What is the best way to learn to play fife?
Get yourself a good teacher. That's the best way to learn. If there is nobody available in your area, click on the button above. Note: The Tutorial on the Fife is designed for students using a Conventional, Bb 6-hole Fife as used by most reenactors and fife and drum corps in the United States.
How hard is it to play the fife flute?
Fife is much more difficult to play than the regular wooden flute - it takes a very strong embouchure. Your lips need to be tight - try putting a piece of dry rice between your lips and blow until it pops out (I’m serious)…this will give you an idea how small the hole in your lips needs to be.
How much does a Fife cost?
Most fifes are black, but black and brown fifes look alike from a distance. You can buy a simple plastic fife from several vendors such as Cooperman and Be a Fifer for around $12. These are good for beginners who are not sure if they’re going to continue and for kids, who may lose interest.
Should I get a C Fife in a golf tournament?
If you get a “C” fife, it’s best if everyone else in your group has one too. Some players prefer 10-hole fifes because they offer the ability to play more sharps and flats, but they are harder to learn and even some experienced fifers find them difficult to play.
How much does a fife cost?
The distance between the centers of the blow hole and the last finger hole should be about 10-7/8 inches. Otherwise, you will have a fife for displaying rather than playing. New wood fifes of any quality will cost at least $100, and can run much higher than that.
How do you play fife?
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How many notes can fife play?
An experienced fife player can play three full octaves, although the fingering patterns necessary for playing in the third octave can be daunting to a beginner. Marching bands typically play only in the second and third octave since these are the loudest and most penetrating.
Are a fife and piccolo the same?
The fife, most accurately described, is any cylindrically bored transverse flute, usually in one piece (but sometimes two), usually somewhat longer than the piccolo and having only six fingerholes with no keys.
What are the notes on a fife?
So-called "low flutes" are larger and pitched 1-3 notes lower, i.e. in C, Bb, or A. An Eb flute is slightly smaller. The standard fife is pitched about an octave higher than the standard Irish flute. The usual keys are Bb, C, D, with occasional instruments in Eb.
How long is a fife?
The modern fife, pitched to the A♭ above middle C, is about 15.5 inches (39 cm) long and often has an added E♭ hole covered by a key. Its compass is about two octaves. Fifes of conical bore have also been made since the 19th century.
What is a fife major?
The Fife Major was the second-in-command of a corps of drums, responsible for the training and discipline of the regiment's fifers. It was nonetheless a semi-official rank within the British Army, as not every regiment maintained a fife major as part of its establishment.
How do you care for a fife?
Fifes are very durable but require care like any other musical instrument—they need to be cleaned and oiled regularly and stored in appropriate conditions. You should get a cleaning rod for your fife and a supply of bore oil to maintain the wood.
Is a fife a woodwind?
The fife is a small woodwind instrument known especially for its high pitch and loud, piercing volume. It closely resembles a recorder in that it is typically made of wood and utilizes open finger holes instead of levers like the piccolo or flute.
Is a fife a penny whistle?
The fife is among the oldest flutes that still get some use, and the fingerings are identical to the tin whistle (a.k.a. pennywhistle, Irish whistle). It has six holes operated by three fingers of each hand.
Does the Fife have the same fingerings as a flute?
The Fife Book has a lot of tunes which are all on the notes which have exactly the same fingerings as the flute. All the C fingerings are directly transferable to C flute with the exception that the little finger has only one hole to worry about instead of C/C#/D# keys.
Were fifes used in the Civil War?
Fife and drums played the same role in the Civil War as they had in previous wars. They served both in the camp and the field as signaling instruments. While the wind band, if any, might be on the battlefield playing music to cheer the troops, the shrill fifes served to relay orders.
Tips for learning the fife
Hi, I recently decided to start learning a small portable instrument to take with me where taking the fiddle isnt possible, and decided on the fife. So onto ebay i went to buy a cherry fife in D from Angus fifes.
Re: Tips for learning the fife
Sorry, no tips for you, but I do know that the Wikipedia article on fifes says that they can be heard three miles away through artillery fire, so no problems cutting through at a noisy session!
Re: Tips for learning the fife
You like a challenge, don’t you? Fife is much more difficult to play than the regular wooden flute - it takes a very strong embouchure. Your lips need to be tight - try putting a piece of dry rice between your lips and blow until it pops out (I’m serious)…this will give you an idea how small the hole in your lips needs to be.
Re: Tips for learning the fife
I did think about the whistle. but your right, i like a challenge, and seeing as its the fife i want to learn, why not jump right to it. I am prepared to have to work at it, and it will provide an alternative source of frustration other than the fiddle. Thanks for the advice Jayhawk
Re: Tips for learning the fife
Playing the fife in tune is pretty hard (at least I know playing the piccolo is…). And because you _will_ be heard, it is rather important to be in tune. Still, best of luck. And don’t just think about the lips - think about where the air is coming from. That is the most important thing in all flute-like instruments. Breath support.
Re: Tips for learning the fife
I second the advice to buy a whistle. Fifes are challenging, and from my limited attempts to play them, I myself find that the D fife is even more difficult than the more common Bflat fife.
Re: Tips for learning the fife
I would have thought that if you planned to play with other people in a session type situation, that fife mightn’t be the best choice! There is a good reason why it has a military & marching band background. BTW, there is an excellent book on the Fife & Drum tradition of Orange marching bands in Northern Ireland by Gary Hastings.
What fife do you play with a 6 hole?
The vast majority of fifers today play a one piece, 6-hole Bb fife, and that is what most vendors sell—the “C” fife and two piece “concert” fifes that allow you to play more notes are specialty items. If you get a “C” fife, it’s best if everyone else in your group has one too.
Why do some players prefer fifes?
Some players prefer 10-hole fifes because they offer the ability to play more sharps and flats, but they are harder to learn and even some experienced fifers find them difficult to play. Interestingly, the US Army’s Old Guard F&D, a professional level corps, uses 10-hole Bb Healy fifes.
What wood is used for fife?
The color of a fife is usually determined by the type of wood used. Grenadilla, also known as African Blackwood (black) and Maple & Rosewood (brown) are common woods. It doesn’t really matter what color you get. Most fifes are black, but black and brown fifes look alike from a distance.
How much are persimmon fifes?
For the budget minded, there are “Student” level persimmon fifes available from Cooperman for around $50. Some people find these difficult to play, and some vendors counsel that you should avoid wood fifes that sell for under $100. On the other hand, some people have no problem with them and some schools and corps use them for their fife and drum programs—it’s a matter of personal experience. If you can afford it, however, it’s best to go straight to a professional level fife, since they aren’t that much more expensive.
