Harp graphic  The Scottish Whistle
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Whistle Tutorial - Lesson 1.5

 

Making a Noise

Start again with your left hand covering the top three holes. This note is called G. Blow a steady stream of air through the whistle, firm but not too strong. You'll soon learn the right strength to blow.

Now play three G notes. This will be easier if you tongue the notes: saying tuh-tuh-tuh will help you make the right shapes with your tongue. Next, play three G notes followed by another three, but this time blow a little harder. This produces a higher note; in fact it's another G note, an octave above the first.

Now try the same, but with four fingers down; then five, then all of your fingers covering the holes. The amount of breath you use becomes second nature.

The principal of all wind instruments is that the longer the tube, the lower the note, so if you have all fingers down, that'll be the lowest note. Starting off with all fingers down, blow once, using tonguing (say tuh). Now take one finger off (your ring finger of your right hand) and blow again. Then another finger off (middle finger, right hand), then another, and so on up the barrel of the whistle until you have taken all your fingers off. Now place them all down and blow harder to get the higher octave note.

 

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