I have had numerous requests over the years for a chromatic low whistle, ie a converted standard flute. Until now, none of my attempts played in tune. The problem is with the conical shape of a flute headjoint. I decided to buy a flute headjoint, cut off the embouchure hole and replace it with a machined Delrin mouthpiece. I’m happy with the result. Here’s a YouTube clip:
The name Flistle was suggested by somebody who owns one of my Whisolos, a combination piccolo and whistle, and is better than “Whute”. Any other suggestions are welcome.
Edit:A new name has been suggested- Chromalow, because it’s low and chromatic. And it rhymes with Whisolo.
Mister G- That’s where my iPad’s remote shutter was. Or maybe I should say it was the intense emotion I was feeling, thinking about Bunratty, the O’Brien family castle and being unable to claim it when I visited.
Thomaston- I find it comfortable, turned partway to the right and using a modified piper’s grip.
Mister G- That’s where my iPad’s remote shutter was. Or maybe I should say it was the intense emotion I was feeling, thinking about Bunratty, the O’Brien family castle and being unable to claim it when I visited.
For a moment it looked like you were going to keel over.
Bunratty, the O’Brien family castle and being unable to claim it when I visited.
The current castle was built by the MacNamaras, the O’Briens sold the land in the early 18th century, no wonder you couldn’t claim it
There’s a “vertical” movement going on in the Boehm flute world due to the number of flutists with neck, shoulder, or wrist problems making playing of a transverse flute excruciating. The ones I tried had plastic support thingies on the back, because you can’t support the flute in the usual transverse way.
Interesting. Nick Metcalf has been doing something like that too. Just one thought – and please don’t take it the wrong way, but I think your fingering is wrong. If your Boehm flute works anything like mine the right pinky should stay on the whistle and work the corresponding key (the left one of the 3 little keys on the foot of the flute). The right pinky only is removed for a couple of notes and is used to balance the flute while at the same time keeping the key open which works just the other way round as the rest of the keys. At least that’s how my flute works.
Sedi, I really appreciate your pinky tip about where to keep my pinky tip. I’m a self-taught flautist and it shows. Your advice, along with a clip on thumb rest I made helps a lot supporting the instrument in the vertical position.
On my Reyburn low whistles I use clarinet thumb rests and a bit of heavy duty double stick tape. The double stick tape I use only has to be replaced every six months or so.
A package of six or so of the thumb rests is cheap on eBay. You can get rubber pads for them as well.
Yes of course that’s the standard and correct Boehm fingering, the lower-hand little finger usually pressing the Eb key (in ITM terminology) which in the normal transverse playing position helps hold the flute. If you don’t press open the Eb key the note E natural is a bit flat.
Thing is, on Boehm flutes with perforated keys (the so-called French model) the pitch of E natural doesn’t change appreciably whether the Eb key is open or shut. In fact I know a woman who has played Boehm flute her whole life (since a child) and has never played any other instrument who doesn’t open the Eb key except when playing that note. She has always played a French model flute.
