Outdoor playing

PallasAthena · Post by **PallasAthena** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 7:09 pm

When I play my high D Alba outside, I notice the tone sounds "thinner" than when I play it in an inclosed space. Is that just something I'll have to live with or is there technique I can use to make it sound better? I haven't tried my Alba low D, my Clark D, or my tourist trap whistle of unknown brand outside yet.

riverman · Post by **riverman** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 8:47 pm

I love to play outside among the trees.
We live in the country so I can get away with more than a city person could.
Lots of times I sit by the river and play for over a half hour.

Last week I played a Syn C by the river with the full moon lighting the water. I felt like one of Elrond Halfelven's folk.

...but, that doesn't answer your question...

Unseen122 · Post by **Unseen122** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 8:52 pm

That is pretty much standard. It has to do with sound waves and other scientific stuff that I can't explain.

PallasAthena · Post by **PallasAthena** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 9:58 pm

I was kind of guessing it was a projection/sound issue. I wonder if it would be less noticeable on a lower whistle because it wouldn't sound as shrill...I'll have to try it.

talasiga · Post by **talasiga** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 12:07 am

Unseen122 wrote:That is pretty much standard. It has to do with sound waves and other scientific stuff that I can't explain.

Yes, I generally only like to play flute and whistles outside in such places:

* a natural grotto
* at the foot of a gentle waterfall
* surrounded by precipices
* a narrow gully (english noun) and a narrow gully (hindi noun)
* a grove with very thickly trunked trees
* the mouth of a cave
* a city subway (cough, cough)

and so on ......

I would like to take up trumpet for other outside stints.

NoMattch · Post by **NoMattch** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 8:22 am

I love playing outside as long as it isn't too windy.
We played a festival along the Delaware River this summer right before a storm and the wind kept whipping over the fipple hole which seemed to thin or even cancel out the sound.

I had to turn my back a few times (that when I first really appreciated the headset).

Whitmores75087 · Post by **Whitmores75087** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 5:07 pm

Some whistles are affected a lot by the slightest wind. If it's tunable, try turning the fipple upside down. Also turn your back to the wind. Susato's and Sweethearts are more wind resistant than most.

riverman · Post by **riverman** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 11:21 am

It has to be a pretty windy day when I can't find a wind-sheltered spot or direction to point the whistle so the notes don't blow back up the pipe.

Scott McCallister · Post by **Scott McCallister** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 6:10 pm

PallasAthena wrote:I was kind of guessing it was a projection/sound issue. I wonder if it would be less noticeable on a lower whistle because it wouldn't sound as shrill...I'll have to try it.

It's actually more of a "reflection" issue. High frequencies (like whistle notes) bounce, or reflect back very well. Indoors you get the benefit of the walls, ceiling, windows, and floors (if not carpeted) feeding the sound back to you making it sound louder.

Low frequencies (from about A=110) tend not to bounce but rather bend around or even penetrate objects. That's why you never hear any of the cymbals or high notes on your neighbor's stereo, just the booming bass. Same with the kids in the thump-mobile-cars.