Looking for Fife Advice

[Dreamer]

I have a wooden fife, but just recently have decided to learn how to play. Are the notes the same as the whistle?
Any advice will be appreciated!

[maki]

What key is your fife in?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fife_(instrument)

Key and range
19th century fifeThe fife is an A flat transposing instrument, meaning that what reads as a C on the staff would sound as an A flat (down a major third). Marching fifes typically read in the key of D major, therefore sounding in the key of B flat. Instruments were once named after the lowest pitch created by that particular instrument[citation needed]. The lowest tone made by the standard marching fife is a B flat (read as a D to a fife player), thus the typical marching fife is referred to as the "B flat fife." Fifes pitched in the key of D and C are also common[citation needed], and fifes in various other keys are sometimes played in musical ensembles. Fife music is commonly written in the key of D, and played as though the fife played in that key (playing notes D, E, F#, G, A, B and C# as finger holes are uncovered in succession) regardless of the key in which the fife actually plays. The fife sounds an octave above the written music.

Like the Irish flute and the tinwhistle, the fife is a six-hole simple system flute. These flutes are unable to play all chromatic pitches, and many chromatic pitches that they can play are grossly out of tune. This tuning irregularity is part of the unique sound of the fife. Because of these restrictions on available notes the common six-hole fife is really only capable of playing in the written keys of G, D, and A, and their relative minors.

An experienced fife player can play 3 full octaves although the fingering patterns necessary for playing in the third octave can be daunting to a beginner. Marching bands typically play only in the second and third octave since these are the loudest and most penetrating. It can make very high pitched shrill noises.

[MTGuru]

Are the notes the same as the whistle?

Yes, in the first 2 octaves. But a true fife is generally played in the 2nd and 3rd octaves.

I'm sure the fifers will be along shortly with more info.

[ancientfifer]

http://www.fifedrum.org/fifes/fingering.shtml

[Tim2723]

I've heard it said that the first octave was traditionally reserved for military funerals, it being too soft for effective signaling. I'm also under the impression that this practice is referenced in the famous lyric: "Did they beat the drum slowly, did they play the fife lowly? Did they sound The Death March as they lowered you down? Did the band play The Last Post in chorus? Did the pipes play The Flowers of the Forest?"

[sfmans]

What everyone else has said stands - but the octave question also depends on what repertoire you're planning to play.

If you are using the fife in the American Civil War Ancient Music tradition then it's very much the 2nd and 3rd octaves that come into play (no pun intended) - if you're planning on playing traditional music (English, Irish, or contra for example) then you'll probably spend more time in the 1st and 2nd octaves with occasional forays into the 3rd octave for effect, variety, and to pique the nearest box player.

You might find slight variations from whistle on fingering the 1st & 2nd octave C nats, the 2nd octave D, and the G# s in both octaves. Exactly what those differences are will depend on your fife (and, indeed , your whistle). Other than that the two-octave whistle fingerings should see you right. Once you get into the 3rd octave, as has already been stated, all bets are off and the fingerings don't follow the neat progression of octaves 1 and 2 ...