I have recently been inspired to pick up the Whistle. I am looking for a decent whistle and low whistle to buy. If anyone has any suggestions on what type and where to order from, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank You
I recommend starting with a high-D whistle and only picking up a low whistle when you are comfortable with the first one. It seems most people seem to stick with their high whistle and only bust out the low one on special occasions or songs. The low whistle is also a little harder to finger because of the wider spacing between the holes. That said, I have a Clark D whistle and a Susato low-D and I've enjoyed them both.
When you say decent, what do you mean? What's your price range? If you haven't fount it already, have a look at this site: http://www.chiffandfipple.com/
There are a lot of good whistles available in the $10 or so price range (might be a little more now, but thereabouts). All of them play a little differently, some feel "quicker", some "choppier", some "smoother". The tone varies as well, from the Clarkes (breathy) to the Susato (recorder-ish).
I find the Sweetones to be a good all around whistle, and Feadogs are great, but I enjoy playing most of them. The only one I haven't liked has been the "Little Black Whistle", which I think is an aluminum body and required a lot of warming up to get an real tone out of.
Wait until you have a real proficiency - not a mastery, but a proficiency, a few tunes under your belt and command of the rolls - before you start looking at low whistles or the high-end jobbies. You might work your way down to the low D, to get your fingers ready for it. Generation makes a low B Flat, Susato a low A, and then your into the G and F territory before you make the final leap. You can't really use those in sessions a lot, but they're nice to have, and if you buy them over the course of a few years the outlay is pretty easy to manage. Not like buying a guitar, where you have to buy the whole thing at once.
Have fun!
Get a generation high D. Do a few years on that first. Go to sessions and ask politely if you can try people's whistles, see how you get on with them. Most people will be only too happy to let you do this (in my experience anyway).
Oh, and if you're also a bass player, could you leave it at home please?
And everyone will tell you something different (what would you expect?!)
Enjoy
Starting on the lonesome low whistle is like trying to run before you can walk.
Do yourself a favor and start where Irish folks do, get a 7 dollar D Gen or Waltons or Feadog.
You can knock out a middling good low D from plumbers pipe or any pipe that you happen to like. All it takes is a few drill bits, hammer punches, etc. It is a lot easier than you might think and it costs less than 10 dollars to make your own.
Matthew, you can start by buying the cheaper ones (suggested above). I have a bunch of those too. But once I bought my Tony Dixon (for around $35-39) I've kept coming back to it -- nice sweet, clear sound. Hard to hear at sessions though. The nice thing about whistles is that they're so affordable you can buy a bunch and see what you like. Re low whistles I have an Overton that I like.
TheMuse, I paid $125 (U.S.) for my Susato Low D with two keys.
Matthew,
Do yourself a favor and invest in a medium priced whistle. It can be very frustrating trying to learn on the inexpensive ones. Mary Bergin can make a "Generation" sound great, but I cannot. Start with something like a Susato in High D for around $40. Or if you have the extra money, I would recommend a John Sindt for around $100. Google John's name for his email address. Tony Dixon makes a great whistle, but I think getting used to the "air way" is tougher for a beginner than some other choices.
My first whistle was a kerry low d songbird (I think they cost about £100) - I learned to play that long before I picked up a high d. Although it does take a long time to get the hang of the wide finger spacing, a low whistle is a lot more forgiving than a high one.
New Whistle Player
New Whistle Player
I have recently been inspired to pick up the Whistle. I am looking for a decent whistle and low whistle to buy. If anyone has any suggestions on what type and where to order from, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank You
# Posted on September 2nd 2007 by MatthewFromTh3Hills
Re: New Whistle Player
I recommend starting with a high-D whistle and only picking up a low whistle when you are comfortable with the first one. It seems most people seem to stick with their high whistle and only bust out the low one on special occasions or songs. The low whistle is also a little harder to finger because of the wider spacing between the holes. That said, I have a Clark D whistle and a Susato low-D and I've enjoyed them both.
# Posted on September 2nd 2007 by mistercliff
Re: New Whistle Player
When you say decent, what do you mean? What's your price range? If you haven't fount it already, have a look at this site:
http://www.chiffandfipple.com/
# Posted on September 2nd 2007 by seisflutes
Re: New Whistle Player
Found, not fount. Sorry.
# Posted on September 2nd 2007 by seisflutes
Re: New Whistle Player
There are a lot of good whistles available in the $10 or so price range (might be a little more now, but thereabouts). All of them play a little differently, some feel "quicker", some "choppier", some "smoother". The tone varies as well, from the Clarkes (breathy) to the Susato (recorder-ish).
I find the Sweetones to be a good all around whistle, and Feadogs are great, but I enjoy playing most of them. The only one I haven't liked has been the "Little Black Whistle", which I think is an aluminum body and required a lot of warming up to get an real tone out of.
Wait until you have a real proficiency - not a mastery, but a proficiency, a few tunes under your belt and command of the rolls - before you start looking at low whistles or the high-end jobbies. You might work your way down to the low D, to get your fingers ready for it. Generation makes a low B Flat, Susato a low A, and then your into the G and F territory before you make the final leap. You can't really use those in sessions a lot, but they're nice to have, and if you buy them over the course of a few years the outlay is pretty easy to manage. Not like buying a guitar, where you have to buy the whole thing at once.
Have fun!
# Posted on September 2nd 2007 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: New Whistle Player
Get a generation high D. Do a few years on that first. Go to sessions and ask politely if you can try people's whistles, see how you get on with them. Most people will be only too happy to let you do this (in my experience anyway).
Oh, and if you're also a bass player, could you leave it at home please?
And everyone will tell you something different (what would you expect?!)
Enjoy
# Posted on September 2nd 2007 by maxF
Re: New Whistle Player
Thanks for all your help everyone. One last thing.
I'm looking for a good low whistle under the price range of $100 if that is possible.
Thanks
# Posted on September 2nd 2007 by MatthewFromTh3Hills
Re: New Whistle Player
Mattnew,
Look here for your whistles. You will be happy.
\http://www.thewhistleshop.com/index.html
Then, look here for more good information
http://www.rogermillington.com/siamsa/brosteve/
Please check back here often to tell us of your progress. Good luck to you! (and don't play whistle as you drive...)
# Posted on September 2nd 2007 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: New Whistle Player
Starting on the lonesome low whistle is like trying to run before you can walk.
Do yourself a favor and start where Irish folks do, get a 7 dollar D Gen or Waltons or Feadog.
You can knock out a middling good low D from plumbers pipe or any pipe that you happen to like. All it takes is a few drill bits, hammer punches, etc. It is a lot easier than you might think and it costs less than 10 dollars to make your own.
My 2 c
# Posted on September 3rd 2007 by Schlongbow
Re: New Whistle Player
Looking for a low whistle?
I got a Kerry for around $75....
# Posted on September 3rd 2007 by Djaque
Re: New Whistle Player
here's some good info on low whistles
http://www.thewhistleshop.com/beginners/lowd/lowd.htm
# Posted on September 3rd 2007 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: New Whistle Player
What are they asking for the Low D Susato these days?
Single piece not tunable.
# Posted on September 3rd 2007 by Random_notes
Re: New Whistle Player
Matthew, you can start by buying the cheaper ones (suggested above). I have a bunch of those too. But once I bought my Tony Dixon (for around $35-39) I've kept coming back to it -- nice sweet, clear sound. Hard to hear at sessions though. The nice thing about whistles is that they're so affordable you can buy a bunch and see what you like. Re low whistles I have an Overton that I like.
# Posted on September 3rd 2007 by justwhistle
Re: New Whistle Player
TheMuse, I paid $125 (U.S.) for my Susato Low D with two keys.
Matthew,
Do yourself a favor and invest in a medium priced whistle. It can be very frustrating trying to learn on the inexpensive ones. Mary Bergin can make a "Generation" sound great, but I cannot. Start with something like a Susato in High D for around $40. Or if you have the extra money, I would recommend a John Sindt for around $100. Google John's name for his email address. Tony Dixon makes a great whistle, but I think getting used to the "air way" is tougher for a beginner than some other choices.
# Posted on September 10th 2007 by whistler gan ainm
Re: New Whistle Player
My first whistle was a kerry low d songbird (I think they cost about £100) - I learned to play that long before I picked up a high d. Although it does take a long time to get the hang of the wide finger spacing, a low whistle is a lot more forgiving than a high one.
# Posted on November 22nd 2007 by Fionnlaoch Donnachaidh