Breathing and the Clarke Original
- Bodhran Diddley
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Breathing and the Clarke Original
I really, really, really love the sound of my Clarke Original whistles but, having learned to play on a Generation, I'm finding the breath requirement challenging on some tunes.
Should I continue to work with the Original and, perhaps, improve my breathing? Is it possible to do with a whistle like this?
Or should I seek something like a Shaw, tweaked by Jerry? Do his tweaks eliminate all of the breathiness?
Thanks for any advice!
Should I continue to work with the Original and, perhaps, improve my breathing? Is it possible to do with a whistle like this?
Or should I seek something like a Shaw, tweaked by Jerry? Do his tweaks eliminate all of the breathiness?
Thanks for any advice!
And a rovin’ a rovin’ a rovin’ I’ll go for a pair of brown eyes
- antstastegood
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Other way around here. I started with a Clarke, then later got a Jerry-tweaked Generation.
I get the most out of practicing by starting with the Clarke, then switching to the Gen after I have it (somewhat) figured out. The Clarke helps me figure where to breathe, etc, because it seems to be overall a more difficult whistle to play. Also, I much prefer the sound of the Gen.
Just my opinion, I make no pretense of being qualified.
I get the most out of practicing by starting with the Clarke, then switching to the Gen after I have it (somewhat) figured out. The Clarke helps me figure where to breathe, etc, because it seems to be overall a more difficult whistle to play. Also, I much prefer the sound of the Gen.
Just my opinion, I make no pretense of being qualified.
Unreasonable person,
ants
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ants
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- Bloomfield
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Mash the windway of your Clark down to reduce the height of it. You can use pliers to pinch the sides a bit, getting it even. Afterwards it helps to rub some wax around the fipple block to prevent leaks. Don't be shy to experiment, you can bend the tin over the windway back up with a knife or other pointy thing.
/Bloomfield
I really thought the Clarke took a lot of wind, and pretty much ignored it to play other whistles for several months. But then I went back to it and found that it had miraculously improved - needed a bit more wind, but much less than I remembered.
I think part of the issue with Clarke originals is they don't have much backpressure, so we give them more air than they really need because of the lack of feedback. I had much the same issue with my Serpent Brassy Polly (though the BP will give some backpressure if you blow REAL HARD). Once I figured out the technique that works for me (imagine to myself I'm blowing across the top of the fipple, instead of into it) they became a lot easier to handle. They both do need a bit more air than Generations, but a heck of a lot less than a flute or a fife!
Not to say that the tweeks mentioned don't help, just suggesting that adjusting your embouchure can help a lot, too. (Though if I get a Shaw, it's going to be a Jerry-tweeked one - good instrument+good embouchure is better than good embouchure alone).
I think part of the issue with Clarke originals is they don't have much backpressure, so we give them more air than they really need because of the lack of feedback. I had much the same issue with my Serpent Brassy Polly (though the BP will give some backpressure if you blow REAL HARD). Once I figured out the technique that works for me (imagine to myself I'm blowing across the top of the fipple, instead of into it) they became a lot easier to handle. They both do need a bit more air than Generations, but a heck of a lot less than a flute or a fife!
Not to say that the tweeks mentioned don't help, just suggesting that adjusting your embouchure can help a lot, too. (Though if I get a Shaw, it's going to be a Jerry-tweeked one - good instrument+good embouchure is better than good embouchure alone).
Last edited by DCrom on Thu Apr 22, 2004 9:57 am, edited 1 time in total.
- spittin_in_the_wind
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- vomitbunny
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- Jetboy
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Clarke Original
I learned to play on a Clarke Original and like other contributors, have flattened and otherwise buggered about with the windway. I LOVE the sound of the Clarkes and even though I now make and market my own range of whistles (www.westonwhistles.co.uk) I still use my Clarke regularly, especially in the quieter sessions when my own can be a tad overpowering. They are also very forgiving so are really good for beginners.
Jetboy
Jetboy
- Brewster
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After buying my Clarke Original, I was never really happy with the sound. But, I figured for $10, it was worth a try. After reading this thread, I got up the courage to take hammer in hand and mash down the airway a bit. What a change. It now plays both octaves smoothly and clearly. Still have some playing around to reduce breathiness. Has a new tweeker been unleashed on an unsuspecting world?
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- Bloomfield
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- vomitbunny
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- lollycross
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What a funny thread!
I also learned on a Clarke but hated the sharp-edged mouthpiece
that always seemed like it would cut my mouth. I never thought of
smashing it with a hammer to get the sound better tho, ha ha.
I am trying now to play the flute, and am finding out I haven't enough
breath to play diddley!
Lolly
I also learned on a Clarke but hated the sharp-edged mouthpiece
that always seemed like it would cut my mouth. I never thought of
smashing it with a hammer to get the sound better tho, ha ha.
I am trying now to play the flute, and am finding out I haven't enough
breath to play diddley!
Lolly
- fancypiper
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Don't blow across the hole.
Tighten your lips to the "pouting fish" position with your top lip as close to the far edge of the hole and blow as far down into the hole as possile. Tightening the lips more and blowing slightly further in the hole (pull your chin in slightly) should give the upper octave.
YMMV and I am a very poor flute player.
Tighten your lips to the "pouting fish" position with your top lip as close to the far edge of the hole and blow as far down into the hole as possile. Tightening the lips more and blowing slightly further in the hole (pull your chin in slightly) should give the upper octave.
YMMV and I am a very poor flute player.
Well consider yerself promoted today. How about a G Flute?lollycross wrote:What a funny thread!
I also learned on a Clarke but hated the sharp-edged mouthpiece
that always seemed like it would cut my mouth. I never thought of
smashing it with a hammer to get the sound better tho, ha ha.
I am trying now to play the flute, and am finding out I haven't enough
breath to play diddley!
Lolly
You should be able to play that and have some gas left for later!