Keyed Whistles...Yeah, thats right!

lordofthestrings · Post by **lordofthestrings** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 8:51 pm

Hey!

I'm an 17 year old whistle maker/inovator, and have been at the craft for the past 3 years. I am entirely self taught, and make and resotre violins as well. The whistles I make bear the name 'Firefly'. Over the last summer, I've been developing a keyed, CHROMATIC tin whistle (well, I make em out of copper, aluminum, and faux ivory). This was the response to a bet, and a sickness from listening to people half hole bloody out of tune notes! The instrument have finished at this point is in d, and has F nat and B flat keys. These are operated by the free 'pinky' fingers of each hand, giving them something to do, and a comfortable position to rest in.

I have taken pictures of this instrument, but as I am new to the site, I cannot figure out how to put them on here. Please throw me a line, and I will have them up as soon as I learn how. I will also post pictures of other far out musical machines I've made, such as a 'uilleann style' whistle, which is driven by a bellows and bag.

Cheers,

S.H.

Bretton · Post by **Bretton** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 10:59 pm

lordofthestrings wrote: The instrument have finished at this point is in d, and has F nat and B flat keys. These are operated by the free 'pinky' fingers of each hand, giving them something to do, and a comfortable position to rest in.

Can you make them with F-nat and G# (instead of Bb)?

If you have a site somewhere to place your images, then just put the URL (web address) here and place this around it:

[img]URL%20HERE[/img]

-Brett

azw · Post by **azw** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 11:32 pm

Welcome, S.H.

If you google on the phrase: "free image hosting" (I didn't use quotes), you'll find lots of websites that'll host your images for free. Some people like imageshack.us.

I'm looking forward to seeing your creations.

arnie · Post by **arnie** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 1:36 am

You could try imageshack, a very easy to use tool to get photos on the internet. I use it all the time. This is the link: http://imageshack.us/

Flogging Jason · Post by **Flogging Jason** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 4:54 am

please do post pictures!

fearfaoin · Post by **fearfaoin** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 6:58 am

I use tinypic.com, which hosts the pic
(at a limited size) and gives you a small
url to link to it, but you can't go back to
edit it or remove it, if that's important to
you.

NOTE: Daniel Bingamon is also making a
chromatic keyed whistle

Congratulations · Post by **Congratulations** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 8:29 am

Bretton wrote:Can you make them with F-nat and G# (instead of Bb)?

/agree

Doc Jones · Post by **Doc Jones** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 8:39 am

Hi S.H.

If you email me the pictures I can host & Post for you.

Doc

Flogging Jason · Post by **Flogging Jason** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 3:42 pm

With Fnat and Bb keys one could easily play tunes in the keys of F or A minor. I can cross-finger Bb's easily enough but Fnats are a pain to half-hole.

mutepointe · Post by **mutepointe** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 9:05 pm

that's one cool name you got there lordofthestrings. now get yourself an avatar to go with it. if you're 17 years old, you should consider sleeping in and watching lots of tv and being a burden to the grownups in your life. i wanna see pics too.

King Friday · Post by **King Friday** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 12:54 am

No way, Im 17 too, but I get up at the crack of dawn every day...making keyed whistles of course...

Congratulations · Post by **Congratulations** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 10:15 am

mutepointe wrote:if you're 17 years old, you should consider sleeping in and watching lots of tv and being a burden to the grownups in your life.

Hell, I'm still doing that, and I'm 19, now.

Unseen122 · Post by **Unseen122** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 2:30 pm

Doing that right now. Of course, I do try to build things also, got to finnish that Bouzouki kit...

lordofthestrings · Post by **lordofthestrings** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 6:55 pm

Here it are!! The long (not really) and anxiously (matter of opinion) awaited image!!!! There are more, but this should wet your appetite...

The key pads (that you press with your finger) are tear drop shaped, but I can make other shapes on request. Also, I can make wooden rings, instead of faux ivory. In short, I am quite flexable, and open to stylistic tweaks and criticizms. (Note that my solder joints are a little sloppy; this is simply because I have not taken the time to clean them up, as this was meant to be a prototype.)

A discerning eye will notice that the keys are "on the wrong side". I play lefty, and have made this whistle so I can use it.

In response to the question of a G# key, I could sure make one, thus allowing key of E playing. I've meant to do one of those for a while now, also adding an E flat key for FULL CHROMATIC DOMINATION!!!!! BAW HA HA HA.... ok that was weird. I could place the levers to go wherever one would want them to (I would put the F nat and B flat on the side usually, and E flat and G# on the back, but I can position them based on personal preferance, adding between 1 and all 4).

17 is fun. 18 soon. 'Nuff said. (was that juvinial enough?)

Let me know what you think of her. She's been heavily used for about 3 months now, and shows it!

-S.H.

[/img]

Loren · Post by **Loren** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 7:08 pm

So, how does it sound?

Loren

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