I haven't been playing whistle for long, maybe a little over a month, and I need some advice.
I currently own a Clarke Whistle in D. I like it alright, but it tends to be sharp and when I change my embesure, I can't play all the notes as many will just squeek. So, is it me or the whistle?
Also, I have been asked to play in a wedding, and if it is the whistle, then I need to get a new one. There is a store near here that sells Generation whistles, but I've heard their whistles in D are bad. So, I need a D whistle that's cheap but clear (unless I just need to change my playing) and I was wondering if anyone had suggestions as, there are no other places that sell whistles around here for me to play.
who told you generations were bad? i like brass generation whistles but it is a bit of a lottery. there is always a chance you could get a bad one. but they are so cheap its a thing of nothing to replace them.
Susatos aren't bad in my opinion but they an lose quality if not taken care of.
i've been told a Burke whistle is the best available. i use a Kerry Songbird which is good for sessions but on its own its very distorted.
A month isn't a long time to have been learning an instrument. It might just be you or for £3 you can buy a generation whistle, which are fine, and see if that makes any difference.
By the way, the different sound is because you are new to the whistle. Try a generation, but it does take a bit of time, and confidence, to blow properly.
Get yourself a brass Generation in D, and don't try to alter its mouthpiece - that is much more likely to ruin the instrument than to make it play better! If it really doesn't work, you'll be very unlucky. In that case, buy another one.
IMO, brass ones are better than nickel ones because they afford a better grip for the fingers, and thus more control.
Get a Generation as a better bet than your Clarke, but try all the ones in the shop if you can, to get the best; they do vary ( poor mouthpiece casting, bad mouthpiece position on the tube ? ).
If other, more expensive, whistles are available, it might be worth your while upgrading now, to give you, and your listeners, more pleasure sooner.
Try Susatos, wider-bore metal ones, wooden ones. Use your ears, they seem to have the right sensitivity already.
How can you know he/she is ready to play out Bliss, there is no 'of course' about it, it seems quite soon to be asked to play out at such an early stage.
Yes, and havn't we all witnessed the results of 'having the balls to play out being more than musical ability'.
I wish storm_grey_sea well, but at the moment they can't actually play their whistle yet.
It sounds to me like he/she needs a lot more practice.
I am not completely ignorant with woodwinds as I play clarinet so the fingerings have come very easily. Its not a problem playing fast or anything, its just a few of the notes I play suck on my Clarke whistle and I need wanted to know what other whistlers thought. The song I am playing sounds fine and had the bride's mother in tears. It's not a jig or anything. It's just slow and pretty. I can fudge bad notes pretty well. I'm an experienced musician just not an overly experienced whistler.
Playing at a session you will annoy the other players, I accept that. Playing for a load of drunk punters at a wedding? All you need is bravado, they will think it is wonderful. Happens me every "Gig". Punters tell me I am brilliant on the whistle. I only know one tune.
storm_grey_sea, Don't blame the Clarke...a fine instrument! After only a month, especially if you are trying to teach yourself, it is not unusual to still be squeaking, especially in the upper register. Keep plugging away, the sound will come in time!!!
I am in the 'stay away from the Generation's' Camp. I have seen them used by some exceptional players, but the one's I have gotten regardless of key are worthless. Perhaps those players have older ones and with the ones made in the past few years there was a manufacturing design change to save money, or the moulding of the fipples was outsourced to China or Romania where they wouldn't know an Irish whistle from stove pipe.
There are a number of web sites that analyze the problems of several brands of whistles and offer a method of sanding/gluing in things/generally modifying the whistles for a fee. Seems alot of trouble for something that is supposed to be an elegantly simple instrument.
But to Herself's constant consternation, I have coffee cups full of frustrated attempts at inexpensive whistles. As I have posted before, I am a major fan of the Michael Burkes, but they are not inexpensive.
But I still enjoy the challenge of buying inexpensive whistles of many brands where ever I go in the hope of finding one that has an interesting tone or feel in playing.
As far as inexpensive whistles, I have had consistent good luck with Feadogs.
I beg to differ somewhat with wormdiet on the Susato comment... Susato makes different bores for their whistles -- a narrow bore that has more of a recorder sound, and a wider bore with more of a whistle sound. However, like any make of whistle, they each have "their own" sound. I play a variety of recorders (mainly Yamaha and Adler) as well as whistles, and have several Susatos that I'd purchased as trial instruments that I've just kept using... True enough, the narrow-bore Susatos have a recorder-like sound (much less so than does a comparable Yamaha recorder), but they're still not recorders.
It looks like the one you've decided on is a good choice!
New and Stupid
New and Stupid
Hi all,
I haven't been playing whistle for long, maybe a little over a month, and I need some advice.
I currently own a Clarke Whistle in D. I like it alright, but it tends to be sharp and when I change my embesure, I can't play all the notes as many will just squeek. So, is it me or the whistle?
Also, I have been asked to play in a wedding, and if it is the whistle, then I need to get a new one. There is a store near here that sells Generation whistles, but I've heard their whistles in D are bad. So, I need a D whistle that's cheap but clear (unless I just need to change my playing) and I was wondering if anyone had suggestions as, there are no other places that sell whistles around here for me to play.
Thanks and sorry for the ignorance
# Posted on July 2nd 2007 by storm_grey_sea
Re: New and Stupid
who told you generations were bad? i like brass generation whistles but it is a bit of a lottery. there is always a chance you could get a bad one. but they are so cheap its a thing of nothing to replace them.
Susatos aren't bad in my opinion but they an lose quality if not taken care of.
i've been told a Burke whistle is the best available. i use a Kerry Songbird which is good for sessions but on its own its very distorted.
# Posted on July 2nd 2007 by Kevo32A
Re: New and Stupid
A month isn't a long time to have been learning an instrument. It might just be you or for £3 you can buy a generation whistle, which are fine, and see if that makes any difference.
Are you sure you are ready to play out already?
# Posted on July 2nd 2007 by curlew
Re: New and Stupid
Of course he/she is ready to play out. At the end of the day, having the balls to play out is worth more than musical ability.
# Posted on July 2nd 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: New and Stupid
By the way, the different sound is because you are new to the whistle. Try a generation, but it does take a bit of time, and confidence, to blow properly.
# Posted on July 2nd 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: New and Stupid
Get yourself a brass Generation in D, and don't try to alter its mouthpiece - that is much more likely to ruin the instrument than to make it play better! If it really doesn't work, you'll be very unlucky. In that case, buy another one.
IMO, brass ones are better than nickel ones because they afford a better grip for the fingers, and thus more control.
# Posted on July 2nd 2007 by nicholas
Re: New and Stupid
Get a Generation as a better bet than your Clarke, but try all the ones in the shop if you can, to get the best; they do vary ( poor mouthpiece casting, bad mouthpiece position on the tube ? ).
If other, more expensive, whistles are available, it might be worth your while upgrading now, to give you, and your listeners, more pleasure sooner.
Try Susatos, wider-bore metal ones, wooden ones. Use your ears, they seem to have the right sensitivity already.
# Posted on July 3rd 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: New and Stupid
How can you know he/she is ready to play out Bliss, there is no 'of course' about it, it seems quite soon to be asked to play out at such an early stage.
Yes, and havn't we all witnessed the results of 'having the balls to play out being more than musical ability'.
I wish storm_grey_sea well, but at the moment they can't actually play their whistle yet.
It sounds to me like he/she needs a lot more practice.
# Posted on July 3rd 2007 by curlew
Re: New and Stupid
Susatos aren't whistles, they are recorders with whistle fingering.
But they are extremely consistent and you probably won;t get a bad one.
# Posted on July 3rd 2007 by wormdiet
Re: New and Stupid
I am not completely ignorant with woodwinds as I play clarinet so the fingerings have come very easily. Its not a problem playing fast or anything, its just a few of the notes I play suck on my Clarke whistle and I need wanted to know what other whistlers thought. The song I am playing sounds fine and had the bride's mother in tears. It's not a jig or anything. It's just slow and pretty. I can fudge bad notes pretty well. I'm an experienced musician just not an overly experienced whistler.
# Posted on July 3rd 2007 by storm_grey_sea
Re: New and Stupid
There's no accounting for tastes, but Tony Dixon whistles are sweet and inexpensive ones. In Ireland, many old fashioned players are switching from Generations to Susatos. Here's Christy Barry playing Susato D: http://www.custysmusic.com/mall/CustysTraditionalMusicShop/christy_barry_late_in_the_night.htm
# Posted on July 3rd 2007 by slainte
Re: New and Stupid
Playing at a session you will annoy the other players, I accept that. Playing for a load of drunk punters at a wedding? All you need is bravado, they will think it is wonderful. Happens me every "Gig". Punters tell me I am brilliant on the whistle. I only know one tune.
# Posted on July 3rd 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: New and Stupid
Mind you, I'm good at that one tune.
# Posted on July 3rd 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: New and Stupid
storm_grey_sea, Don't blame the Clarke...a fine instrument! After only a month, especially if you are trying to teach yourself, it is not unusual to still be squeaking, especially in the upper register. Keep plugging away, the sound will come in time!!!
# Posted on July 3rd 2007 by AlBrown
Re: New and Stupid
I am in the 'stay away from the Generation's' Camp. I have seen them used by some exceptional players, but the one's I have gotten regardless of key are worthless. Perhaps those players have older ones and with the ones made in the past few years there was a manufacturing design change to save money, or the moulding of the fipples was outsourced to China or Romania where they wouldn't know an Irish whistle from stove pipe.
There are a number of web sites that analyze the problems of several brands of whistles and offer a method of sanding/gluing in things/generally modifying the whistles for a fee. Seems alot of trouble for something that is supposed to be an elegantly simple instrument.
But to Herself's constant consternation, I have coffee cups full of frustrated attempts at inexpensive whistles. As I have posted before, I am a major fan of the Michael Burkes, but they are not inexpensive.
But I still enjoy the challenge of buying inexpensive whistles of many brands where ever I go in the hope of finding one that has an interesting tone or feel in playing.
As far as inexpensive whistles, I have had consistent good luck with Feadogs.
# Posted on July 3rd 2007 by zippydw
Re: New and Stupid
storm_grey_sea, are you playing as part of a group or are you intending to play your piece solo?
If you intend to play on your own why not try a 'B flat' whistle instead? Brass with red mouthpiece.
They can sound very mellow and almost reedy, great for solos and for playing in the house as they arn't quite as pearcing as the 'D' whistle.
Just an idea, good luck whatever you choose.
# Posted on July 3rd 2007 by curlew
Re: New and Stupid
I think this is the one I have decided on...
http://www.hobgoblin.com/local/bigpic.php?L=US&ID=GR2350
# Posted on July 3rd 2007 by storm_grey_sea
Re: New and Stupid
I beg to differ somewhat with wormdiet on the Susato comment... Susato makes different bores for their whistles -- a narrow bore that has more of a recorder sound, and a wider bore with more of a whistle sound. However, like any make of whistle, they each have "their own" sound. I play a variety of recorders (mainly Yamaha and Adler) as well as whistles, and have several Susatos that I'd purchased as trial instruments that I've just kept using... True enough, the narrow-bore Susatos have a recorder-like sound (much less so than does a comparable Yamaha recorder), but they're still not recorders.
It looks like the one you've decided on is a good choice!
# Posted on July 4th 2007 by pn5jn