Greenest of the Green

The Ultimate On-Line Whistle Community. If you find one more ultimater, let us know.
Polara Pat
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Tell us something.: In an effort to ease from lurker to forum member; I'm hoping that this elite gang of whistlers will help this very green player to advance to the next stage. My current stage is slightly below novice and is only permitted in the garage like the dog I am. Oh yah, not a robot.

Greenest of the Green

Post by Polara Pat »

Hey folks, I just wanted say thanks for having me on your forum and thought I would do a little intro, if that is appropriate. My name is Pat and I live in Nelson B.C. Canada. Straight off I need to say that I have pretty much zero musical knowledge or skill but this year for my birthday my good pal Paddy bought me a Walton D whistle with the addendum that I needed to learn the Wild Rover for the next time we met. He may have thought that it was a bit of a gag gift since he also gave me a James Joyce novel and a bottle of Tullamore Dew. What Paddy doesn't know is that I Like to play the long game when it comes to a good punchline. So I've taken it upon myself to learn the tin whistle and although it has been a bit challenging without any sort of tutorial; I am really enjoying it and regardless of how busy I am in my daily activities, I always find time to practice scales and smash through the 20 or so traditional Irish tunes that I'm hoping to learn. I bought The Tin Whistle Song Book by Martin Dardis and copied off a bunch of other songs that aren't in his book. So far things are going pretty well but I'm keeping it pretty slow and simple in my selections. I've also ordered a Dixon Trad to try something different than the old Walton. I'm hoping to learn as much as I can from the archives of this forum and maybe not ask too many dumb questions. That being said, I would love to hear of any good book recommendations that would complement Martin's book and contains fingering charts (or whatever they are called) since I currently don't read music. Baby steps.

Cheers, Pat
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plunk111
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Location: Wheeling, WV

Re: Greenest of the Green

Post by plunk111 »

You might try searching for "Ryan G. Duns" on YouTube... Lots of good stuff!

Good luck in your quest!

Pat
Pat Plunkett, Wheeling, WV
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vonallentx
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Tell us something.: I'm learning to play the harp and just added learning the whistle to my endeavors. I'm wanting to post a question about which keys are the most important whistles to have in one's kit. Also, I've been searching the posts for knowledge about whistle brands, makers, etc. And I wouldn't mind a good deal on a whistle for sale.
Location: Austin, Texas

Re: Greenest of the Green

Post by vonallentx »

I recently started learning to play the whistle. I found this book helpful. It comes with four CDs of Irish tunes. These are tunes you would hear at an Irish music session. Each song is played at practice speed and then at performance speed. The songs are written in standard music notation.
https://www.halleonard.com/product/view ... ubsiteid=1

I'm using the Dixon Trad for my practice. I like it very well.
Current kit: Oak D; Freeman Blackbird D; Dixon Trad D in Nickel and Brass; McManus African Blackwood D; Kerry Pro Low F
Polara Pat
Posts: 284
Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2017 9:01 pm
antispam: No
Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
Tell us something.: In an effort to ease from lurker to forum member; I'm hoping that this elite gang of whistlers will help this very green player to advance to the next stage. My current stage is slightly below novice and is only permitted in the garage like the dog I am. Oh yah, not a robot.

Re: Greenest of the Green

Post by Polara Pat »

plunk111 wrote:You might try searching for "Ryan G. Duns" on YouTube... Lots of good stuff!

Good luck in your quest!

Pat
I did check out a couple of Mr. Dun's videos. I was a little unsure at first when I saw his collar but he seems to be a good instructor and doesn't seem to preach anything but whistle. I might check out a few more videos tonight.
Polara Pat
Posts: 284
Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2017 9:01 pm
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Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
Tell us something.: In an effort to ease from lurker to forum member; I'm hoping that this elite gang of whistlers will help this very green player to advance to the next stage. My current stage is slightly below novice and is only permitted in the garage like the dog I am. Oh yah, not a robot.

Re: Greenest of the Green

Post by Polara Pat »

vonallentx wrote:I recently started learning to play the whistle. I found this book helpful. It comes with four CDs of Irish tunes. These are tunes you would hear at an Irish music session. Each song is played at practice speed and then at performance speed. The songs are written in standard music notation.
https://www.halleonard.com/product/view ... ubsiteid=1

I'm using the Dixon Trad for my practice. I like it very well.
That does look like a descent book/cd combo. Reading music will come to me eventually but right now I'm still just trying co-ordinate my fingers while simultaneously not turning blue.
nicx66
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Tell us something.: Hi, I have been playing whistle for 3 years. I made my first whistle 2 years ago and my first tin whistle last year in a tinsmithing class.

Re: Greenest of the Green

Post by nicx66 »

plunk111 wrote:You might try searching for "Ryan G. Duns" on YouTube... Lots of good stuff!

Good luck in your quest!

Pat

Agreed. I also started this way, albeit my gift was a cooperman, whereas my second whistle was a waltons little black whistle. I might also suggest Michael Eskin's youtube videos. What helped me out, as a beginner, was that his videos play the tunes at their normal tempo and then again slowed down. This helps you hear the tune/see the fingering at normal speed and then again (hear/see) at a slower speed with the same tempo. I found it very helpful. He is also a member on this forum. Good luck. More important than luck, practice every day, let yourself become obsessed, and if at all possible, form a band.
Polara Pat
Posts: 284
Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2017 9:01 pm
antispam: No
Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
Tell us something.: In an effort to ease from lurker to forum member; I'm hoping that this elite gang of whistlers will help this very green player to advance to the next stage. My current stage is slightly below novice and is only permitted in the garage like the dog I am. Oh yah, not a robot.

Re: Greenest of the Green

Post by Polara Pat »

nicx66 wrote:
plunk111 wrote:You might try searching for "Ryan G. Duns" on YouTube... Lots of good stuff!

Good luck in your quest!

Pat

Agreed. I also started this way, albeit my gift was a cooperman, whereas my second whistle was a waltons little black whistle. I might also suggest Michael Eskin's youtube videos. What helped me out, as a beginner, was that his videos play the tunes at their normal tempo and then again slowed down. This helps you hear the tune/see the fingering at normal speed and then again (hear/see) at a slower speed with the same tempo. I found it very helpful. He is also a member on this forum. Good luck. More important than luck, practice every day, let yourself become obsessed, and if at all possible, form a band.
Haha, this is the advice that I crave. Obsessed=check, practice several times a day away from tender ears=check. So far I have only been trying to learn songs where I know the tune, otherwise it's just a jumble of random notes that don't make sense. The guy who gave me the whistle is also a wicked musician and wants me to jam with him. I'm not even close.
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plunk111
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Location: Wheeling, WV

Re: Greenest of the Green

Post by plunk111 »

Minor point... We don't play "songs" (unless someone is actually singing) - we play "tunes". Just trying to help!

Pat
Pat Plunkett, Wheeling, WV
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pancelticpiper
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Tell us something.: Playing Scottish and Irish music in California for 45 years.
These days many discussions are migrating to Facebook but I prefer the online chat forum format.
Location: WV to the OC

Re: Greenest of the Green

Post by pancelticpiper »

Or "choons" :thumbsup:
Richard Cook
c1980 Quinn uilleann pipes
1945 Starck Highland pipes
Goldie Low D whistle
Polara Pat
Posts: 284
Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2017 9:01 pm
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Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
Tell us something.: In an effort to ease from lurker to forum member; I'm hoping that this elite gang of whistlers will help this very green player to advance to the next stage. My current stage is slightly below novice and is only permitted in the garage like the dog I am. Oh yah, not a robot.

Re: Greenest of the Green

Post by Polara Pat »

plunk111 wrote:Minor point... We don't play "songs" (unless someone is actually singing) - we play "tunes". Just trying to help!

Pat
That's a good point. Look at me learning and stuff.
DaveAuty
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Tell us something.: I play the whistle, I used to play flute but have Dupuytren's contracture so can only play whistle now which is fine. Mostly play sessions around Canterbury Kent area.
Location: Kent UK

Re: Greenest of the Green

Post by DaveAuty »

Polara Pat
Posts: 284
Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2017 9:01 pm
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Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
Tell us something.: In an effort to ease from lurker to forum member; I'm hoping that this elite gang of whistlers will help this very green player to advance to the next stage. My current stage is slightly below novice and is only permitted in the garage like the dog I am. Oh yah, not a robot.

Re: Greenest of the Green

Post by Polara Pat »

DaveAuty wrote:This might help,

http://www.rogermillington.com/siamsa/brosteve/
Thanks, that is a really useful page and he seems to really tell it like it is. I'm definitely struggling a bit with trying to teach myself and don't actually know anyone else in my town that plays tin whistle. Certain things like trying to explain rolls and cuts goes way over my head, some things just need to be shown. Anyways, this whistle isn't going to play itself, so it's back to the garage for me.
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pancelticpiper
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These days many discussions are migrating to Facebook but I prefer the online chat forum format.
Location: WV to the OC

Re: Greenest of the Green

Post by pancelticpiper »

Here's a little thing I did on cuts, pats, and rolls. Like many music things they're tough to clearly put into words, but are extremely simple when demonstrated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nfu_fDUyNHs
Richard Cook
c1980 Quinn uilleann pipes
1945 Starck Highland pipes
Goldie Low D whistle
nicx66
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Tell us something.: Hi, I have been playing whistle for 3 years. I made my first whistle 2 years ago and my first tin whistle last year in a tinsmithing class.

Re: Greenest of the Green

Post by nicx66 »

C naturals are important too, and you will see people play them two different ways: cross-fingering, where you cover holes 2 & 3 (down from the top) The other way is called half-hole, where you cover half of the top hole. I learned using the cross-finger technique, but now try to half-hole when I learn a new tune. Thats an area where some practice exercises and learning how to play it both ways can really improve your playing.
Polara Pat
Posts: 284
Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2017 9:01 pm
antispam: No
Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
Tell us something.: In an effort to ease from lurker to forum member; I'm hoping that this elite gang of whistlers will help this very green player to advance to the next stage. My current stage is slightly below novice and is only permitted in the garage like the dog I am. Oh yah, not a robot.

Re: Greenest of the Green

Post by Polara Pat »

nicx66 wrote:C naturals are important too, and you will see people play them two different ways: cross-fingering, where you cover holes 2 & 3 (down from the top) The other way is called half-hole, where you cover half of the top hole. I learned using the cross-finger technique, but now try to half-hole when I learn a new tune. Thats an area where some practice exercises and learning how to play it both ways can really improve your playing.
Right, I read about that on Bro Steve's page. Currently I'm just using the cross fingering c natural but should probably try the half hole too. Keep in mind that I am way new to this.
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