Either I'm confused or Grey Larsen is wrong in "The Essential Guide to Irish Flute and Tin Whistle". (these aren't mutually exclusive )
Grey says that most whistles (meaning the high D whistle) sound one octave higher than written, and that the simple system D flute sounds at the written pitch. This seems backwards to me. When I play the low D on my D flute (all holes covered), I get the same pitch as the open D string on my guitar. I believe that the guitar sounds one octave lower than written, and the notes on the flute are the same as on a guitar, so it seems to me that the high D whistle plays the notes as written.
Can someone please set this straight?
Question on pitch notation for high D whistle
- norseman
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Question on pitch notation for high D whistle
Failure is NOT an option - it comes bundled with the software.
- colomon
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- Tell us something.: Whistle player, aspiring C#/D accordion and flute player, and aspiring tunesmith. Particularly interested in the music of South Sligo and Newfoundland. Inspired by the music of Peter Horan, Fred Finn, Rufus Guinchard, Emile Benoit, and Liz Carroll.
I've got some compositions up at http://www.harmonyware.com/tunes/SolsTunes.html - Location: Midland, Michigan
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I don't know what the story with guitars is, buy Grey is definitely right about flutes and whistles. Just sat down at the piano with a whistle to double-check...
Sol's Tunes (new tune 2/2020)
- norseman
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OK, I think I've un-confused myself. Grey is correct - the high D whistle does indeed sound an octave higher than written for the same note played on a piano. The D flute plays an octave lower, so it's as written when compared to a piano.
Two things contributed to my confusion:
- 1) I had my music software setup for D whistle, so the notation reflected what was appropriate for the whistle.
- 2) I forgot that music written for guitar does indeed sound an octave lower than the same note played on piano, but this is done so all the guitar notes can be put into a single treble clef. If it was the same as piano, it would have to be written using the base clef as well.
Two things contributed to my confusion:
- 1) I had my music software setup for D whistle, so the notation reflected what was appropriate for the whistle.
- 2) I forgot that music written for guitar does indeed sound an octave lower than the same note played on piano, but this is done so all the guitar notes can be put into a single treble clef. If it was the same as piano, it would have to be written using the base clef as well.
Failure is NOT an option - it comes bundled with the software.
- Byll
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A Related Question
I understand the high d whistle sounds one octave higher than written.
I understand the low d whistle sounds where written.
As one plays different whistles in between these two extremes, at which whistle key does one shift between the two methodologies concerning where the music is WRITTEN vis-a-vis where the music SOUNDS?
This is of more than academic interest to me. I am training a student to play the whistle part in the Broadway show, 'A SECRET GARDEN.' This problem has shown up more than once in the music...
Be well.
Byll
I understand the low d whistle sounds where written.
As one plays different whistles in between these two extremes, at which whistle key does one shift between the two methodologies concerning where the music is WRITTEN vis-a-vis where the music SOUNDS?
This is of more than academic interest to me. I am training a student to play the whistle part in the Broadway show, 'A SECRET GARDEN.' This problem has shown up more than once in the music...
Be well.
Byll
'Everything Matters...'
Lisa Diane Cope 1963-1979
Lisa Diane Cope 1963-1979
- Bloomfield
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Re: A Related Question
I don't think it matters, since low and hi Ds are written the same. Both are c-instruments (non-transposing). I would expect all other whistles to transpose, so that they stuff written in d-major sounds the main key of the whistle. The result would be that each whistle between hi D and low D sound less than an octave above the what is written.Byll wrote:I understand the high d whistle sounds one octave higher than written.
I understand the low d whistle sounds where written.
As one plays different whistles in between these two extremes, at which whistle key does one shift between the two methodologies concerning where the music is WRITTEN vis-a-vis where the music SOUNDS?
A low g-whistle for example would have written bell note of D, sounding G (a fourth above the written note) and so forth.
/Bloomfield
- Wombat
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Conventions like writing high whistle notation an octave lower than it sounds are simply ways of making the written stave more useful. What use is the stave as a point of reference when most notes are way off the top?
Musical notation is meant to be helpful and not to be a barrier to playing fluently. It has nothing to do with stiffness and rigidity; it's just a useful device for helping people learn music.
Musical notation is meant to be helpful and not to be a barrier to playing fluently. It has nothing to do with stiffness and rigidity; it's just a useful device for helping people learn music.
- Byll
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- Tell us something.: Long ago, I was told that I faked iTrad whistle work very well. I took that comment to heart. 20 years of private lessons - and many, many hours of rehearsal later - I certainly hope I have improved...
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Ah yes, gentlemen: I agree with and understand what you are saying. It would amuse you both to see the 'professional' Broadway score, concerning their demand for '8va alta', and the like...and then see the whistles they suggest to do the job...
Oh well...ever onward.
Cheers.
Byll
Oh well...ever onward.
Cheers.
Byll
'Everything Matters...'
Lisa Diane Cope 1963-1979
Lisa Diane Cope 1963-1979