low low b on a high d whistle?
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low low b on a high d whistle?
Hello! I'm sorry for the newbie question, but can anyone tell me how to play a low low b on a high d pennywhistle? I know the fingering for the b which is on the staff (finger 1 hole only), but I can't find a chart online showing fingering for the b note which is below the treble cleff staff. I have a song that needs it. Thank you in advance!
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Re: low low b on a high d whistle?
It's not possible to play that note on a D whistle. Your lowest note is the D just below the staff. I think most people take the B that you're talking about up an octave.
Pat Plunkett, Wheeling, WV
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Re: low low b on a high d whistle?
Yup, your bottom note is your bottom note! On a standard high D whistle that's the 6-finger note D. In staff notation that's the one just below the stave, but it sounds an 8ve higher. Any notes lower than that are not available. To play music including such notes you have to change it. That can be done by simply switching the offending notes themselves up an octave, but that is often musically unsatisfactory: it may be better to switch a whole phrase or even section up, or to write a simple melodic variation or harmony for the relevant passage that stays within the range of your instrument. You should be able to fine plenty of old advice on all this on the forums: try searching on 'octave folding'.
I respect people's privilege to hold their beliefs, whatever those may be (within reason), but respect the beliefs themselves? You gotta be kidding!
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Re: low low b on a high d whistle?
Thank you both! I misunderstood the music and those notes were the singing notes, but the playing notes were indeed up one octave. Problem solved. Thank you again!
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Re: low low b on a high d whistle?
Your question has been well answered by other posters. Just out of interest though, on a high D whistle the lowest note [for emergency use only] is Db/C# which is achieved by shading the end of the whistle with the lowest pinkie.
Seated recorder players occasionally play an extra low note by shading the bell end with their leg. The recorder has the advantage over low whistles with this technique as the bell end is quite wide and this allows more control with the pitch.
Seated recorder players occasionally play an extra low note by shading the bell end with their leg. The recorder has the advantage over low whistles with this technique as the bell end is quite wide and this allows more control with the pitch.
Re: low low b on a high d whistle?
been done on sax too
Picture a bright blue ball just spinning, spinning free
It's dizzying, the possibilities. Ashes, Ashes all fall down.
It's dizzying, the possibilities. Ashes, Ashes all fall down.
Re: low low b on a high d whistle?
Ah yes, with the tenor you can either jump in a wardrobe or put your knee over the end.
Depending on the proximity of the wardrobe.
Depending on the proximity of the wardrobe.
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Re: low low b on a high d whistle?
Whistle emergency!Adrian wrote:[for emergency use only]
The only person I've actually seen to pull this off in performance is Brian Finnegan. He must have extra long fingers; he also plays low F whistle with standard (not piper's) grip.
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Re: low low b on a high d whistle?
I think I've seen Andrea Corr do this on a motorbike, but I was somewhat distracted.MTGuru wrote:The only person I've actually seen to pull this off in performance is Brian Finnegan. He must have extra long fingers; he also plays low F whistle with standard (not piper's) grip.
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Re: low low b on a high d whistle?
Born again biker?hoopy mike wrote:I think I've seen Andrea Corr do this on a motorbike, but I was somewhat distracted.
I respect people's privilege to hold their beliefs, whatever those may be (within reason), but respect the beliefs themselves? You gotta be kidding!
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Low Bb flute: 2 reels (audio)
Flute & Music Resources - helpsheet downloads
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Re: low low b on a high d whistle?
English horn players have been known to stick a cardboard tube from toilet roll into the bell to get a lower note - forget which composer wrote a note below the bell note, any cor anglais players reading this and know?
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Re: low low b on a high d whistle?
In my early fluting days on (student level with C foot) Bohm flute, there were a couple of song accompaniments I played that needed low B, but happily not low C, so I made a little tube out of yoghurt pot plastic that just fitted into the end of the flute's foot snugly, marked it for the right insertion/length and lo, I had a low B instead of a low C. Worked just fine as long as I had time to slip it in/whip it out between numbers. But that wouldn't work too well on a D whistle - too many intervening/missed out notes and likely very weak tone.
I respect people's privilege to hold their beliefs, whatever those may be (within reason), but respect the beliefs themselves? You gotta be kidding!
My YouTube channel
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Low Bb flute: 2 reels (audio)
Flute & Music Resources - helpsheet downloads
My YouTube channel
My FB photo albums
Low Bb flute: 2 reels (audio)
Flute & Music Resources - helpsheet downloads
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Re: low low b on a high d whistle?
Well, that's a good excuse for posting an Andrea Corr whistle picture!hoopy mike wrote:I think I've seen Andrea Corr do this on a motorbike, but I was somewhat distracted.MTGuru wrote:The only person I've actually seen to pull this off in performance is Brian Finnegan. He must have extra long fingers; he also plays low F whistle with standard (not piper's) grip.
Re: low low b on a high d whistle?
Some enterprising whistle maker should make a 7-holed whistle to get the low C (like Paul's D+ model) and then fit a special key for the upper pinkie that partially covers the bottom to give a B.
I wouldn't buy one, but it would be interesting!
I wouldn't buy one, but it would be interesting!
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Re: low low b on a high d whistle?
But, but... For Hoopy Mike's sake (not at all interested myself), where's the motorbike?Adrian wrote:Well, that's a good excuse for posting an Andrea Corr whistle picture!hoopy mike wrote:I think I've seen Andrea Corr do this on a motorbike, but I was somewhat distracted.MTGuru wrote:The only person I've actually seen to pull this off in performance is Brian Finnegan. He must have extra long fingers; he also plays low F whistle with standard (not piper's) grip.
I respect people's privilege to hold their beliefs, whatever those may be (within reason), but respect the beliefs themselves? You gotta be kidding!
My YouTube channel
My FB photo albums
Low Bb flute: 2 reels (audio)
Flute & Music Resources - helpsheet downloads
My YouTube channel
My FB photo albums
Low Bb flute: 2 reels (audio)
Flute & Music Resources - helpsheet downloads