This was quite a bit of fun to watch, it enabled me to see your breath requirements for several different styles of whistle and enjoy the practice of practice with you.
For me there is no Low whistle bell note better than the medium hard blower Goldie. I have a low C and a low D and have played a low F and low A and high C and D. They are loud enough for sessions and I can lean in the lower notes mercilessly. As for flutes, I think most good to intermediary flutes out there will depend more on the player than on the material/format itself. Tonging on the flute is a whole thing in itself, it takes a lot more practice than actually playing clean notes. Your playing of the flute is definitely evolving! And thanks for yet another very interesting video!
how long have you been playing flute? and what was the hardest part for you to learn? recently started transverse myself, got an Arik the flutemaker oriental flute, adore the sound, only just getting the low notes nice and clear on the 3rd day, still learning though, going up to mid from low trips me up
I started on a Doug Tipple PVC Eb flute in 2012, but my journey hasn't been consistent. Initially, I struggled tremendously with getting a consistent embouchure, and still do, to a certain extent. I have to really focus on relaxing my tongue and neck muscles as I go for high notes. My neck used to hurt when I played for too long because of all my excess tension. My most helpful revelation was realizing that it's the inside of your lips that play, rather than the outside. Think of rolling your lips slightly outward, like a puckering motion, so the air is being focused by the smoother backside of your lips, rather than the rougher exterior. Helped me get that focused tone. I love the sounds I get out of flutes when my embouchure is really on. It's like magic. But it's frustrating on bad embouchure days, and makes me appreciate the simple consistency of whistles. Lately, I've been focusing more on the flute, trying to get to where I could confidently do a set without losing the tone. I realize I hardly ever play for long, unbroken stretches, so I haven't developed good breathing habits. Playing short phrases is an easy habit to get into when you play in isolation. My goal this year is to construct, and polish, a long set list, as if I were going to perform solo for twenty minutes or so. I've got so many bits and pieces of tunes floating around in my head, totally unorganized. I was making flute progress updates here and there on my channel. Here's my initial attempt at flute: ruclips.net/video/AJMiuFHeE0I/видео.html
What low whistle plays the second octave the easiest? Meaning with least amount of breath? I have the James Dominic low G and I can barely play the second octave before my entire neighbors get ticked off.
Yeah, it's a whistle for a more advanced player than I am. The bottom three notes want to be flat, and the highest three notes, particularly the high B, want to be sharp (and need more air to keep them in the second octave). The low notes sound fantastic and are closest to being on pitch when you're really pushing them, but they're also on the edge of breaking, while the 2nd octave notes need to be blown more gently to keep them in tune, but then the highest notes want to drop down without enough air (I'm not sure the high B can be blown in-tune without shading it). With whistles like my MK and Goldie, I never worry about tuning or breaking, since they're really stable with a consistent breath curve. With the Onyx, that's all I'm thinking about, trying to push and pull back at just the right places over the range of the whistle. It's a whistle that feels like it would reward commitment, and I certainly haven't been able to master it yet. They're listed for $350 on the Irish Flute Store's website, so I believe they're still being made. With your affinity toward 1.5 octave tunes, it might be a good fit. www.irishflutestore.com/products/onyx-low-d-whistle-by-walt-sweet
5:43 - Onyx Delrin Low D
6:30 - Solen Le Souef blackwood flute
7:53 - Somers Delrin Flute
9:24 - Burke aluminum low D
27:21 - Carbony flute
33:27 - MK Pro Low D
18:49 - Chieftain V3 low D
Low note comparison
29:10 - Carbony
29:50 - Somers
30:10 - Onyx
30:30 - Burke
30:40 - Goldie
31:00 - Chieftain V3
33:14 - MK Pro Low D
High Note Comparison
31:21 - Somers
31:35 - Carbony
31:50 - Le Souef
32:02 - Onyx
32:14 - Burke
32:27 - Goldie
32:43 Chieftain V3
33:17 - MK Pro Low D
This was quite a bit of fun to watch, it enabled me to see your breath requirements for several different styles of whistle and enjoy the practice of practice with you.
For me there is no Low whistle bell note better than the medium hard blower Goldie. I have a low C and a low D and have played a low F and low A and high C and D. They are loud enough for sessions and I can lean in the lower notes mercilessly. As for flutes, I think most good to intermediary flutes out there will depend more on the player than on the material/format itself. Tonging on the flute is a whole thing in itself, it takes a lot more practice than actually playing clean notes. Your playing of the flute is definitely evolving! And thanks for yet another very interesting video!
The bell notes on the Burke and Onyx are more powerful, but I agree that the Goldie has plenty of power, and fewer quirks.
Love the tonguing/beat-boxing!
how long have you been playing flute? and what was the hardest part for you to learn? recently started transverse myself, got an Arik the flutemaker oriental flute, adore the sound, only just getting the low notes nice and clear on the 3rd day, still learning though, going up to mid from low trips me up
I started on a Doug Tipple PVC Eb flute in 2012, but my journey hasn't been consistent. Initially, I struggled tremendously with getting a consistent embouchure, and still do, to a certain extent. I have to really focus on relaxing my tongue and neck muscles as I go for high notes. My neck used to hurt when I played for too long because of all my excess tension. My most helpful revelation was realizing that it's the inside of your lips that play, rather than the outside. Think of rolling your lips slightly outward, like a puckering motion, so the air is being focused by the smoother backside of your lips, rather than the rougher exterior. Helped me get that focused tone.
I love the sounds I get out of flutes when my embouchure is really on. It's like magic. But it's frustrating on bad embouchure days, and makes me appreciate the simple consistency of whistles. Lately, I've been focusing more on the flute, trying to get to where I could confidently do a set without losing the tone. I realize I hardly ever play for long, unbroken stretches, so I haven't developed good breathing habits. Playing short phrases is an easy habit to get into when you play in isolation. My goal this year is to construct, and polish, a long set list, as if I were going to perform solo for twenty minutes or so. I've got so many bits and pieces of tunes floating around in my head, totally unorganized.
I was making flute progress updates here and there on my channel. Here's my initial attempt at flute:
ruclips.net/video/AJMiuFHeE0I/видео.html
@@NathanielDowell seems tricky to master, thank you for sharing
13:00 - I know that tune but don't remember its name... Please?
BTW, awesome playing, man! 👏🏻
Waterman's. There's a really cool video of Mike McGoldrick playing it on a flute.
ruclips.net/video/hJ97-7IqaI0/видео.htmlsi=n72AREnqOMkRsuVc
@@NathanielDowell Thanks again!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
What low whistle plays the second octave the easiest? Meaning with least amount of breath? I have the James Dominic low G and I can barely play the second octave before my entire neighbors get ticked off.
Goldfinch makes a very air efficient low D for a good price.
The Onyx sound is fantastic, never heard a low whistle sound like that. Is it hard to control? From the recording I can hear some air issues.
Yeah, it's a whistle for a more advanced player than I am. The bottom three notes want to be flat, and the highest three notes, particularly the high B, want to be sharp (and need more air to keep them in the second octave). The low notes sound fantastic and are closest to being on pitch when you're really pushing them, but they're also on the edge of breaking, while the 2nd octave notes need to be blown more gently to keep them in tune, but then the highest notes want to drop down without enough air (I'm not sure the high B can be blown in-tune without shading it).
With whistles like my MK and Goldie, I never worry about tuning or breaking, since they're really stable with a consistent breath curve. With the Onyx, that's all I'm thinking about, trying to push and pull back at just the right places over the range of the whistle. It's a whistle that feels like it would reward commitment, and I certainly haven't been able to master it yet.
They're listed for $350 on the Irish Flute Store's website, so I believe they're still being made. With your affinity toward 1.5 octave tunes, it might be a good fit.
www.irishflutestore.com/products/onyx-low-d-whistle-by-walt-sweet
Thank you @@NathanielDowell , I'll consider it. You are informative as always, all the best!