The "Hooo" Sound...

gwen · Post by **gwen** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 10:45 am

How does one end a phrase with the haunting "hooo" sound that kind of drops off into nothing? Is it just a recording- echo trick, or is it a skill for the average whistler? I've tried exhaling slowly at the end of the phrase, but it just sounds pitiful.

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 10:56 am

Some whistles do this better than others.

In addition to letting your breath trail off, you can also slowly cover the next lower tone hole (assuming you're not ending on D).

--James

Blackout_Entertainment · Mon Apr 17, 2006 3:04 pm

And for the record, isn't this particular effect known as "retardo?"

Congratulations · Post by **Congratulations** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 3:12 pm

Blackout_Entertainment wrote:And for the record, isn't this particular effect known as "retardo?"

Umm... I don't think so.

Ritard / Ritardando = slowing down (as in tempo), if that's what you were going for.

Chief Wanganui · Post by **Chief Wanganui** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 4:35 pm

gwen wrote:How does one end a phrase with the haunting "hooo" sound that kind of drops off into nothing? Is it just a recording- echo trick, or is it a skill for the average whistler? I've tried exhaling slowly at the end of the phrase, but it just sounds pitiful.

I've always referred to it as a "fall-off" (!), and everyone knows what I mean.
Peeplj is absolutely spot on. That's how you do it.

ThorntonRose · Post by **ThorntonRose** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 5:15 pm

If I remember my schooling, diminuendo (dim.) is the term for a decrease in volume. If you want it quickly, subito diminuendo. Often on sheet music, dim. is indicated by a stretched greater-than symbol underneath the staff.

Listen to Joanie Madden. She does it beautifully.

I agree with the previous post that some whistles are better than others. I can do dim. with my Dixons, particulary the low D, but I can't do pretty good it with my Waltons. However, I have to say that I have gotten better with dim. the more I have learned to control the column of air going through the whistle.

Jennie · Post by **Jennie** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 5:28 pm

The other way you can get it is to run quickly past the listener, thus using the Doppler Effect to allow both pitch and volume to diminish from the listener's perspective.

Hard to do without using too much vibrato though. Maybe a skateboard...

Jennie

gwen · Post by **gwen** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 5:55 pm

I think I like the Doppler idea!

dfernandez77 · Post by **dfernandez77** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 8:42 pm

But "The Orange Blossom Special" in not Irish Trad!

StevieJ · Post by **StevieJ** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 6:01 am

gwen wrote:How does one end a phrase with the haunting "hooo" sound that kind of drops off into nothing?

You could always try putting your finger down your throat... produces much the same effect for me!

Dana · Post by **Dana** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 6:08 am

You guys are gross!

Chiffed · Post by **Chiffed** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 11:46 am

Diminuendo al Niente? Jazzers sometimes call it a short fall.

Maybe it's just me, but my larger-bore whistles do this far better than my pea-shooters. It sure doesn't sound like Joannie Madden on Ned of the Hill, though.

Congratulations · Post by **Congratulations** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 1:04 pm

Chiffed wrote:Jazzers sometimes call it a short fall.

That's what I call it.

gallant_murray · Post by **gallant_murray** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 1:39 pm

Chiffed wrote:Diminuendo al Niente? Jazzers sometimes call it a short fall.

Maybe it's just me, but my larger-bore whistles do this far better than my pea-shooters. It sure doesn't sound like Joannie Madden on Ned of the Hill, though.

To sound like Joannie Madden, I think you need Joannie Madden's million dollar whistle. I would rather stick to imitating Mary Bergin.

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 1:50 pm

I didn't understand about Joannie Madden until I saw her play live.

Now I'm convinced she could play better on a perforated soda straw than I ever will be able to on my $140 Burke.

Joannie is a force of nature, and her playing seems to transcend into realms mere mortals can't reach.

You can buy a whistle like Joannie's, but it's not the whistle that makes her playing sound that way.

--James

Chiff and Fipple Forums

The "Hooo" Sound...

The "Hooo" Sound...

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