Chiff and Fipple Forums

AuLoS303 wrote:And here is my only whistle. Pathetic I know. And technically its a toy, made by Schylling. I need a decent one but I seriously lack funds and its a minefield out there!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ffjs81ose9xkp ... 1.jpg?dl=0

I've often wondered how the Schylling whistles play --- any good at all?

For the $7 to $10 you paid for the Schylling, you could also get a Clarke or a Generation. Both decent whistles. Save up a bit more and spring for a Freeman tweaked Generation.

For about the same money as a Generation, you can poke around for a Mark I Feadog brand whistle. They have a reputation for being pretty good blowers too.

Alternatively, you can just suck it up and learn how to draw sweet music from your Schylling!

whistlecollector wrote:

AuLoS303 wrote:And here is my only whistle. Pathetic I know. And technically its a toy, made by Schylling. I need a decent one but I seriously lack funds and its a minefield out there!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ffjs81ose9xkp ... 1.jpg?dl=0

I've often wondered how the Schylling whistles play --- any good at all?

For the $7 to $10 you paid for the Schylling, you could also get a Clarke or a Generation. Both decent whistles. Save up a bit more and spring for a Freeman tweaked Generation.

For about the same money as a Generation, you can poke around for a Mark I Feadog brand whistle. They have a reputation for being pretty good blowers too.

Alternatively, you can just suck it up and learn how to draw sweet music from your Schylling!

Ah no its dreadful. Really bad. I got myself a proper whistle (Feadóg D) and ts so much easier to play! And playing both together it soon becomes obvious that the Schylling is badly out of tune past the 3rd hole. Its going in the bin!

Photo of my D Feadóg

Here's my little collection. I started playing about a month and a half ago after having the Freeman Tweaked Generation for years and never making time to learn how to play it. Finally I decided to stop procrastinating and carve time out of the day to learn how to play ITM after it being nearly all I've listened to for the last 2 years or so. It's been a challenge so far but I'm getting he hang of it.

Killarney Brass D and Freeman Tweaked Generation D


EDIT: Greatly reduced image size for the board!

Planxty, I think all the time you spent simply listening to the music will not be in vain- it will really help you now as you are learning to play. Making the connection between music you've incorporated into your head and what your hands are doing is an important one.

Chifmunk wrote:Planxty, I think all the time you spent simply listening to the music will not be in vain- it will really help you now as you are learning to play. Making the connection between music you've incorporated into your head and what your hands are doing is an important one.

Thanks Chifmunk....I definitely agree so far. It's been fairly easy for me to pick up certain tunes like Planxty Irwin and Kid on the Mountain since the melodies are already fairly familiar to me. There are still plenty of times I have to slow the tune down and drill a section over and over, but it's much easier with tunes I'm familiar with than those I'm not. Playing another instrument (guitar) and being self-taught and playing by ear has been a giant advantage too. I already know "how" to learn tunes and my ear is already pretty good at picking up intervals. The main issues so far have been getting the rhythms correct and playing with lift. I knew this was going to be a lifelong process going into this though, so I'm just enjoying the journey!

My pipes all together
Aulos 211 tenor, Yamaha Alto, Aulos soprano, Feadóg D

Did you throw away the Schylling then?

benhall.1 wrote:Did you throw away the Schylling then?

Yep. I did try to get the head off, see what I could do with it, but it wouldn't come off, despite dunking in boiling water. It went in the recycle bin. The Feadóg is a much much better whistle!

AuLoS303 wrote:

benhall.1 wrote:Did you throw away the Schylling then?

Yep. I did try to get the head off, see what I could do with it, but it wouldn't come off, despite dunking in boiling water. It went in the recycle bin. The Feadóg is a much much better whistle!

Feadógs are nice whistles, or can be, at any rate.

To Flogging Jason:

Great collection. I have 5 whistles and one on the way. I noticed a variation in the hole sizes and spacing of the holes, which I found interesting. I actually have a couple of whistles where the bottom right hand hole is a bit farther apart from the next one, which gives me a problem playing them. I've only been at it for 16 months. My next whistle has scallops around the holes and I am hoping that it will help me center my fingers over the holes.

Tilbury Woodwinds Bb on top and a D, aluminum with delrin.

Here's mine!

plamer wrote:Here's mine!

You're well on your way!

It's too late for you now, but you'll soon enough learn that whistles are a lot like pringles. You just can't have one!

I find it amazing the huge difference between the various 15 or so whistles I have- different materials, brands/makers, keys/sizes... All the combinations of factors make for such a broad range of tone, playability, volume, fingering techniques...
Even as a beginner, it's great inspiring to have choices when reaching for a whistle when i'm in the mood to play a tune.