Gypsy - Flamenco - Arabic - Klezmer - Blues Whistles
I am very sorry, but my workshop is closed for the foreseeable future.
I am not taking any new orders, until further notice here.
Thank you for your interest!
Hans Bracker
for easier playing music in harmonic minor and related scales
Some sound samples from various Gypsy whistles:
Low D-Gypsy sound sample:
Low F-Gypsy sound sample:
Low G-Gypsy sound sample:
Low G-Gypsy sound sample (bluesy):
A-Gypsy sound sample:
High C-Gypsy sound sample:
My Gypsy whistles are designed for playing fluently in various Gypsy and Middle Eastern scales, and are custom built in many different keys, from high to low. Available as solo Gypsy whistles or as combo sets with additional standard (diatonic) whistle bodies. See Pricelist.
On a Gypsy whistle in the key of
(select key) The note played with five fingers down (●●●● ●●○) is the nominal key of the Gypsy whistle and the base note for some minor Gypsy scales. The bottom note (●●●● ●●●) is a semi-tone below that.
Opening the large L3 hole (●●●● ○○○ → ●●●○ ○○○) produces a one-and-a half tone interval (F → G#), which is an important characteristic of various Gypsy and Middle Eastern scales. See the scale examples below.
Opening the top thumb hole (○○●○ ○○○ or ○○○○ ○○○) produces an extra note (C) a semi-tone above the note with L1 open (●○○○ ○○○) (B). This is important for many of the scales outlined, as is the C#, which is produced with all fingers down. Thus we can play easily any of the semi-tones between G# and D.
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D Gypsy fingering chart
The second octave is fingered the same as the first octave, apart from Bb ● ○ ● ○ ○ ○ ○
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Scale examples
We can play in the following main scales (with semi-tone pattern and some of their more common names):
Notes | Pattern | Scale or mode names |
---|---|---|
D E F G# A Bb C D | 213 1 122 | Aeolian #4, Hungarian Gypsy |
D E F G# A B C D | 213 1 212 | Dorian #4 (Harmonic Dorian), Spanish Phrygian, Romanian |
D E F G# A Bb C# D | 213 1 131 | Double Harmonic Minor, Minor Gypsy, Nawa Athar, Niavent |
E F G# A B C D E | 131 2 122 | Phrygian Dominant, Dorico Flamenco, Ahava Rabboh/Freygish, Hijaz |
A B C D E F G# A | 212 2 131 | Harmonic Minor, Spanish Gypsy, Nahawand |
A Bb C D E F G# A | 122 2 131 | Neapolitan Minor |
A Bb C# D E F G# A | 131 2 131 | Double Harmonic Major, Major Gypsy, Hijaz Kar, Bhairav |
A B C# D E F G# A | 221 2 131 | Harmonic Major, Ionian b6 |
By half-holing R2 we can play in these scales: | ||
A B C D# E F G# A | 213 1 131 | Double Harmonic Minor, Minor Gypsy, Nawa Athar, Niavent |
E F G# A B C D# E | 131 2 131 | Double Harmonic Major, Major Gypsy, Hijaz Kar, Bhairav |
F G# A B C D Eb F | 312 1 212 | Hungarian Major |
By half-holing L3 we can play in these scales: | ||
D E F G A B C D | 212 2 212 | Dorian |
D E F G A Bb C D | 212 2 122 | Natural Minor (Aeolian) |
D E F G A Bb C# D | 212 2 131 | Harmonic Minor, Spanish Gypsy, Nahawand |
D F G G# A C D | 321 132 | Blues |
E F G A B C D E' | 122 2 122 | Phrygian |
A Bb C# D E F G A' | 131 2 122 | Phrygian Dominant, Dorico Flamenco, Ahava Rabboh/Freygish, Hijaz |
A B C D E F G A' | 212 2 122 | Natural Minor (Aeolian) |
Note: although the scale patterns are given, as intervals between notes in semi-tones, the Gypsy whistles are not tuned in equal temperament, but for a good sounding intonation, especially for the harmonic and double harmonic scales.
PVC Gypsy Flutes
Simple PVC Gypsy flutes are also available in the keys of low E, Eb, D (double harmonic minor)
Listen to Gypsy D flute sample:
See also:
- Multi-Modal Whistles (9-hole models)
- Kaval Whistles (5-hole models)
< Multi-Modal-Whistles | Up | Kaval-Whistles >