Chiff and Fipple Forums

So I finally sorted out My D flute, with the help of some suggestions from around here... and that’s great... I’m now at least 12% less awful and gaining!

Only... now I’m finding that switching between my little Yamaha fife and my 6 hole keyless D flute is... well let’s just say my brain doesn’t do that as well as I’d like.

So I’d love to get my hands on a 6 hole D Fife which would use the same fingering as my flute, just an octave higher.

I have found a Tony Dixon 6 hole “piccolo” which looks reasonable, but unfortunately isn’t imported into Canada. Heroic measures may be possible.

WD sweet used to make a 6 hole polymer D fife, but these seem to be discontinued and out of stock.

Carbony makes something that looks great but which costs way too much for a beginner like me.

I’d really prefer Plastic so that I can throw it in the day hatch of my kayak, or in my backpack without worrying too much, but I may have to settle for what I can get.

Does anyone have any suggestions for places I might look for such a creature?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

How about aluminium?
http://shop.fifeanddrumshop.com/epages/ ... ium2pce%22

Also comes in a one-piece version with lip-plate and a three-piece version with lip-plate:
http://shop.fifeanddrumshop.com/epages/ ... %5B1%5D%22
http://shop.fifeanddrumshop.com/epages/ ... %5B1%5D%22

Those would work just fine!

Ideally I’d prefer to avoid importing things from outside North America right now since Canadian customs seems to be going through an unusually officious phase (personal opinion based on two data points which clearly don’t constitute enough evidence but I’m going with it anyway)

If I can’t come up with anything else, those would likely work, and I certainly wouldn’t need to worry much about durability!

I am in the same boat, but need to put a word of caution here.

A few months ago I did get a "Fife" in Bb, from a seemingly popular maker. However, I was hugely confused when receiving it, and after a back and forth email chain, I realized that Fife was to be played in one more octave above a whistle, so 2 octaves over a flute instead of 1...
The second octave of a flute was rather weak to unplayable on the fife.

I have since politely returned the fife and looking for another solution. Maybe it's called "piccolo" more commonly.

I have a keyless, blackwood with sterling rings piccolo in D by Peter Worrell in D. It is the same pitch as a whistle, same fingering as a keyless flute. I am in BC, so contact me if you are interested.

Hugh

Generally fifes are to be played in the 2nd & 3rd octaves, piccolo usually in the 1st & 2nd, occasionally 3rd, octaves - that is where they are tuned to play.

Given that definition I want a piccolo rather than a fife, in that I want to play mainly in the first and second octaves.

Though given that definition, rather more than a few of the “fifes” out there are likely best called piccolos!

I’ll be sure to specifically ask in each case!

That said, does anyone know of a six hole delrin piccolo maker?

My Worrell piccolo has been sold.

Hugh

I know! and I'm looking forward to its arrival. Thanks again Hugh!

I cant be much use here bit I have a D flute by David Angus (fife and drum shop) and its nice. And seeing that hes mainly known for his fifes and not flutes, I'd expect his fifes to be really nice.

Thanks, Hugh.
The Piccolo arrived safely and I am enjoying the sound. I would almost describe it as a traverse blown penny whistle, but better. I play the fife and flute and the piccolo definitely plays with flute fingering and not Fife. But what can be played on the flute and fife can also be played on the Irish Piccolo. Fife tunes need to be transposed, you can't play with fife fingering.

So, who makes keyless piccolos suitable for Irish music? Peter Worrell is mentioned above. Anyone else?

Best wishes.

Steve

Mine (keyless) are made by Tony Dixon - an ABS one piece, a brass with ABS head, & an aluminium with ABS head, plus metal slide.

Steve Bliven wrote:So, who makes keyless piccolos suitable for Irish music? Peter Worrell is mentioned above. Anyone else?

Best wishes.

Steve

David Angus - see the link in my post above. I have a low D keyless flute from him and it's really nice. Great prices, too.

Kintailpipes-glad you are enjoying the piccolo. I agree with the transverse whistle but better descriptor-that's what my bandmates said as well.

Hugh