Harmonic Minor Whistles

For easier playing music in harmonic minor and double harmonic minor and related scales

Low D harmonic minor whistle with in-line holes

Some sound samples from various harmonic minor whistles:

Low D-hm sound sample:
Low F-hm sound sample:
Low G-hm sound sample:
Low G-hm sound sample (bluesy):
A-hm sound sample:
High C-hm sound sample:

My harmonic minor whistles are designed for playing fluently in various Gypsy and Middle Eastern scales (see scale examples below), and are custom built in many different keys, from high to low.

On a harmonic minor whistle in the key of (:keyselect:) (select key)
we get these notes: C^# - D - E - F - G^# - A - (B_b) - B - C

The notes E_b/D^# and G can be played half-holing R2 or L3
( ◘ on the fingering chart).

The note played with five fingers down (_●●●● ●●○) is the nominal key of the harmonic minor whistle and the base note for some 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 the harmonic minor scale and various Middle Eastern scales, like Hijaz. 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.

D hm fingering chart

C^#	_● ● ● ● ● ● ●
D	_● ● ● ● ● ● ○
D^#	_● ● ● ● ● ◘ ○
E	_● ● ● ● ● ○ ○
F	_● ● ● ● ○ ○ ○
G	_● ● ● ◘ ○ ○ ○
G^#	_● ● ● ○ ○ ○ ○
A	_● ● ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
B_b	_● ○ ● ● ○ ○ ○
B	_● ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
(B	_○ ● ● ○ ○ ○ ○ )
C	_○ ○ ● ○ ○ ○ ○
(C	_○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ )

The second octave is fingered the same as the first octave, apart from

B_b _● ○ ● ○ ○ ○ ○

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 B_b 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 B_b 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 B_b C D E F G^# A	122 2 131	Neapolitan Minor
A B_b 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 E_b 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 B_b C D	212 2 122	Natural Minor (Aeolian)
D E F G A B_b 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 B_b 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 harmonic minor flutes

Simple PVC harmonic minor flutes are also available in the keys of low E, Eb, D (double harmonic minor)

low D-hm flute alongside low D-hm whistle, both with offset holes for easier fingering