Chiff and Fipple Forums

Block flute is a term usually used for recorder. Recorders are usually in C or F.

Where did you hear of this instrument?

Traditionally they were designed to play in the higher octaves easily so they could be heard over the noise of armies marching, drilling, fighting, pillaging, etc. Your instrument isn't a traditional fife (which usually has only six holes) but a kind of preparatory instrument for someone who will be...

About a year and a half ago I had the opportunity to take my Folk Flute to Casey Burns in person for a general check-up and tweaking. The bore was a little rough, so he re-reamed and polished it and gave both parts a good oiling. He then re-wrapped the tendon and the plug he uses instead of cork. He...

Tipple. I'd also suggest the offset fingering or a three piece, if reach is an issue. (It was for me.)

Thank you, James.

Thanks to those of you who replied. I think now the odor/taste is from the material itself. I don't believe there is a finish on the instrument, that being a "synthetic" material there was no need for one. So I'll leave it out of the nylon bag and see if a little fresh air and (not direct)...

I recently came into a Sweetheart Professional Whistle. I bought it three years ago as a gift for my brother. It came back to me a few months ago after he passed away. I don't think he ever played it much. It is a laminated wood instrument and quite nice. If I recall correctly, the material was call...

Getting back to the original question: the fingering for the shakuhachi minor pentatonic scale is XXX XXO XXX OOO XXO OOO XOO OOO OXX XXX XXX XXO The intervals, that is, the differences in pitch, are the same as on your D pitched shakuhachi. But to have it come out sounding in the key of D, you need...

Go here:

http://www.xaphoon.com/

and watch the video clip on how the guy makes bamboo saxes. His poker doesn't look to be very hi-tech.

Great fun!!

Hope this helps.

I will very politlely disagree with Diane, only because a whistle has a different sound than a flute of the same pitch. True, they are easier to play, but I don't think that's the point. Any of those instruments would be fine for a first exploration. If you haven't played a wind instrument before, y...

I would also suggest the offset fingering for a Tipple "first" flute, especially if you're going to start off with a D instrument. I had an "in-line" instrument I simply could not manage. I traded another C & Fer for his with the offset holes (He's a piper and likes inline fi...

I have a maple F Sweetheart which I like very much and play often. I also have a Rosewood A, but it and I have never really bonded. I don't have a C, but I do have an old Rosewood high D which was my first flute/fife and a walnut Renaissance fife, both of which I like. This bunch would be a great st...

You're just obsessed with taking some wood off this poor flute, aren't you! Your description of the crack isn't very clear, but sand ing it isn't going to fix it. Why not take it to someone who knows about woodwinds and get a knowledgeable opinion? If you really want to experiment with flutes, downl...

Sounds like you've been talking to Casey Burns!!

Ordinary cork grease from your ordinary music store works pretty well. So does Burt's Bees lip balm and it's cheaper.

To roj's question, no, there are fifes in both lower and higher keys than Bb. Without stepping into the quagmire of "What's a flute, What's a fife?", most folks around here seem to think that anything above the key of G is a fife, G and anything below is a flute. That said, I have an instr...