The mysterious F whistle

[usfenderfsdlx]

Can you cite a source on that?

I can't! It's all hearsay. Muhaha.

But seriously, as you said: all electronics ring or hum at that frequency, in the US. Not only 60 Hz. There is some higher ringing produced by TV's, Fridges, Computers. All at Bb in some octave. It's really annoying. I've heard there are scientific, peer-reviewed, legit studies on this "Bb resonant frequency of the universe" thing, but I haven't actually seen any.

Also, my ears constantly RING at Bb. A very, very high Bb. This is what they call "tinnitus." The ringing is aggravated by certain electronic devices, especially certain kinds of lights with triggers. If there is a flashing light nearby, I can often close my ears and eyes and hear the flashing as the Bb frequency in my ears pulses slightly louder and softer--or it seems to take on different overtones or something. I have to be within a certain distance of the light (more likely the electronics) for this to happen, but I do not have to see the light. It does not need to be flashing at me, I could be on the other side of it, some fifty feet away, depending on the power of the device. VERY odd. I wonder if this has something to do with the auditory nerves receiving and processing certain kinds of electronic interference, since nerves carry electrical impulses.

Right. Er, where were we? Low F whistles? Yes, yes. Special pipes they are.

[Steve Bliven]

But seriously, as you said: all electronics ring or hum at that frequency, in the US. Not only 60 Hz. There is some higher ringing produced by TV's, Fridges, Computers. All at Bb in some octave. It's really annoying.

Equally off topic, i recall seeing singer Bill Staines break guitar strings trying to tune up to the hum of an air conditioner in the performance area.

Best wishes.

Steve

[s1m0n]

Bb is a common frequency in the natural universe. I know that it is the frequency that all electronics buzz, hum, and ring at.

Can you cite a source on that? It would be interesting
to see that study. If true, I bet it's because AC in the
US is at 60Hz, which is pretty close to Bb1. I wonder
if hums are closer to G in the UK where mains is at 50Hz?

There are reports of North American fiddle players tuning to dial tone on a telephone, which here is usually given as A.

[Steve Bliven]

There are reports of North American fiddle players tuning to dial tone on a telephone, which here is usually given as A.

Just checked mine, here in Massachusetts, and it was five cents north of F.

Best wishes.

Steve

[Waterboy]

Old NPR story about Bb in nature.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... Id=7442915

[highwood]

Don't know that I should admit to calculating this but here goes...

Two 'mains frequencies are common 50Hz and 60Hz - an A would be 55hz (using the modern A440)
So 60Hz is about a step and half sharp of an A - a sharp Bb or a flat B (its less than 1 cent closer to a B)
and 50Hz is 165 cents flat of an A so a sharp G (35 cents sharp)

what this has to do with anything I don't know... except that electronics don't hum in tune with musicians tuned to A440.

[Daniel_Bingamon]

Actually, regarding the 60Hz of electronics, 120Hz is what is actually heard by the human ear, the peak of every 1/2 cycle. Ref:http://www.federalpacific.com/universit ... pter3.html

BTW - I like F#.

[Mitch]

Yah - some damn consumer in a house near to me has an air-conditioning fan that blasts out at about 160hz that resonates on my bedroom - when his automatic "environment" conditioner kicks in, I have to leave my bedroom and sleep in another room because my bedroom resonates with it and my body has a very up-hill task coping with that frequency. Keep in mind that low-frequencies have been used successfully to kill people if tuned to the right note and amplified enough .. And we were all parranoid about mobile-phone towers?? . (check the disclaimers on your mobile contract - I once worked for a Telco - think asbestos and get ready to join the class actions - air conditioning manufactureres will come much later - get on the money with your tumor .)

[A-Musing]

Wow.

Without going all medical and all, maybe we play our whistles to keep ourselves harmonized, in the modern soup of electronic chaos!!!???

I'm gonna go effing.

[page69]

Check out this video of Cormach Breatnach, the F whistle king and my whistle hero, on Youtube:
Cormac Breatnach - With Steve Cooney & Donal Lunny. It's not trad but still wonderful.

[dlovrien]

McGoldrick playing "Trip to Herve's" on a low F (solo):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LBfRjZcmjo

[benhall.1]

I like D.

[MTGuru]

I like turtles!

[Steve Bliven]

I like Jerry Freeman's whale...

Best wishes.

Steve

[squidgirl]

I like cephalopods, myself.

They're scarily smart!