, F & G are a bit of effort. (Keep in mind that these notes are actually in the third octave, or somewhere excruciatingly high)
I think I will "tinker" until I get them both reasonable, however, I have no desire to hold on to them. I will give them back to their owner. Must think of the neighbours, and my own eardrums.
Having spent the past few months rediscovering the joys of whistling, I think I will wait until my tune repertoire increases and then purchase an Irish flute.
On the subject of Irish flutes.
I am soon to return to live in Belfast, approx Easter. Is it best to buy a flute here in Canada, or are they cheaper, in Ireland.