Chiff and Fipple Forums

I've wondered about the supposed differences between the cheap and expensive ear plugs, too. I've read that the expensive ones have a flat attenuation over a large frequency range, whereas the cheap ones may attenuate part of the range more than other parts. Etymotic is the maker of the sound-atten...

If one could lower each of the notes on a Bb whistle by 1/2 step, then an A whistle would result. In pulling out the mouthpiece far enough to get an in-tune A as the bell note (from Bb,) the 7th (originally A) would drop more than the 1/2 step needed to get G#. (The top hole would be quite a bit fu...

I generally play at worship Sunday mornings. One of the instruments is a baby grand piano, and the tuning on that is not the same week to week. "Excuse me, could you please tune your piano to my whistle?" I usually need to tune the whistles sharp for Sundays, where they are more at makers'...

A Shaw would work - providing 1) you can push plenty of wind through it and 2) the guitar players will tune to you. With Susato tunables, in my experience, they're pretty much at A=440 with the head joint pushed all the way in, so it's unlikely to tune them sharp. (And you can't really tune them ver...

Continuous use of fingers and other body parts, especially coupled with ergonomically poor positioning, will result in difficulties, even if excessive tightness of muscles is not present. Granted, increased tightness will worsen any potential problem. Also, as Doug points out, parts wear out. And ol...

I also come from a classical music background. I do not have experience with very many whistle makes, and play mainly Burkes and Hoovers. I did a fair amount of research here before purchasing. (I also have lots of Susatos, which were available locally. These rarely get played away from home any mor...

The pain is likely a nerve problem. If a person does much keyboard work, a 'strangely-shaped' keyboard places much less stress on the nerves. I've had ulnar nerve problems in my arms for several years. Using a track ball positioned on my leg greatly reduces problems; using a Microsoft Natural (pseud...

ImNotIrish wrote:please, somebody, let me know if your are able to click on them and have them play for you without being downloaded.

Yes.

Thanks for that! Didn't realize this about the chimney depth on a metal flute. (I have one, but it's far from my main instrument.)

Ergonomic holes and 3 piece will both fit your hands better, with the 3 piece giving you the option of adjusting between your hands to allow less stress on your wrists. Flute is notoriously hard on your arms in terms of inducing nerve problems, so anything which minimizes this is good. The lip plate...

I've been using Doctor Slick for (guestimated) 5 years on a saxophone neck cork, and the cork still looks nearly new. I apply more following each use of the horn. A bonus - it smells good to my nose, too. From what I can tell, the man who makes this and other products has really looked into what wor...

FWIW - my old Larousse's French-English dictionary lists amateur with translations lover, amateur, dilettante; then gives 'amateur de musique' as music lover.

Susato - especially if you go for the high G (VSB.) With that one, earplugs are a must.

They no longer make the large bore lower G, which was fairly loud. The medium bore low G might still have good volume; I know that the A does.

Have been using the cork grease (Dr. Slick) for several years, and my cork (on a saxophone neck) is nearly like new. The fellow who makes these products seems to really know what he's doing.

I've been playing reed instruments (clarinet, saxophone) for more than forty years, some years more than others. Have been playing whistles with some degree of consistency for three or four years, and the Susato small bore D was one of the first I purchased. Early on, it was quite difficult to hit t...