High D is sharp. How to flatten, anyone?

Diggy · Post by **Diggy** » Wed May 24, 2006 3:09 pm

Has anyone made a whistle from 1/2 inch copper plumbing? I just made one and I'm having a problem with the upper octave D being very sharp. Everything else is in pretty good tune.

I needed to make a C whistle for a concert coming up in a large room, and I used a Susato headpiece because I can't afford $35 for a new Susato C.

I interpolated (averaged) the measurements between my D and Bb Susatos, and made a copper body that fits the fipple/head joint.

Any suggestions on how to flatten the upper D when the rest of the notes are in tune? Undercutting? Opening up the uppermost hole so it's sharper?Seems to me it would be the C# (highest tone hole) that's causing the problem, since everything else is closed when high D is played. Make sense, anyone?

Unseen122 · Post by **Unseen122** » Wed May 24, 2006 3:33 pm

Opening the C# hole should work, but it will throw our C# sharp. You coud try blowing more gently, but I doubt you would want to do that in a fast tune.

straycat82 · Post by **straycat82** » Wed May 24, 2006 3:39 pm

What about undercutting a small bit rather than making a bigger hole?

PallasAthena · Post by **PallasAthena** » Wed May 24, 2006 4:12 pm

If all else fails, you could try simply dropping your jaw when playing the high d. That should bend the pith sugnificiently.

Diggy · Post by **Diggy** » Wed May 24, 2006 7:13 pm

I did drop the jaw, and it helped, but in a real world concert situation, I will not be able to adjust that quickly. The concert's in one week. So what I decied to do was rewrite the harp part in Bb so I could just play my existubg Bb Susato,

but I'm still interested in suggestions,

undercutting-- is that above inside or below inside the tone hole? There's not much chimney effect to work with, as on the pipes. It's an "M" (thin) type copper tube.

Yeah, I've got a lot to learn. i don't plan on doing this this professionally (as a whistle maker). I'd just like to figure out why everything 'cept the octave D came out almost perfectly in tune.

Tommy · Post by **Tommy** » Wed May 24, 2006 7:32 pm

Diggy wrote:
but I'm still interested in suggestions,

undercutting-- is that above inside or below inside the tone hole? There's not much chimney effect to work with

Undercutting is the term for beveling the inside of the hole, or say the bottom of the hole. It is done mostly on the side of the hole towards the fipple to bring a flat note up. With a sharp note there is not much you can do.
Fill the hole with an epoxy and then redrill the hole lower.

Tommy · Post by **Tommy** » Wed May 24, 2006 7:32 pm

Sorry for the repeats.

Tommy · Post by **Tommy** » Wed May 24, 2006 7:33 pm

Sorry for the repeats.

Diggy · Post by **Diggy** » Wed May 24, 2006 8:24 pm

I will solder the hole shut, and then redrill. Do you think that may orkd (Orkney) as well.? (Work-- aye-- firewater!)
Hello!
Hook Na Hey,
as we Comaches say.

Tommy · Post by **Tommy** » Thu May 25, 2006 7:38 am

Diggy wrote:I will solder the hole shut, and then redrill. Do you think that may orkd (Orkney) as well.? (Work-- aye-- firewater!)
Hello!
Hook Na Hey,
as we Comaches say.

Yes that should do it.

syn whistles · Post by **syn whistles** » Thu May 25, 2006 2:50 pm

Perhaps your mistake is trying to play OXX XXX rather than XXX XXX. I assume too that you are talking about the middle D? If you get that in tune on a straight bore whistle, then the top D will be sharp and the bottom D slightly flat. I'd only worry about redrilling holes if those particular notes were out, it's the length of the whistle you need to worry about when tuning the D's.

Dave Parkhurst · Post by **Dave Parkhurst** » Thu May 25, 2006 3:11 pm

See my response below... this response was so stupid that I edited it out....
Having an Alzheimer's moment,
Dave

Tommy · Post by **Tommy** » Thu May 25, 2006 3:41 pm

I think he is working on a C whistle. And if the D is sharp it is the bottom hole that is to far up the tube.

Dave Parkhurst · Post by **Dave Parkhurst** » Thu May 25, 2006 3:49 pm

Ooooohhh! Sorry, I didn't read the initial entry closely enough! Stupid me... if the 2nd D is too sharp on a C whistle, the hole is too large. An in-tune low D indicates hole upper edge placement is okay, but if the 2nd D is sharp, you drilled the hole too large. Make another body with the upper edge of the D hole in the same place, just drill a smaller hole. Try placing a piece of tape over the far edge of the hole on the body you have and see...this may be the answer to your question. Placing tape over the far edge of the hole decreases hole size without affecting upper hole edge placement.
Duh....
Dave

fearfaoin · Post by **fearfaoin** » Thu May 25, 2006 4:29 pm

Dave Parkhurst wrote:Make another body with the upper edge of the D hole in the same place, just drill a smaller hole. Try placing a piece of tape over the far edge of the hole on the body you have and see...this may be the answer to your question.

Wouldn't this adversly affect the bottom D? I would think you'd want
to change the position and size of the hole...