This blog is dedicated to the sublime instruments called nose flutes and which produce the most divine sound ever. We have chosen to discard all the native models from S. Pacific and Asia, for they need fingering to be played. We'll concentrate on "buccal cavity driven" nose flutes : the well patented and trademarked metal or plastic ones, plus, by a condemnable indulgence, some wooden craft or home-made productions.

Jul 8, 2012

Major improvement upon the brass whistle

Well, major improvement, yes, but so easy. Just added a soft plastic extension, which allows a totally hands-free playing...

9 comments:

  1. Interesting, On mine I had tried rolling some tape around the whistle mouth piece to make it more comfortable, and noticed that it could stay put handsfree by pushing upwards with my lower lip, But it was not too comfortable and I took it off. Your idea seems much better.

    Luis

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  2. Great customizing, yet a pipe inside my nose would make me feel like being in intensive care, connected to a drip and a life support system... doesn't do it for me...

    As it doesn't seem to bother you, why not add another pipe that provides a drone, as in a bagpipe? That would give you a key tone to play to. Even better would be three pipes, as in the Sardinian Launeddas...

    I don't think that there has ever been a combination of a buccal cavity driven nose flute and a finger-played, key hole nose flute played simultaneously. How about that for being a first: the two types of nose flute united!

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  3. I could not resist trying this out. I made one with a double tube:

    http://donluispersonalwebsite.weebly.com/1/post/2012/07/hands-free-nose-flute-made-from-referee-whistle.html

    Luis

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    Replies
    1. Wow, how about that! The double tube makes it look really balanced, both designwise and comfortwise. It probably gives the whistle much more power as well.

      Now: how about playing 2 at the same time? Could it be possible to play two reverse referee whistles simultaneously? The plugs would obviously work, one for each nostril, but how about the labium? I am not sure...

      I was wondering if a 'double barrel' labium might work, as in the Launeddas or panflute: seperate pipes or labia connected, strapped or glued together. If anyone can do it, it's either you or Antoine!

      The thing is it is unlikely to play parallel melodies, as that would probably require two tongues.

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    2. I tried also a double tube on mine, but it didn't work well. I also tried to couple 2 plastic whistles, and the result wasnot probant (but the whistles were of bad quality from the origin).

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  4. @ Luis : we will finally reinvent a perfect object :) Congrats for your "double-tube"!, hahaha!
    The thing is, with our handsfree whistle, it's not easy to reach the bass without having it falling from the mouth ...

    @ Maikel : I need intensive care!

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  5. Wow!, too many ideas here.

    I like the double tube but have problems making a good seal around the nose. Maybe some foam around the tube would solve it.

    However at this point it seems to me that the thing to do, if someone wants to do it, is to put this idea in a "real" nose flute:

    - An ergonomic nose piece, shaped for good seal, with tubes to go inside the nose to keep it in place.

    - A way to hold it in the mouth, such as extensions to hold with lips or teeth, or a shape that fits better than a whistle. Maybe something like a baby pacifier :).

    Luis

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  6. There are TWO (2) RULES when Playing the NoseWhistle.
    RULE #1- Do NOT look in the Mirror.
    RULE #2- Do NOT Eat 1 Hour BEFORE or AFTER Playing this Whistle.

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    1. RILE #3- Do NOT Eat WHILE playing this whistle.

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