Making a fife

[arctic hobo]

Being an ex-fife (and flute) player I've always really liked the idea of making one myself. I know Elder is supposed to be the thing to use, but beyond that, I'm not too sure. I can tune it fine when finished, but the matter of just getting the holes in the right place to start with is a bit of a problem
What I was wondering was, do any of you have any experience of this, or can direct me somewhere I might get some help?

 

[JFW]

Arctic hobo,

here are a few links on how to make tin whistles which might give you the basics.
hope they are of some use.

http://www.ehhs.cmich.edu/~dhavlena/

http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Lofts/6611/makewhis.htm

http://www.ehhs.cmich.edu/~dhavlena/low-d.htm


Cheers

JFW

 

[arctic hobo]

Cheers for that

 

[match]

I can't find the page for it, but there was a method of making greenwood whistles that seemed a good idea:

You cut a small square into the bark, then cut right round the bark ont eh stem below this notch. You then beat the outide of the stem until the bark slips off in a complete cylinder (quite difficult when I tried it - try different woods). Keep this piece.

On the skinned wood piece, carve in a hole underneath the notch position on the bark, then carve a thin strip out of the surface from that hole to the end of the stick. Wet the stick, slide the bark back on and leave to 'set'. The thin strip should provide a small hole you blow down, and the hole in the wood and the notch in the bark should provide the 'whistle' part.

Edit: Found it! http://www.countrylovers.co.uk/fun/whistle2.htm

See also: http://www.countrylovers.co.uk/fun/whistle.htm for an elder core one.

 

[Corrosion]

Those copper pennywhistles look like fun to make, I'll have a go at making one and I'll post the results here.

 

[Corrosion]

Here we go, I made one of the penny whistles in the key of C.

Sounds decent enough and it's tuned properly, just need to learn to play it now!

 

[2blackcat]

If you want to learn, have a look at chiffandfipple.com

Loads of info on tin whistles and how to play them
The first forum I joined, that one