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Post by lbowen on Sept 18, 2012 9:50:40 GMT
Hi, wikipedia says that there are 7 sizes of (commonly used) dizi available, and I know that for those who play in groups, this would be useful. I've also found that for me, the pitch of my f dizi (with the first octave as the fifth octave) is a little high, and I'd like to buy an f dizi with the first octave in the fourth octave. Does anyone know if this is possible? I've seen "bass" f dizis on taobao, but I'm not sure what size they are. People in music shops here have told me that the lowest size dizi is 5th octave C.
thanks very much
- Liam
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Post by edcat7 on Sept 18, 2012 15:07:43 GMT
I have a bass G dizi and for me, the finger positions can be a bit of a stretch. Normally one starts on either a soprano F for childern or a D. I would get a D then a C first, then after you're used to it get a bass F. To go froma soprano F to a bass F is an incredible jump.
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Post by Blue on Sept 18, 2012 15:47:35 GMT
I would get either a Bass A or a Bass Bb to let your fingers get adjusted to the increasing length between the bottom two finger holes. Then try getting used to a Bass G (equivalent to a low D western flute), which has 7 finger holes. Finally, dive into a Bass F. Bass G and Bass F have seven fingers because if there were only six fingers, the distance between the bottom two finger holes would be too much to bear.
One important thing is whether you're left-handed or right handed as that will affect your ability to handle 7 finger hole flutes. Most 7 finger dizis are for right handed people (正手, zheng shou), but you can especially ask if they have a left-handed (反手 fan shou) dizi.
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Post by lbowen on Sept 22, 2012 5:21:03 GMT
Thanks for the sage advice, everyone. For now, the largest size I have is D, which is still relatively small. When I can afford it, I'll move up to a Bass A. It sounds like it will take a long while before I'll be able to play a Bass F, and there's no rush.
Allen, sounds like you know most everything about these flutes! Have you encountered xindi before? I've heard they're very difficult to play, but the idea of a dizi that can play all 12 notes in every octave is very appealing!
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Post by Flolei on Sept 22, 2012 7:36:34 GMT
For Bass A you have to be careful. Some makers make 7 holes ones, but the most commoun ones have only 6-holes. The right hand stretch is quite challenging, 7-holes one is more confortable.
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Post by Blue on Sept 22, 2012 12:24:25 GMT
Based on Flolei's response, maybe purchase a not too expensive Bass Bb as an exercise to stretch your fingers then. Yes, the first time I encountered a Bass A, it was indeed a challenge, but it's not that bad anymore.
I may know much about these flutes, but I do a horrible job playing them, and somehow it seems to get worse everyday. Yes, I've encountered the 11 finger xindi before because I do own one. Look down at one of those posts to see me playing the xindi on facebook (http://starvoid.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Wind&action=display&thread=1637). But the 11 finger xindi is too much to bear in terms of control, especially when the human hands only has 10 fingers. One literally has to use the side of one's hands to cover one of the holes.
One user on the forum suggested using webbed duck feet to play the xindi . . . . . . .
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Post by Blue on Sept 23, 2012 13:38:17 GMT
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jock
Intermediate
Posts: 44
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Post by jock on Sept 24, 2012 8:21:59 GMT
Hi, wikipedia says that there are 7 sizes of (commonly used) dizi available, and I know that for those who play in groups, this would be useful. I've also found that for me, the pitch of my f dizi (with the first octave as the fifth octave) is a little high, and I'd like to buy an f dizi with the first octave in the fourth octave. Does anyone know if this is possible? I've seen "bass" f dizis on taobao, but I'm not sure what size they are. People in music shops here have told me that the lowest size dizi is 5th octave C. thanks very much - Liam I have bought some erhu in the english Taobao agent:Buychina.com, and it is reliable, but you should select the seller in a high reputation(more about seller reputation can view here: www.buychina.com/pages/taobao-sellers-reputation) some reliable seller specialized in Dizi are listed as follow: dcyq.tmall.comqingyunyq.tmall.comshop36046314.taobao.comhuilongyueqi.taobao.commore can view here: www.buychina.com/search?keyword=%E7%AC%9B%E5%AD%90&cid= |
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Post by lbowen on Sept 25, 2012 10:05:08 GMT
I searched dizi on that website and got 0 results... so, looks like it's the wrong place for me. Thanks though
Timpani are fun! I just put some on my sampler... yeah, it's not related to these forums, but it's fun to play!
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Post by Flolei on Sept 25, 2012 13:02:18 GMT
Right now I searched "dizi" with Chinese characters on BuyChina.com. I got 27568 results.
Today I got a Xiao from them, last month one Dizi. Both are great instruments. I got them for only about 25% more money than I would have got them directly from Taobao. The service is very reliable. Good communication, quite fast shipping, all OK.
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Post by lbowen on Oct 6, 2012 9:46:54 GMT
also, going against all sound advice, I made a bass g "dizi" (though with no sounding hole where you should put the dimo) today from pvc, and it doesnt sound too bad! (for 2rmb) If anyone's interested I can put up clips later
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Post by Blue on Oct 7, 2012 0:03:48 GMT
So you made a 7-hole bass g dizi?! Searched online for the approximate location of the finger holes? Really amazing (unless you've been making flutes before). Would you be able to share pictures of the flute as well as sound clips?
Played around with the bass Bb and bass A-- both six fingers-- yesterday. Already posted on another thread of the horrors of finding the bass Bb cracking on the very same day that it was purchased. You might as well start with a Bb to get acquainted with the hand stretch.
I also noticed that Carrot Music sells 7-finger bass A (see Model 5288b Professional Dizi ), which is surprising given that this is not encountered at all on most other dizi merchant sites. Maybe that want to make it easier for their customers to deal with the hand stretch. But they ought to include the option of left handed and right handed flutes as left handed people can't deal with 7-finger right handed flutes!
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Post by Flolei on Oct 7, 2012 6:40:58 GMT
As far I know, the Carrot bass A dizi has only 6 holes. I asked them, because I wanted to buy it, and they told that it was a mistake. The mistake is for all models. They promised to correct it, but they didn't.
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Post by lbowen on Oct 8, 2012 11:05:16 GMT
Allen, sorry I can't find my camera for now, but here's a video of me displaying the range, and butchering "jasmine flowers" dl.dropbox.com/u/72170795/VIDEO0003.3gpI put the word "dizi" in quotation marks because, well, it has no sound hole, and this one has 6 fingerholes, and I'm not 100% sure about terms. To calculate where everything should be, I used this flute calculator here 11wall-west.com/~ph_kosel/Flutomat-8.html and asked someone at a hardware shop to drill the holes for me once I'd drawn them on the pvc! Theoretically you could do the same with cured bamboo |
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Post by Blue on Oct 8, 2012 14:39:20 GMT
Congrats on your first attempt to make a flute! I wish I had the time to do so, but my +50 hours/week profession is to make semiconductor chips.
Plus, my hands are clumsy with handcrafts. If I asked Dongsiau to accept me as a disciple, I could imagine him rolling his eyes seeing how many bamboo roots I would have butchered! At best, I could only give people advice on what type of paints to use for the inner tubing of bamboo flutes.
Really excited by your demonstration of reaching very high notes with your prototype.
Two questions:
1) Did you choose low D using that flute making program? 'Cause that's what a low G dizi actually is.
In other words:
XXX000 ==> low G
XXXXXX ==> low D ==> probable assumption for the flute making program
But based on your finger stretch, it's definitely a base-pitched flute!
2) Did you design the finger holes to be all the same sized? That's an unwritten rule for all dizis and xiaos. You'll notice that shinobues, quenas/quenachos, and polymer flutes made by Tony Dixon have uneven finger hole sizes.
Interesting aspect ratio choice for your video.
Also, seldom do I see people exposing their teeth when playing the flute.
Even then, you've demonstrated your first step in a talent that I will never ever have time to achieve: making a flute.
It's always these little steps that turn big later on.
For instance, there's this guy in the US, Jon Kypros, who got introduced by a Taiwanese dongxiao from his father, and now he's making his own shakuhachi for a living.
I wish Maestro Xindi was also around to see this. I could see him very enthusiastic by your first attempt as well as seeing him writing tons of comments.
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Post by lbowen on Oct 8, 2012 22:51:40 GMT
Ah, that's too bad! Yes, I chose low d, but wow you need lungs like bellows and long fingers to play such a flute!
I designed them to be all different sizes, because that program told me they shouldn't all be the same.
You can blame my phone for the aspect ratio, and my amateurism for the teeth...
It certainly was fun! When I get back home I'll try again, I'd certainly prefer to use bamboo instead of pvc... it doesnt smell too nice! Thanks for all your comments, Allen
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Post by Blue on Oct 10, 2012 16:01:20 GMT
Looking forward to your experiments with bamboo! Are you based in China or NZ? If you're in China, maybe get an apprenticeship with a dizi maker or at least ask the maker where you can get cured bamboo and hot iron tools to drill the bamboo without cracking it . . . . . . .
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Post by lbowen on Oct 14, 2012 9:09:51 GMT
In China now, but I'll be going back next year. Finding a dizi maker? It's an appealing idea... but here there aren't many dizis in stores, so I don't think I'd be able to find a maker easily! Even if I could, my command of spoken Putonghua isn't great
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jock
Intermediate
Posts: 44
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Post by jock on Oct 16, 2012 5:29:39 GMT
Hi, lbowen.
You can try Taobao agent:http://www.buychina.com
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