Feadog in D and Clarke in C

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Kade1301
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Tell us something.: I've been trying to learn the recorder for about 5 years now and want to add a new instrument (tin whistle) to my repertoire. I hope with only 6 holes life will be a bit easier... (John Sheahan's Marino Casino in the Gaiety theatre has something to do with it - whereas my head knows that 40 years of practice is the reason why it sounds so good, I'm still hoping...)
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Re: Feadog in D and Clarke in C

Post by Kade1301 »

I've always interpreted "beginner whistle" as easy to play, and yes, inexpensive so one is not out of too much money if one stops playing after a few weeks.
Hooleh
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Tell us something.: A whistler and a beginner Uilleann piper from Scandinavia. Maybe some day a piper during this life time.

Re: Feadog in D and Clarke in C

Post by Hooleh »

Interesting discussion! As a non-professional, almost non-performing player, and someone who has often pondered the question of "do I have an instrument way above my skill level?", I approach the subject with a few thoughts:

My take on this has been that it's best to have a whistle (or multiple) that suits all purposes: practicing, performing, recording and sessions. Some would say that the differences between different whistles and their playability are menial, but I say that even if so, they still are there, and if you learn a tune with one whistle, it feels different on another. From this point of view it's best to learn a tune on a whistle you are gonna use to perform. Of course, if you know your whistles, it's not a huge task to take the song onto another whistle, either, but I hope you get my point.

The price isn't automatically a factor. Some may find their favourite from the cheapest of whistles, whereas others won't accept anything below a certain price range. In the end, however, it's a matter of personal taste for the most part, and your ability to control the whistle that you're playing once you get one whose sound and playability you like. I'm not saying that the price isn't any kind of indication of quality, or "betterness", but perhaps less so than with your "average instruments".
Tyler DelGregg
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Tell us something.: Whistles are fun, whistles are charming, whistles sound nice, whistles are affordable, whistles make us smile, whistles make dogs bark, and whistles upset some neighbors.
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Re: Feadog in D and Clarke in C

Post by Tyler DelGregg »

BigBpiper wrote:
Tyler DelGregg wrote:I often wonder which whistles the professionals reach for when they are not on stage or practicing for a performance, those times when nobody is listening and it's just them and the whistle.
Maybe for some, the performance whistle is what they hack around with. Do they learn new tunes on a particularly favorite whistle, etc.?
That's a great question. I know that when I'm by myself and not performing, I usually play lower and quieter. Right now, for me, that's my "good" generation Bb. I particularly enjoy slow airs on that one, but it's also amazing for other tunes, of course. What about the rest of you?
Cheers!
I find myself playing the Generation Bb the most for those down times when I just want to hack around. For learning new tunes, I use the high D, usually a Dixon.
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