- Hold the instrument out to your right. Position the fife so that it is horizontal and extending out to the right of your face.
- Place your hands correctly. Cover the three holes nearest to your mouth with the first three fingers of your left hand.
- Position your mouth for blowing. Place your bottom lip against the fife right next to the hole for blowing.
- Practice blowing until you get a sound. Roll the instrument slowly back and forth while blowing to find the right angle to create a sound.
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.
What is a Fife?
The fife is a wind instrument similar to a flute or piccolo, but without keys and with a higher, shriller sound. Originating in medieval Europe and used traditionally in the military, fifes are still played today in fife and drum corps and for individual enjoyment. Learn how to play this challenging but fun instrument yourself!
How do you play a higher octave on a Fife?
Try a middle C# by using the same fingering but blowing harder. Tighten your lips to push a harder stream of air from your mouth. This is generally how to achieve a note in a higher octave. Remember that these notes are for a standard fife, which has 6 holes and is in a Bb key.
How do you find the pitch of a Fife?
The pitch of a fife is proportional to the distance from the inside surface of the cork and the end of the fife. The closer the cork is moved toward the blow hole, the sharper it gets. The farther away the cork is moved, the flatter the sound produced.
Is it hard to play a fife?
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 do you play a Yamaha fife?
Playing this instrument is similar to playing a regular Yamaha flute. You have to blow across the embouchure hole to make a sound. To change the notes, you can close or open different holes.
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 much does a fife cost?
You can buy a simple plastic fife from several vendors such as Cooperman and Be a Fifer for around $12.
How do you get sound on fife?
2:0313:07How to Play Oh When the Saints on the Fife - Live Tutorial - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo you sort of press your lip against this bit. And then blow like create a sort of thing where you'MoreSo you sort of press your lip against this bit. And then blow like create a sort of thing where you're blowing.
What's the difference between a piccolo and a fife?
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.
Is a fife a recorder?
The Yamaha YRF-21Y Fife is played to the side like a flute but with open holes and simple fingerings like a recorder. This makes it a good way to transition recorder players or introduce new musicians to playing the flute. It can also be used to play traditional Fife music, like songs from American revolutionary War.
How many holes does fife have?
fife, small transverse (side-blown) flute with six finger holes and a narrow cylindrical bore that produces a high pitch and shrill tone. 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.
What is a fife major?
(Mil.) a noncommissioned officer who superintends the fifers of a regiment.
What is a fife players drum called?
The type of drum used in the classical fife and drum corps is called a rope tension snare drum. There can also be limited use of a bass drum in the modern units; however, this drum is typically used only in shows where the drummers remain stationary.
What type of flute is used in Irish music?
The Irish flute is a conical-bore, simple-system wooden flute of the type favoured by classical flautists of the early 19th century, or to a flute of modern manufacture derived from this design (often with modifications to optimize its use in Irish Traditional Music, Scottish Traditional Music or Music of Brittany and ...
How do you care for a fife?
You can avoid most problems by not allowing the dampness to get into the wood in the first place, by wiping out excess moisture after playing, oiling the bore, greasing the joints, and finally leaving the cleaning rod(s) inside or next to the fife(s) (keeping everything together).