i have been wondering for a on getting a whistle other than my D whistle, i've been whistling for 1.5 years so i count myself as intermediate player. being that i want to ask if it is better to buy a Low F whistle or a Bb whistle, putting in mind that my hands are rather small, also which one of those are good for fast tempo playing (reels, jigs etc.).
I would appreciate any advice
Thanks
Well Bloodstorm, I have been playing25 yrs and count my self as intermediate so....
well you can get a Bb generation for pennies. A low A or G could be usefull in sessions, F not so much I think.
Get a rake of different whistles if you can afford it.... they all have different feels and reaction times.
well the problem is i can't afford it except if it's 1 whistle, i live in the middle-east so it's difficult to get my hands on one, other than that i'm not planning on playing sessions.
Not really. A generation Bb cost just a few Euros , try that first before going down to A, G or F , let alone D.
Personally I have , C D and Eb, though many moons ago I had a low D and a couple of different low D's.
F is lovely too, and the Susato ain't half bad, quite nice actually...
There are some low Ds that profess to be made for small hands, but I am only slightly familiar with them, and haven't one I'd recommend. There others on site that might have more experience there and who would be willing to make a recommendation of at least something you might give a try.
I also second the previous recommendations ~ Eb, C, Bb, A, G... Eb is also very useful for the many 'sharp' recordings out there, old and new, by accident or design, and more often a half step sharp...
You can buy a Generation Bb for less than 10 euros. A low G/F would be much more expensive, although Susato makes a good ones for less than u$s 70 dollars.
By the way.. where are you from exactly?
I have small hands, by my wife's are even smaller hands. Here's one possibility, to let us know the size you have ~
Lay your hand flat on a table and spread your fingers ~ with your fingers spread out, and don't overdo it, this shouldn't be strained, measure from the middle of the second joint of your index finger, the one you normally point with, to the first joint (under the fingernail) of your third finger, the one next to your little finger.
Why? ~ Well, low whistles, even the F mentioned above, have a reach that means that a player tends to take the hold of a piper, using the second joint of the first (index) and second finger and the first joint of the third...
My spread, the right hand, is 10 cm / 3 & 7/8 inches
My wife's right hand ~ 6.5 cm / 2 & 9/16 inches
Whistle requirements ~
Susato F ~ the widest is 7 cm
Low D ~ whistles & flutes ~ on average 7.2 - 7.6 cm at the widest
My wife can stretch to these, but it does cause some tension. Over time you do loosen up some, but it can also lead to problems... As said, some instruments, flutes and whistles, are made for smaller hands and require less of a stretch...
Your next best step would probably be to go for a C, Bb and Eb... These can be found relatively inexpensive. To take the next step, to an A, would be more than doubling your cost, as is true with and F and G whistle... For comparison you can easily check prices online... Good luck...
What to choose.
What to choose.
i have been wondering for a on getting a whistle other than my D whistle, i've been whistling for 1.5 years so i count myself as intermediate player. being that i want to ask if it is better to buy a Low F whistle or a Bb whistle, putting in mind that my hands are rather small, also which one of those are good for fast tempo playing (reels, jigs etc.).
I would appreciate any advice
Thanks
# Posted on February 23rd 2008 by BloodStorm89
Re: What to choose.
Well Bloodstorm, I have been playing25 yrs and count my self as intermediate so....
well you can get a Bb generation for pennies. A low A or G could be usefull in sessions, F not so much I think.
Get a rake of different whistles if you can afford it.... they all have different feels and reaction times.
# Posted on February 23rd 2008 by piobagusfidil
well the problem is i can't afford it except if it's 1 whistle, i live in the middle-east so it's difficult to get my hands on one, other than that i'm not planning on playing sessions.
P.S: 25 years!!! thats a long time lol
# Posted on February 23rd 2008 by BloodStorm89
Re: What to choose.
Not really. A generation Bb cost just a few Euros , try that first before going down to A, G or F , let alone D.
Personally I have , C D and Eb, though many moons ago I had a low D and a couple of different low D's.
# Posted on February 23rd 2008 by piobagusfidil
Re: What to choose.
ok, thanks for the advice, that really helped alot
# Posted on February 23rd 2008 by BloodStorm89
Re: What to choose.
your welcome. Enjoy your music.
# Posted on February 23rd 2008 by piobagusfidil
Re: What to choose.
The Bb sounds really nice, too. That's the one I would go with for sure.
# Posted on February 24th 2008 by sbhikes
Re: What to choose.
F is lovely too, and the Susato ain't half bad, quite nice actually...
There are some low Ds that profess to be made for small hands, but I am only slightly familiar with them, and haven't one I'd recommend. There others on site that might have more experience there and who would be willing to make a recommendation of at least something you might give a try.
# Posted on February 24th 2008 by ceolachan
Re: What to choose.
I also second the previous recommendations ~ Eb, C, Bb, A, G... Eb is also very useful for the many 'sharp' recordings out there, old and new, by accident or design, and more often a half step sharp...
# Posted on February 24th 2008 by ceolachan
Re: What to choose.
You can buy a Generation Bb for less than 10 euros. A low G/F would be much more expensive, although Susato makes a good ones for less than u$s 70 dollars.
By the way.. where are you from exactly?
# Posted on February 24th 2008 by Bothrops
Re: What to choose ~ hand size
I have small hands, by my wife's are even smaller hands. Here's one possibility, to let us know the size you have ~
Lay your hand flat on a table and spread your fingers ~ with your fingers spread out, and don't overdo it, this shouldn't be strained, measure from the middle of the second joint of your index finger, the one you normally point with, to the first joint (under the fingernail) of your third finger, the one next to your little finger.
Why? ~ Well, low whistles, even the F mentioned above, have a reach that means that a player tends to take the hold of a piper, using the second joint of the first (index) and second finger and the first joint of the third...
My spread, the right hand, is 10 cm / 3 & 7/8 inches
My wife's right hand ~ 6.5 cm / 2 & 9/16 inches
Whistle requirements ~
Susato F ~ the widest is 7 cm
Low D ~ whistles & flutes ~ on average 7.2 - 7.6 cm at the widest
My wife can stretch to these, but it does cause some tension. Over time you do loosen up some, but it can also lead to problems... As said, some instruments, flutes and whistles, are made for smaller hands and require less of a stretch...
# Posted on February 24th 2008 by ceolachan
Re: What to choose.
Your next best step would probably be to go for a C, Bb and Eb... These can be found relatively inexpensive. To take the next step, to an A, would be more than doubling your cost, as is true with and F and G whistle... For comparison you can easily check prices online... Good luck...
# Posted on February 24th 2008 by ceolachan
Re: What to choose.
thanks ceolachan u've been a great help
# Posted on February 24th 2008 by BloodStorm89