Jmm7

[jmm7]

Looking for used civil war clothes and gear for my ten year old grandson. He also is looking for a fife and drum he could learn to play. He is musically inclined and is all ready learning fiddle, mandolin and guitar. Thank you for your help and letting me share.

 

[RedRover]

Fifes can be had relatively inexpensively, though not necessarily exact to the Civil War standard (depending upon the standards of the reenactor group or events).
Dixie Gun works sells some inexpensive ones. The cheapest being the maple:
maple fife, Dixie Gun works

There is a chap making modern copies of period "cheaters" or mouthpieces, which made them easier to master...
CyberFifemouthpieces, Facebook

 

[jmm7]

Thank you for this information.

 

[captaindrew]

Welcome to the forum. Great to see a young man getting into the hobby, I will keep an eye out for his size. Federal or Confederate? There are a couple trade blankets on Facebook to keep your eyes on for used stuff, https://www.facebook.com/groups/1443004152458121/ and https://www.facebook.com/groups/1773554179582363/ One option also is check out C&C Sutlery https://www.ccsutlery.com/store/index.html I don't typically recommend them for most but for a young man who's still growing and just starting out they offer some good bargains on new stuff that will get him started. Our musician around here is @Claude Bauer maybe he can point you in the right direction for instruments

 

[bdtex]

Looking for used civil war clothes and gear for my ten year old grandson. He also is looking for a fife and drum he could learn to play.

I love watching and listening to the musicians at events.

 

[bdtex]

Our musician around here is @Claude Bauer maybe he can point you in the right direction for instruments

Another one around here is @Cody C. Engdahl

 

[Claude Bauer]

Looking for used civil war clothes and gear for my ten year old grandson. He also is looking for a fife and drum he could learn to play. He is musically inclined and is all ready learning fiddle, mandolin and guitar. Thank you for your help and letting me share.

View attachment 483882

Huzzah! Welcome to CWT! Yes, there are a number of experienced Civil War field musicians here, so we can help the lad get started. Fifes and drums are much lighter than muskets and much easier to clean!

Here are some important things to keep in mind when getting started in field music:

1. Find other field musicians or "ancient corps" players. It's important to connect with other field musicians (even if they portray different time periods) when getting started. It's difficult to hunt them down, so if you can narrow it down to a state or region, we might be able to connect you with a group. Regardless of where you're located, connect with The Field Music School and get involved with their programs. They focus on young musicians and beginners and are a great bunch to know and learn from!

2. Field Music is not like modern music (esp. the drums). There are some standard drum beats that can be used for multiple tunes, like Army 2/4 Connecticut halftime, etc. that beginners can learn and specific manuals for the time period. We have most of them in PDF format like the Nevins fife manual attached, which includes a fingering chart (used by The Field Music School). As you can see from the B&E manual, it's all in 19th century speak and can be difficult to understand, which is why #1 above is so important.

3. Be careful what low-end fifes you buy. Some of the inexpensive wood fifes are notoriously hard to play. In fact, many beginners do just fine with a plastic fife for under $20 to get started. But be sure to buy one from an instrument maker, not a gift shop. Here are some affordable options:

• Cooperman Drum Shop (famous maker of fifes and drums)
• Be A Fifer (thousands have used their plastic fifes and tutorial to get started).

Since fifes are relatively inexpensive as far as musical instruments go, when he's ready to move up, a professional level wood fife that will last a lifetime is not a huge investment (see the Fife Buyer's Guide to get an idea what's available. There are many more fifes than the ones shown, but it should help you learn what to look for). If you're interested in a mouthpiece for the fife let me know. As you can see from the pictures of Civil War soldiers using them, they are period correct for the instrument.

4. Likewise, be careful what low-end drums you buy. There are a lot of overseas companies selling cheap drums online and they are just that--cheap drums. If you're seriously looking at buying a drum, get one from a musical instrument maker like Cooperman above or a used one from a knowledgeable field musician.

Also, you might enjoy our Music & Songs of the 1860s forum here dedicated to music of the period where we discuss all kinds of music-related topics. (And I hear it's run by a fifer. )

Don't want to overwhelm you with info, but that should get you going. If you have any questions please let us know and we'll do our best to answer them for you!

"Nothing's more fun than fife and drum."

 

[jmm7]

Wow, thank you so very much for all of this information. I actually ordered his first fife several days ago from the Be a Fifer website. I thought I would start with the cheap one to see if he would like it and even be interested. I do think a mouth piece would be extremely helpful. Can you use them with the plastic ones or just wooden ones?

I feel so richly blessed by finding this site. Thank you all so much for your kindness, encouragement and willingness to help.

 

[Claude Bauer]

Yes, the mouthpiece will work with a plastic fife! Because they are made by so many different vendors, the bore diameters of plastic fifes can vary considerably, so sometimes a little extra fitting is required, but it's not a big deal. (Also, please note that while many reenactors use the term "cheater" it is not a period correct term. They are called fipples, or simply mouthpieces and have been an acceptable accessory for the instrument for over 150 years.)

While used before, during, and after the Civil War, they're still referenced in a military music manual in the 20th century as well:

"THE MOUTHPIECE
It has been found practicable to use a mouthpiece with the service fife. Although as true a tone may not be obtained as might be otherwise, the ease and facility with which beginners may be instructed more than compensates for this. The mouthpiece is constructed of soft metal. It consists of a narrow tube held to the fife by two encircling metal bands. On the underside of the mouthpiece is a setscrew for tightening or loosening of the mouthpiece. The breath is forced through the tube so that it crosses the opening of the fife in a manner closely simulating the manner in which it flows when a mouthpiece is not used."
--Manual for Field Musicians, U.S. Marine Corps, 1935 pgs. 45-46