New Gypsy Whistle

[hans]

I have been reviewing my Gypsy whistle model and decided to simplify it drastically, so it can be played far more intuitively, very much like a standard whistle. I am very happy with the results, and so are some friends here trying out these new whistles. Here is a pic showing Gypsy whistles in the minor keys D, C, Bb, A and G:

The main difference to a standard whistle you can see is the large third hole, which provides an A# (in D whistle terminology) instead of an A, and the augmented second (3 semi tone step) from G to A#, which is so characteristic of the harmonic minor scale and modes.

Gone is the top thumb hole for an extra note up the scale. Instead there is still a thumb hole, but working much like a C nat thumb hole, and the note could be cross fingered as well. The bottom end is changed too, and now provides a whole tone down from the XXXXXO tonic, not a half tone. This helps for more fluid playing in the harmonic minor modes. The half tone (D#) is important for double harmonic minor and major scales and this needs to be half-holed now.

Here are two mp3 samples, the second an attempt at some bluesy improvisation, both on a G Gypsy whistle:
https://www.box.com/s/47d5d398caf5a85f3911
https://www.box.com/s/eb7405e89db58e598214

You can read much more about the whistles, the various scales it plays easily, and listen to some samples, here (I rewrote the entire page):
http://music.bracker.co/Whistles/Gypsy_Whistles

[dspmusik]

so what are the notes now from bottom to top? i'm not 100% clear on the change.

[hans]

Let me just quote from my page:

For example lets look at the notes of a C Gypsy whistle.
From bottom (all holes closed) going upwards we have:
Bb C D Eb F# G Ab A (Ab operated by left thumb or cross-fingered, A by L1).
[Note: previous model: B C D Eb F# G A Bb (Bb operated by LT, Ab needed cross-fingering or half-holing)]

We have these main scales:
C D Eb F# G A Bb C - Spanish Phrygian, Romanian, Dorian #4 (Harmonic Dorian)
C D Eb F# G Ab Bb C - Hungarian Gypsy, Aeolian #4
D Eb F# G A Bb C D - Phrygian Dominant, Dorico Flamenco, Ahava Rabboh/Freygish, Hijaz
G A Bb C D Eb F# G - Harmonic Minor, Nahawand, Spanish Gypsy
G Ab Bb C D Eb F# G - Neapolitan Minor

By half-holing R3 (for B) or R2 (for C#) we get these scales:
C D Eb F# G Ab B C - Double Harmonic Minor, Minor Gypsy, Nawa Athar, Niavent
G A Bb C# D Eb F# G - Double Harmonic Minor, Minor Gypsy, Nawa Athar, Niavent
D Eb F# G A Bb C# D - Double Harmonic Major, Major Gypsy, Hijaz Kar, Bhairav
G Ab B C D Eb F# G - Double Harmonic Major, Major Gypsy, Hijaz Kar, Bhairav

By half-holing L3 (for F) we get these scales:
C D Eb F G Ab Bb C - Natural Minor (Aeolian)
C Eb F F# G Bb C - Blues

[dspmusik]

excellent information, i appreciate it.
so the key named on the whistle is not the bell note like usual, but R2 (ie, C whistle's bell note is a Bb)?
and it plays the harmonic minor scale from L1?

[hans]

excellent information, i appreciate it.
so the key named on the whistle is not the bell note like usual, but R2 (ie, C whistle's bell note is a Bb)?
and it plays the harmonic minor scale from L1?

Exactly. The bell note is not a root note of a useful scale, but the second note is the root note of a number of useful gypsy scales, so I name the Gypsy whistles according to this note (R2). I mark the key on the body, and a Gypsy whistle has a ~ sign under the key, to distinguish it further from a normal diatonic whistle body.