Chiff and Fipple Forums

How about a "spit valve" for a flute--mounted on the bottom, out of the way of the keys? As a former horn player I was jealous of the trumpet and trombone players. They had their little valves. And I had to take the mouthpiece off, twirl the horn upside down, then pull the valve tube(s) of...

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Thanks for the review, NylonFlute. That helps a lot. I love my Burns Folk Flute. After some fitful starts with others, Casey's provided the jumpstart that I needed. I can manage the holes (right hand accident years ago). And the embouchure is challenging but forgiving. I like it enough that I want t...

I've seen a couple of reviews of the whistles made by this company. They also offer an aluminum flute with a resin (I think) head joint. It is available in several keys and resembles similar flutes with aluminum bodies and wood or delrin head joints by other makers (Hamilton, Somers, Millyard). Anyo...

WTB Dixon polymer whistles in Bb, A, G, or F--any or all. Trying to help relieve the burden of your holiday splurges or help clear out your collection. pm or email.

JPR

That really is special, Terry. You provide a service that reaches out farther than you know. Thanks for sharing. It warmed my heart on this cold afternoon.

Thanks, everyone, for your observations and suggestions. It has been years (and I do mean years) since this instrument was played. So I am taking it easy--like breaking it in. Maybe I should say breaking us both in. I have only been playing flute for a little over two years and I don't intend to str...

I inherited a wooden Bb fife (stamped "Geo. Cloos Crosby") from my wife's grandfather.It's about 17" long with 2" silver ferrules at the ends. I don't know what kind of wood it is. Not the most forgiving embouchure; but I'm able to get two clear octaves (the cat is anything but i...

Have to say it's "The County Tyrone." I don't know the source. But I heard it first on the Chieftains' "Water from the Well." It's a simple little waltz with a lovely swing that I sometimes play inside my head when out walking. Another tune in 3/4 I like is "The Ash Grove.&q...

I'm thinking about one of his F or D flutes, esp. the aluminum (wish he made a delrin in the low keys). What is the hole spacing like? I have some trouble with the right hand stretch.

I've seen numerous posts that mention tune books. Some refer to historic compilations that provide source material for tunes. Some talk about collections of tunes that a particular session uses. Others seem to refer to personal collections that the poster keeps. I've been playing the whistle for a c...

Back to the original thread: first, as an organist, I agree with those who define "chiff" as transient harmonics that sound when the tone is initiated. (It's what makes a tracker-action organ special). I liked it on the organ. I like it less on the whistle. I find that the Tony Dixon alloy...

I, too, have a TD 3-piece delrin flute--my first. I thought it would be better for learning and developing an embouchure than the TD ABS two-piece. The embouchure development was off and on, though mostly progressing well. But a bad left shoulder and short reach in the right hand made playing frustr...

I was looking at F flutes for my next purchase and a couple of sites offer a choice of embouchure hole cuts--elliptical, round, squared ellipse. I have been playing for about a year. I currently play a folk flute by Casey Burns and love it. He describes his embouchure cut as "ovoid." I've ...

In the spirit of full disclosure, and because I started this thread, a bit about myself first. I began my musical journey playing the piano and French horn and studying voice. I also took up the guitar, recorder (playing in a baroque ensemble), and the organ. I started playing at the whistle about 2...