Is there really a 3rd octave?

[PallasAthena]

I can play into the third octive, but it sounds really painful. THen again, I'm not very experienced. On my low D (Alba), the upper second octive and lower third octive are tolerable up to third octive F sharp but on my high D Alba, it gets shrill by second octive B. My eight euro tourist trap whistle can get up into the third octive pretty far and sounds no worse than it does in the lower register, but I rarely play it because it sounds so bad in the lower register. My Clarke D won't play into the third octive at all. I've never played anything that required the third octive and for any slow peice that goes up to second octive A or B, I try to use my low whistle as it will be less grating to the ears.

Maybe, I'd get better at the higher register if I actually practiced, but it's like practicing the altisimo (really high not really there) range on my sax--I'm afraid of scaring the neighbors/my family so I don't. I just experemented with playing into the third octive on my whistles and my ferret woke up and looked at me like I was crazy...

[TheSpoonMan]

I'm learning some American fiddle tunes that go up to the high E or F (on a D whistle; acutally the tune's in G but I push it up since I only have a D and C whistle), and I composed a reel that goes up to the E the way I usually play it (I haven't solidified it yet; lotsa different ways the melody can turn).

I dunno, I like the third octave, when it's not used too much. It's nice and sudden, and has an odd, sorta clear (on my Generation at least) timbre; not expected after the second octave.

(Also I will sometimes play Loch Lomond in a very steady, boring beat, starting on the second octave D, just to annoy my friends. That goes up to the E. I love the looks of utter horror on peoples' faces when I do that)

[monkey]

thanks for the replies it has been quite enlightening

[selkie]

It also depends on the whistle as to whether it will go tunefull to 3rd octave!

[dlovrien]

You don't need to hear in order to make great music.
Case in point: Ludwig van Beethoven.

I would amend that to say "You don't need to hear with your ears..."

I was really surprised when I starting studying fife to find out (A) it's really just a cross-blown Bb whistle, and (B) they play almost exclusively in the 2nd and 3rd octave. So it's not a big surprised that (C) the fife is an outdoor instrument.