Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
D should be your standard key for a session whistle.
I have to say, I'm mostly unhappy with some of the various brands of whistle that I've experimented with. These include:
a Dixon - a bit too squeaky.
Adler wooden whistle - sounds like its voice is breaking when you go to the upper register. Precision firewood.
Susatos are not bad - if you get a good one!
And I made the mistake of getting an off the peg untuneable Overton. That simply does not play now.
And I think Generations aren't as good as they used to be.
I'm loath to fork out any more cash for an expensive one. So I mostly play flute!
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
I have a bunch of the cheaper whistles in all different keys at home, but when going to a session, I take my favorite whistle, my unpainted, old-fashioned, tin-rolled-around-a-wooden-fipple, D Clarke whistle. And I thank the good Lord that He granted me simple tastes, because too many people spend too much on whistles. And I can afford backups for when I accidently destroy one, like the time one was caught in a taxicab door and got flattened.
AL Brown
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
LOL!
That's the only problem with Clarkes, they bend really easily. Apart from that I think they're the best cheap whistle you can get, and they sound lovely and soft. :¬D
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
welcome to the wonderful world of whistling, inkygirl.
i always take three whistles to sessions. they are about the only three whistles i ever play, and i truly cherish these instruments. they are my three copelands: high D, C, and low D.
by far, tho, i love the C whistle the most. when i'm practising alone, this is the one i play. however, i use it only occasionally in sessions usually in conjunction with fiddle players who lauch into a tune in an unusual key. i once ran across a session in ireland where they only played in C (having a C whislte was great except for the small detail that i didn't recognize a one tune they played...ha ha ha....i had many good pints listening though).
i love to play the low D at sessions when there are only very few players. i especially enjoy playing tunes on the low D with fiddle players. in larger, louder sessions the low D simply gets drowned out. however, this does have one advantage: in large sessions, i sometimes noodle around with the low D in the background if i don't know a tune--this way i can try and learn a tune "on the fly" and not be too worried about messing up.
really, though, you're good to go if you have a D. start trying out different ones; find one you like, and then stick with it.
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
You really only need a hi-D t sit in on a session. You may rarely be able to hit some of the less D-able fiddle tunes with a C, Bflat, A, or F whistle but these are rarely NECESSARY in a standard session situation.
As for whistle makers, I suggest you take all advice (including mine!) with some large grains of salt. You should try before you buy....
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
My favourite is a quiet sweet little one in D, tapered rolled tin, one someone had given me, pre-WWII at least, gan ainm... Somehow it is fully chromatic -
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
Seriously though, the Clarkes (rolled tin, extremely cheap) are fine if you tweak them a bit. Just *know* that you'll get a few complaints, before you even play a note, about how out-of-tune they are. I've heard lots of fine players use these instruments, and I think that comment as more of a reflection of the player's ear.
And you should try the Clarke with the Michael Copeland designed fipple, called the "Sweetone". I have a D one, and love it.
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
Be careful with those conical Clarke's whistles - ie the more modern ones, not the plain metal ones rolled round the wooden fipple (I had one years ago and it just sounded awful - I had the indignity of letting Karen Ryan have a blast on it at a session - she tried one set of tunes then just started laughing bemusedly - seems like there's a whistle gremlin on my shoulder)...but anyway, the modern conical ones with the plastic fipple - it will go out of tune *with itself* if the fipple is not aligned exactly with the holes. I kid you not.
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
I used to take a caseful of whistles to sessions - a C and an E-flat Generation and a selection of Ds, including a Sweetone, a Shaw, a Susato and an Oak. I gave up playing the Susie sometime ago, realising that they belong only in the hands of geniuses and sadists, and replaced it with a Dixon. But I've found that the Dixon doesn't cut through in a session and has a different C-natural fingering to what I'm used to, so I don't use it much. The Shaw sounds nice, but it's a 1/4-tone flat. I've never got on with Clarke's Sweetones. Sooner or later, I realised that all these whistles were merely function as stuffing for my whistle case. So I now just carry the Oak, in a pair of (clean) socks, inside my mandolin case - and don't often play it in sessions.
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
You really need D,C,F,Eflat and this will cover the whole range. You will find that you will get most tunes on the D. But you will find in some sessions all the players are up one tone (E flat), this is very common in the south of Ireland. Keep it going, soon you'll have 20 tunes!
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
It amazes me how some players seem to be able to play in 'any' key on a D-whistle or keyless flute (i.e. any key one is likely to hear tunes in in a session - F, C, G, D, A, E and related). The E-flat whistle (and a capo, if you play mandolin or banjo) is useful for sessions such as those Compaq describes above. Likewise, the C-whistle, if you're fortunate enough to come upon a C-session.
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
Dog (to tell bodhranist we have finished) or wolf (for female fiddlers).
Length of scaffolding pipe can also be useful (whale noises, imitating seagulls, hanging curtains or recreating shower scene from Psycho).
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
Nah, I keep the plumbing constructions at home. All my efforts at making with discarded off cuts from plumbers are sweet but powerless, not enough bite for a session, but great for the airs and solos, if there's a mike handy. I still have to master making power whistles. Unlike David, I don't use my good socks, I only use the ones that have holes in them and are well worn.
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
Take em all. It's not like carrying around a double bass or something. By the way I wanna learn the double bass so I can carry around the smallest instrument and the biggest too.
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
My Burke AlPro session D goes with me to just about every session. Other whistles that I may take are the Syn D or the Susato narrow-bore D, if I know the session will be quite large; or, if a smaller, more intimate session like a house session, the Burke narrow bore D is a lovely thing.
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
I used to take 6 whistles, 3 highD, low D, Low and high C. Why? I really don't know. I also took 2 flutes - F and D (and a Boehm flute too - my god!) and both a Bb low whistle (really like a drain pipe) and a Bb fife. Then I realised that all I needed was one good flute (D) and one good high D (Sindt if you want to know and I love it). But just to play along with the odd song I still take low and high C whistles sometimes, but it really isn't necessary. Tonight for example I had a high D tucked into my flute bag and never missed the rest. But I do have an A whistle on order and several others hanging around, and if i got a bigger bag, a larger car, a caddy even to carry it all ..................na! One whistle is all you need. And a sense of humour because you will always be out of tune because it is absolutely never anyone else's fault. Enjoy - its an eerie world out there for the lone whistler.
What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
A question for whistle-players out there: Do you tend to only take one whistle to a session? (I assume this would be a D whistle?)
Or do you take multiple whistles in different keys? If so, what keys?
Thanks,
Debbie
(newbie whistle-player who is up to 10 tunes so far...)
# Posted on November 19th 2004 by Inkygirl
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
D for most things
F and or C in case theres a northumbrian piper
A and B because I made them and they sound wonderful
E flat for playing to make the fiddlers think their pegs have slipped!
# Posted on November 19th 2004 by showaddydadito
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
D should be your standard key for a session whistle.
I have to say, I'm mostly unhappy with some of the various brands of whistle that I've experimented with. These include:
a Dixon - a bit too squeaky.
Adler wooden whistle - sounds like its voice is breaking when you go to the upper register. Precision firewood.
Susatos are not bad - if you get a good one!
And I made the mistake of getting an off the peg untuneable Overton. That simply does not play now.
And I think Generations aren't as good as they used to be.
I'm loath to fork out any more cash for an expensive one. So I mostly play flute!
# Posted on November 19th 2004 by Rudall the time
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
I have a bunch of the cheaper whistles in all different keys at home, but when going to a session, I take my favorite whistle, my unpainted, old-fashioned, tin-rolled-around-a-wooden-fipple, D Clarke whistle. And I thank the good Lord that He granted me simple tastes, because too many people spend too much on whistles. And I can afford backups for when I accidently destroy one, like the time one was caught in a taxicab door and got flattened.
AL Brown
# Posted on November 19th 2004 by AlBrown
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
LOL!
That's the only problem with Clarkes, they bend really easily. Apart from that I think they're the best cheap whistle you can get, and they sound lovely and soft. :¬D
# Posted on November 19th 2004 by Folkie Junkie
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
welcome to the wonderful world of whistling, inkygirl.
i always take three whistles to sessions. they are about the only three whistles i ever play, and i truly cherish these instruments. they are my three copelands: high D, C, and low D.
by far, tho, i love the C whistle the most. when i'm practising alone, this is the one i play. however, i use it only occasionally in sessions usually in conjunction with fiddle players who lauch into a tune in an unusual key. i once ran across a session in ireland where they only played in C (having a C whislte was great except for the small detail that i didn't recognize a one tune they played...ha ha ha....i had many good pints listening though).
i love to play the low D at sessions when there are only very few players. i especially enjoy playing tunes on the low D with fiddle players. in larger, louder sessions the low D simply gets drowned out. however, this does have one advantage: in large sessions, i sometimes noodle around with the low D in the background if i don't know a tune--this way i can try and learn a tune "on the fly" and not be too worried about messing up.
really, though, you're good to go if you have a D. start trying out different ones; find one you like, and then stick with it.
# Posted on November 19th 2004 by Brendan
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
You really only need a hi-D t sit in on a session. You may rarely be able to hit some of the less D-able fiddle tunes with a C, Bflat, A, or F whistle but these are rarely NECESSARY in a standard session situation.
As for whistle makers, I suggest you take all advice (including mine!) with some large grains of salt. You should try before you buy....
good luck
# Posted on November 19th 2004 by bestcraic
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
My favourite is a quiet sweet little one in D, tapered rolled tin, one someone had given me, pre-WWII at least, gan ainm... Somehow it is fully chromatic -
# Posted on November 19th 2004 by ceolachan
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
ceolachan, I have better luck getting the "in-between" notes with with an American Slide Whistle.
# Posted on November 20th 2004 by sgbenne
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
Seriously though, the Clarkes (rolled tin, extremely cheap) are fine if you tweak them a bit. Just *know* that you'll get a few complaints, before you even play a note, about how out-of-tune they are. I've heard lots of fine players use these instruments, and I think that comment as more of a reflection of the player's ear.
And you should try the Clarke with the Michael Copeland designed fipple, called the "Sweetone". I have a D one, and love it.
# Posted on November 20th 2004 by sgbenne
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
Be careful with those conical Clarke's whistles - ie the more modern ones, not the plain metal ones rolled round the wooden fipple (I had one years ago and it just sounded awful - I had the indignity of letting Karen Ryan have a blast on it at a session - she tried one set of tunes then just started laughing bemusedly - seems like there's a whistle gremlin on my shoulder)...but anyway, the modern conical ones with the plastic fipple - it will go out of tune *with itself* if the fipple is not aligned exactly with the holes. I kid you not.
# Posted on November 20th 2004 by Rudall the time
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
I used to take a caseful of whistles to sessions - a C and an E-flat Generation and a selection of Ds, including a Sweetone, a Shaw, a Susato and an Oak. I gave up playing the Susie sometime ago, realising that they belong only in the hands of geniuses and sadists, and replaced it with a Dixon. But I've found that the Dixon doesn't cut through in a session and has a different C-natural fingering to what I'm used to, so I don't use it much. The Shaw sounds nice, but it's a 1/4-tone flat. I've never got on with Clarke's Sweetones. Sooner or later, I realised that all these whistles were merely function as stuffing for my whistle case. So I now just carry the Oak, in a pair of (clean) socks, inside my mandolin case - and don't often play it in sessions.
# Posted on November 20th 2004 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
You really need D,C,F,Eflat and this will cover the whole range. You will find that you will get most tunes on the D. But you will find in some sessions all the players are up one tone (E flat), this is very common in the south of Ireland. Keep it going, soon you'll have 20 tunes!
# Posted on November 20th 2004 by compaqjohn
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
It amazes me how some players seem to be able to play in 'any' key on a D-whistle or keyless flute (i.e. any key one is likely to hear tunes in in a session - F, C, G, D, A, E and related). The E-flat whistle (and a capo, if you play mandolin or banjo) is useful for sessions such as those Compaq describes above. Likewise, the C-whistle, if you're fortunate enough to come upon a C-session.
# Posted on November 20th 2004 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
Dog (to tell bodhranist we have finished) or wolf (for female fiddlers).
Length of scaffolding pipe can also be useful (whale noises, imitating seagulls, hanging curtains or recreating shower scene from Psycho).
# Posted on November 20th 2004 by geoffwright
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
Nah, I keep the plumbing constructions at home. All my efforts at making with discarded off cuts from plumbers are sweet but powerless, not enough bite for a session, but great for the airs and solos, if there's a mike handy. I still have to master making power whistles. Unlike David, I don't use my good socks, I only use the ones that have holes in them and are well worn.
# Posted on November 21st 2004 by ceolachan
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
Take em all. It's not like carrying around a double bass or something. By the way I wanna learn the double bass so I can carry around the smallest instrument and the biggest too.
# Posted on November 21st 2004 by keyedup
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
My Burke AlPro session D goes with me to just about every session. Other whistles that I may take are the Syn D or the Susato narrow-bore D, if I know the session will be quite large; or, if a smaller, more intimate session like a house session, the Burke narrow bore D is a lovely thing.
# Posted on November 21st 2004 by beardflute
Re: What whistles do you regularly take to sessions?
I used to take 6 whistles, 3 highD, low D, Low and high C. Why? I really don't know. I also took 2 flutes - F and D (and a Boehm flute too - my god!) and both a Bb low whistle (really like a drain pipe) and a Bb fife. Then I realised that all I needed was one good flute (D) and one good high D (Sindt if you want to know and I love it). But just to play along with the odd song I still take low and high C whistles sometimes, but it really isn't necessary. Tonight for example I had a high D tucked into my flute bag and never missed the rest. But I do have an A whistle on order and several others hanging around, and if i got a bigger bag, a larger car, a caddy even to carry it all ..................na! One whistle is all you need. And a sense of humour because you will always be out of tune because it is absolutely never anyone else's fault. Enjoy - its an eerie world out there for the lone whistler.
# Posted on November 22nd 2004 by bigfish