I want to get maybe a couple more whistles as well but which keys??? I want ones that will be the MOST versatile (especially for session music) and playing along with cds. Or maybe one for just playing those great tunes I can't get on a D whistle.
I learn by ear and don't know much about this "key" business.
I bought a Michael Burke DBN a couple of years ago and my playing actually improved ! or at least sounded better, the service was first class too.
His whistles are a bit pricey but I reckon they are worth it.
I only have the one in D, thought about getting one in C but nearly everything I play is in D or G.
My mate bought a low D from him and was very impressed.
Stick to whistles in D for sessions, since everyone else will be in D and if you pull out your B flat whistle in the middle of a reel set, you'll get all kinds of funny looks...
Well about the business of keys, the D is by far the most useful, as much of the session repertoire has evolved around D flutes and "concert pitch" uilleann pipes in D. With Burke whistles you have a number of choices, firstly in materials (aluminum, brass, composite) and secondly in bore size. As I understand it, the aluminum is the brightest-sounding material and the most durable. About bore sizes, his narrow bore is more like the traditional Generation bore. I played a Burke aluminum narrow bore high D whistle and it was fantastic. His "session" high D has a wider bore which gives you more volume. He also makes low D whistles, the "pro viper" which has the usual wide finger spacing and the "EZ" which has more ergonomic finger spacing. I have a viper and it is a terrific low whistle.
About other keys, you need those for the tunes favoured by accordion players, tenor banjo players, and fiddlers which either go too low for the D whistle, or are in a key difficult to play on a D whistle.
C whistles are great for tunes in D minor and G minor, and the very rare tunes in C major and F major.
A whistles are great for certain tunes in D major, A major, E minor with a very wide range. For example I use the A whistle for Ashokan Farewell , The Dawn, and The Bear Reel.
G whistles are great for certain tunes in D minor and A minor.
Tam Lin, for example, goes perfectly on either the G or A whistle, depending on whether the session is playing it in D minor or E minor.
I'm so impressed with the Burke low D and high D that I'm ordering whistles in C, A, and G as well.
His high C whistle also is available in two bore sizes- I'd like to try those and see how they play.
It is great you play by ear. It helps alot when you are switching whistles. I play several keys & chose them by trial & error.
If I had been methodical it might look something like this. First, of course, is the D. This is a universal standard. Next would be either the G or the A. Then I would get a Low D. Followed by a high C. Finally I would find a key I did not have. At that point you will have mastered different ranges of the instrument & can really branch out. You might also find Michael is not the only whistle maker around.
BTW - between the G or A it is a tossup. The A is good for tunes in D. Then your D is good for playing tunes in the key of G {& of course D}. Personally I would get just one of those keys for starters. Once you have learned it then get the other. In session I keep only one of these handy. Otherwise I debate in my head which one to play & miss out on half the tune.
Why would you get a G or A as your next whistle after D? - although I must admit I did get an A so a bit hypocritical of me (it is a crap Chieftain though and never gets played - complete waste of money)
I currently play my high D and low D (Susato and MK respectively) and am now looking at getting a new high D and an F whistle (Burke and MK respectively).
An A whistle makes sense becuase it means you can play tunes in E and also increases the lower range for some tunes in D. An F whistle would give you more keys though.
My whistle tutor, when I was living in Glasgow, was Marc Duff, one of the greatest living whistle players, and he has a big bag full of whistles and yet no G - there is rarely a need for it and, for some reason, they are not often of particularly good quality.
I have a Generation Bb which is quite nice and is handy for playing along to lots of songs.
I thought of this thread while I was playing along with Seamus Egan's tenor banjo CD yesterday. For the tunes to come out in the correct banjo/session key I used a low A whistle for The Dawn and a low G for Tam Lin. Also it sounded better to play Foxhunter's Reel on the E whistle rather than playing it in A on the D whistle.
I find the low G whistle very handy for songs in the key of C. In many cases, on whistles, I prefer using the 4th as the tonic rather than the bell note.
I bought the D, and although I am just starting out, the sense of motivation I received when my whistle arrived was priceless. Honestly, I LOVE playing this whistle, although I know that instrument price certainly does not comment on the ability or skill of the player, I really do believe that this Michael's whistle has helped me remain motivated. I can almost play a roll up to speed now - but despite my current lack of technique, I am still pretty inspired to get it right
Can't promise that I am not gonna buy more from him (got my eyes on the low whistle as well) ^^
Which Michael Burke whistles to buy???
Which Michael Burke whistles to buy???
Of course I want to get a D whistle.
I want to get maybe a couple more whistles as well but which keys??? I want ones that will be the MOST versatile (especially for session music) and playing along with cds. Or maybe one for just playing those great tunes I can't get on a D whistle.
I learn by ear and don't know much about this "key" business.
Can anyone give any suggestions?
Thanks
# Posted on June 22nd 2007 by keyedup
Re: Which Michael Burke whistles to buy???
I bought a Michael Burke DBN a couple of years ago and my playing actually improved ! or at least sounded better, the service was first class too.
His whistles are a bit pricey but I reckon they are worth it.
I only have the one in D, thought about getting one in C but nearly everything I play is in D or G.
My mate bought a low D from him and was very impressed.
# Posted on June 22nd 2007 by tony b
Re: Which Michael Burke whistles to buy???
Stick to whistles in D for sessions, since everyone else will be in D and if you pull out your B flat whistle in the middle of a reel set, you'll get all kinds of funny looks...
# Posted on June 22nd 2007 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: Which Michael Burke whistles to buy???
Well about the business of keys, the D is by far the most useful, as much of the session repertoire has evolved around D flutes and "concert pitch" uilleann pipes in D. With Burke whistles you have a number of choices, firstly in materials (aluminum, brass, composite) and secondly in bore size. As I understand it, the aluminum is the brightest-sounding material and the most durable. About bore sizes, his narrow bore is more like the traditional Generation bore. I played a Burke aluminum narrow bore high D whistle and it was fantastic. His "session" high D has a wider bore which gives you more volume. He also makes low D whistles, the "pro viper" which has the usual wide finger spacing and the "EZ" which has more ergonomic finger spacing. I have a viper and it is a terrific low whistle.
About other keys, you need those for the tunes favoured by accordion players, tenor banjo players, and fiddlers which either go too low for the D whistle, or are in a key difficult to play on a D whistle.
C whistles are great for tunes in D minor and G minor, and the very rare tunes in C major and F major.
A whistles are great for certain tunes in D major, A major, E minor with a very wide range. For example I use the A whistle for Ashokan Farewell , The Dawn, and The Bear Reel.
G whistles are great for certain tunes in D minor and A minor.
Tam Lin, for example, goes perfectly on either the G or A whistle, depending on whether the session is playing it in D minor or E minor.
I'm so impressed with the Burke low D and high D that I'm ordering whistles in C, A, and G as well.
His high C whistle also is available in two bore sizes- I'd like to try those and see how they play.
# Posted on June 22nd 2007 by Richard D Cook
Re: Which Michael Burke whistles to buy???
It is great you play by ear. It helps alot when you are switching whistles. I play several keys & chose them by trial & error.
If I had been methodical it might look something like this. First, of course, is the D. This is a universal standard. Next would be either the G or the A. Then I would get a Low D. Followed by a high C. Finally I would find a key I did not have. At that point you will have mastered different ranges of the instrument & can really branch out. You might also find Michael is not the only whistle maker around.
BTW - between the G or A it is a tossup. The A is good for tunes in D. Then your D is good for playing tunes in the key of G {& of course D}. Personally I would get just one of those keys for starters. Once you have learned it then get the other. In session I keep only one of these handy. Otherwise I debate in my head which one to play & miss out on half the tune.
# Posted on June 22nd 2007 by Ben Steen
Re: Which Michael Burke whistles to buy???
Why would you get a G or A as your next whistle after D? - although I must admit I did get an A so a bit hypocritical of me (it is a crap Chieftain though and never gets played - complete waste of money)
I currently play my high D and low D (Susato and MK respectively) and am now looking at getting a new high D and an F whistle (Burke and MK respectively).
An A whistle makes sense becuase it means you can play tunes in E and also increases the lower range for some tunes in D. An F whistle would give you more keys though.
My whistle tutor, when I was living in Glasgow, was Marc Duff, one of the greatest living whistle players, and he has a big bag full of whistles and yet no G - there is rarely a need for it and, for some reason, they are not often of particularly good quality.
I have a Generation Bb which is quite nice and is handy for playing along to lots of songs.
# Posted on June 22nd 2007 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: Which Michael Burke whistles to buy???
I thought of this thread while I was playing along with Seamus Egan's tenor banjo CD yesterday. For the tunes to come out in the correct banjo/session key I used a low A whistle for The Dawn and a low G for Tam Lin. Also it sounded better to play Foxhunter's Reel on the E whistle rather than playing it in A on the D whistle.
I find the low G whistle very handy for songs in the key of C. In many cases, on whistles, I prefer using the 4th as the tonic rather than the bell note.
# Posted on June 26th 2007 by Richard D Cook
Re: Which Michael Burke whistles to buy???
I bought the D, and although I am just starting out, the sense of motivation I received when my whistle arrived was priceless. Honestly, I LOVE playing this whistle, although I know that instrument price certainly does not comment on the ability or skill of the player, I really do believe that this Michael's whistle has helped me remain motivated. I can almost play a roll up to speed now - but despite my current lack of technique, I am still pretty inspired to get it right
Can't promise that I am not gonna buy more from him (got my eyes on the low whistle as well) ^^
# Posted on August 26th 2011 by Diminamu