A tutor who tooted the flute Tried to tutor two tooters to toot Said the two to the tutor..... "Is it harder to toot Or to tutor two tooters to toot?" Hi Grey! I think you recommended "The Complete Irish Tin Whistle Tutor" and gave me some pointers at your concert with Malcolm Dalglish over 40 years ago..... (at the Unitarian church on Woodmont Blvd. in Nashville). Got the book! Played the whistle for years and then let it lapse.... like Ham-dulcet., violin, viola, bowed psaltery, harmonica and literally several others. I had the gift of becoming very proficient pretty quickly but had (have) ADHD so bad that I stopped enjoying them very quickly. So they all lapsed. ADHD is Real. Anyway, I've lived in Alaska for forty years thinking I ought do do something about my self diagnosed Asperger's syndrome.... Dang.... you doan wanna hear that! Keep up the good work.... Wish You lived next door to me. I'm sure the limerick is public domain. PS there's bazillions of undiagnosed folks on the Autism Spectrum.
Thank you very much,yes sir you're very welcome. I really appreciate you.I have a cocobolo wood susato whistle and a tuneable brass Killarney whistle both in the key of D. I would like to keep in touch with you if that's alright,ask questions as I continue through my musical journey,well you have a good evening,John...
For the Clark and Generation whistles you can make it tunable ( excluding the original Clark one ( which is tapered inside the bore ) ), they usually are just glued into place ( usually to prevent damage during shipping) all you need to do is use a hairdryer for a few seconds and then twist gently until the mouthpiece comes off ( after that you'll need to clean a bit the gunk from the glue ( on Generation ones I haven't seen any ( and it looks as if they build them for tuning )) after you do that you'll need some cork grease ( about 1 dollar at most big music stores( used for clarinet)) and then you apply a bit on the bore ( and with a soft toothpick ( like the ones used for dentures ) you'll need to lube up inside the mouthpiece itself ( don't go into the window part just the bit that sticks to your instrument) after a few fittings you now have a very tunable whistle. **NOTE: CHEAP $10 WHISTLES AREN'T EVER TUNABLE EVEN WITH THE ABOVE MENTIONED TECHNIQUE CAUSE THEY ARE PLASTIC AND USUALLY BUILD AS TOYS**. The type of whistle Grey has ... it's not really beginner friendly cause it's usually around $250 for 1 whistle so yes you could buy a Tony Dixon high D one for about $80 but problem is they are often quite large and need a legit flute case, I recommend the Generation Nickle plated D ones ( you could go for other keys but keep in mind high D is usually the one you will be using the most( mainly cause most folks can't afford the low Ds and also the low D now your getting into the flute terrain and ergo harder to play a bit( not to mention the cheapest one being a low cost of $200 )) or the Clark Sweetone ( make sure you get the modern ones since the Clark original series are quite difficult to play and are never tunable). If you really are a musician( as in you get payed loads of money for your music) then Tony Dixon is a good beginner for the pro level but those again are quite a bit more expensive
Also wanted to add( in regards to tuning): DON'T USE A GUITAR TUNER IT WON'T WORK, I'd recommend either an app on your phone or a multi instrument tuner ( look and see it can be used for the violin ( high pitch = good for whistles/flutes guitar = low pitch = your whistle/flute won't be detected by it's sensors)). Another thing is make sure your whistle is actually a tin/penny whistle and not just a kids toy (easy way is to look how much it costs.. usually they go for around $15 ( for normal people whistles ( I mean the ones that most folks will be willing to buy cause let's be real the pros buy the expensive ones ( and they are expensive cause really only like 30 people could afford to buy them))) and at the $15-$40 range they MUST be of Nickle plated tin not aluminum( bad for your health) and not steel ( rusts and corrodes) and never cheap blown plastic ( those again are toys for kids to make noise you won't be able to tune or even play them). P.S I have a Masters in Music and work with the Royal Winds Orchestra ( in UK)
The headpiece will not inadvertently move while you are playing, unless there is something very wrong with that particular whistle. In my experience, some whistle do not come with instructions for tuning, but I don't claim to have thorough knowledge on that.
When using an electronic tuner how many cents sharp or flat is considered acceptable? I often find say on a D whistle the Ds will be spot on but the other pitches may be some cents flat or sharp.
This is a tricky issue. I feel that electronic tuners don't always get it right. I suspect that they are not "listening" to all the overtones in a sound in the way that a human ear does. So sometimes when a note sounds in tune to me, the tuner does not always agree. I would train and trust your ear as much as you can. I would say that a reading of 10 or 12 cents off may still be good and in tune to most listeners. Also, we don't always want to play every note according to equal temperament. For example, if you are playing the 3rd in a major scale, it may sound sweeter to the ear when it is a bit flat of equal temperament. Things are not as cut and dries as electronic tuners tempt us to believe.
@@greylarsenirishflutewhislte Thanks for the reply. I posted this query on one or two of the whistle sites and the replies match yours in going with one's ear rather than the tuner. Some replies went into some detail about just and equal temperament. This was rather boggling and perhaps a tad too academic. I have also found breath control has a lot to do with getting the right tone. I may be too quick to fault the whistle rather than my skill.
Thanks for your very good question. D is the most stable note because, when playing D, you are using the longest possible vibrating air column, all holes being covered. The longer the vibrating air column in the whistle (or flute), the more stable is the pitch. As for G, it is not as stable as D, but is still fairly stable. I like using it as a reference note because it is the tonic note of the second major scale that is easily playable on the whistle (the first one being D major) and because so many tunes in the traditional Irish repertoire are in G or a related modal scale. And subjectively, G just feels like a very important and grounded note to me. I hope this helps.
@@greylarsenirishflutewhislte Well, now I can segue to a related topic, scales. The only difference between D and G is a C# in D and a C natural in G. So with the other notes being the same for both scales I don't how using G as the tonic is different than using D. If the whistle is tuned using D isn't necessarily tuned to G as well?
@@soslothful Another good question. Since no whistle can be perfectly tuned to equal temperament, there is a certain degree of compromise required. I find that when I check both D and G, I make a tuning decision (i.e. lengthening or shortening the whistle) based upon tuner readings (or, more often, just trusting my ear in reference to a stable pitch) for both of these notes, neither one being necessarily “perfectly” in tune. Of course the pitch of any note depends in part upon how much force you use when blowing. So tuning is also personal. I could tune a whistle to suit myself, hand it to you, and you might not find it tuned just right for how you play.
![Irish Tin Whistle Lesson #2 - [The Basics] Rattlin' Bog 🎵🎵](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/vDFjcWiCI3w/mqdefault.jpg)
A tutor who tooted the flute
Tried to tutor two tooters to toot
Said the two to the tutor.....
"Is it harder to toot
Or to tutor two tooters to toot?"
Hi Grey! I think you recommended "The Complete Irish Tin Whistle Tutor" and gave me some pointers at your concert with Malcolm Dalglish over 40 years ago..... (at the Unitarian church on Woodmont Blvd. in Nashville). Got the book! Played the whistle for years and then let it lapse.... like Ham-dulcet., violin, viola, bowed psaltery, harmonica and literally several others. I had the gift of becoming very proficient pretty quickly but had (have) ADHD so bad that I stopped enjoying them very quickly. So they all lapsed. ADHD is Real.
Anyway, I've lived in Alaska for forty years thinking I ought do do something about my self diagnosed Asperger's syndrome.... Dang.... you doan wanna hear that!
Keep up the good work.... Wish You lived next door to me. I'm sure the limerick is public domain.
PS there's bazillions of undiagnosed folks on the Autism Spectrum.
The Bob Ross of tin whistles.
I like that.
"Yi cannae buy good ear's"
My auld sound engineering lecturer told me 😊
Great video Sir 💙Saor Alba💙
Very helpful. Thorough and well-presented. Thanks.
Thank you! I'm glad you find this video to be helpful.
i guess Im quite off topic but does anybody know a good place to watch new movies online?
What a fantastic video. I'm a big fan of your books. Thanks very much for this!
Thank you Mr.Larsen. I have your book 'the essential Tin Whistle Toolbox. Great book!!! You have thought me so much.
Thank you, John! I am so happy to know that these videos and my book have been useful to you.
Thank you very much,yes sir you're very welcome.
I really appreciate you.I have a cocobolo wood susato whistle and a tuneable brass Killarney whistle both in the key of D. I would like to keep in touch with you if that's alright,ask questions as I continue through my musical journey,well you have a good evening,John...
Thank you for the good tip on how to tune by ear!
Keep up the GREAT JOB !!! I found your suggestions most helpful for tuning my whistles. Thanks again !! Paddyboy
I'm so glad this video was helpful for you! Thanks for letting me know.
Excellent instructional video. So helpful. TY
For the Clark and Generation whistles you can make it tunable ( excluding the original Clark one ( which is tapered inside the bore ) ), they usually are just glued into place ( usually to prevent damage during shipping) all you need to do is use a hairdryer for a few seconds and then twist gently until the mouthpiece comes off ( after that you'll need to clean a bit the gunk from the glue ( on Generation ones I haven't seen any ( and it looks as if they build them for tuning )) after you do that you'll need some cork grease ( about 1 dollar at most big music stores( used for clarinet)) and then you apply a bit on the bore ( and with a soft toothpick ( like the ones used for dentures ) you'll need to lube up inside the mouthpiece itself ( don't go into the window part just the bit that sticks to your instrument) after a few fittings you now have a very tunable whistle. **NOTE: CHEAP $10 WHISTLES AREN'T EVER TUNABLE EVEN WITH THE ABOVE MENTIONED TECHNIQUE CAUSE THEY ARE PLASTIC AND USUALLY BUILD AS TOYS**. The type of whistle Grey has ... it's not really beginner friendly cause it's usually around $250 for 1 whistle so yes you could buy a Tony Dixon high D one for about $80 but problem is they are often quite large and need a legit flute case, I recommend the Generation Nickle plated D ones ( you could go for other keys but keep in mind high D is usually the one you will be using the most( mainly cause most folks can't afford the low Ds and also the low D now your getting into the flute terrain and ergo harder to play a bit( not to mention the cheapest one being a low cost of $200 )) or the Clark Sweetone ( make sure you get the modern ones since the Clark original series are quite difficult to play and are never tunable). If you really are a musician( as in you get payed loads of money for your music) then Tony Dixon is a good beginner for the pro level but those again are quite a bit more expensive
A Clark original can be made less flat by carefully removing material from the end with a belt sander. Carefully.
wow man...made my life..
Nice one Subscribed...Keep'em comin....
I'm so glad this video has been helpful for you! Thanks for letting me know, and for your encouragement.
Is your tuner set at A 440? And would you consider a tutorial on the Piper's Grip? Thanks
Guitar Tuna's viola standard setting will pick up a low D whistle if that helps anybody cheat their ear
Also wanted to add( in regards to tuning): DON'T USE A GUITAR TUNER IT WON'T WORK, I'd recommend either an app on your phone or a multi instrument tuner ( look and see it can be used for the violin ( high pitch = good for whistles/flutes guitar = low pitch = your whistle/flute won't be detected by it's sensors)). Another thing is make sure your whistle is actually a tin/penny whistle and not just a kids toy (easy way is to look how much it costs.. usually they go for around $15 ( for normal people whistles ( I mean the ones that most folks will be willing to buy cause let's be real the pros buy the expensive ones ( and they are expensive cause really only like 30 people could afford to buy them))) and at the $15-$40 range they MUST be of Nickle plated tin not aluminum( bad for your health) and not steel ( rusts and corrodes) and never cheap blown plastic ( those again are toys for kids to make noise you won't be able to tune or even play them). P.S I have a Masters in Music and work with the Royal Winds Orchestra ( in UK)
Excellent 👌
Will the headpiece move whilst playing ? Do whistles typically come with directions for tuning ?
The headpiece will not inadvertently move while you are playing, unless there is something very wrong with that particular whistle. In my experience, some whistle do not come with instructions for tuning, but I don't claim to have thorough knowledge on that.
When using an electronic tuner how many cents sharp or flat is considered acceptable? I often find say on a D whistle the Ds will be spot on but the other pitches may be some cents flat or sharp.
This is a tricky issue. I feel that electronic tuners don't always get it right. I suspect that they are not "listening" to all the overtones in a sound in the way that a human ear does. So sometimes when a note sounds in tune to me, the tuner does not always agree. I would train and trust your ear as much as you can. I would say that a reading of 10 or 12 cents off may still be good and in tune to most listeners. Also, we don't always want to play every note according to equal temperament. For example, if you are playing the 3rd in a major scale, it may sound sweeter to the ear when it is a bit flat of equal temperament. Things are not as cut and dries as electronic tuners tempt us to believe.
@@greylarsenirishflutewhislte Thanks for the reply. I posted this query on one or two of the whistle sites and the replies match yours in going with one's ear rather than the tuner. Some replies went into some detail about just and equal temperament. This was rather boggling and perhaps a tad too academic. I have also found breath control has a lot to do with getting the right tone. I may be too quick to fault the whistle rather than my skill.
nice video, thanks!
I'm very happy that you found it to be useful. Thank you.
Hello from Cymru
Why are G and D more stable notes than rest of the scale?
Thanks for your very good question. D is the most stable note because, when playing D, you are using the longest possible vibrating air column, all holes being covered. The longer the vibrating air column in the whistle (or flute), the more stable is the pitch. As for G, it is not as stable as D, but is still fairly stable. I like using it as a reference note because it is the tonic note of the second major scale that is easily playable on the whistle (the first one being D major) and because so many tunes in the traditional Irish repertoire are in G or a related modal scale. And subjectively, G just feels like a very important and grounded note to me. I hope this helps.
@@greylarsenirishflutewhislte Well, now I can segue to a related topic, scales. The only difference between D and G is a C# in D and a C natural in G. So with the other notes being the same for both scales I don't how using G as the tonic is different than using D. If the whistle is tuned using D isn't necessarily tuned to G as well?
@@soslothful Another good question. Since no whistle can be perfectly tuned to equal temperament, there is a certain degree of compromise required. I find that when I check both D and G, I make a tuning decision (i.e. lengthening or shortening the whistle) based upon tuner readings (or, more often, just trusting my ear in reference to a stable pitch) for both of these notes, neither one being necessarily “perfectly” in tune.
Of course the pitch of any note depends in part upon how much force you use when blowing. So tuning is also personal. I could tune a whistle to suit myself, hand it to you, and you might not find it tuned just right for how you play.
Donald Sutherland