What Keys of Whistles do you have (low and high)?

[kenny]

"D" - for sessions. playing along with recordings in "concert pitch", performance.
"Eb" - playing along with recordings of Scottish Highland bagpipes - also solo performance.
"C" - for tunes in certain keys, also song accompaniment.
"A" - a few tunes, mainly song accompaniment just recently.

I don't play "low" whistles".

[pancelticpiper]

I really do have an Ab McManus and a G# McManus.

Enharmonic?

As it happens I have a D whistle and a C## whistle

[Brus]

Many high Ds and Cs.

A Generation high Bb

A Susato high Eb

A Susato low D

A Susato low F

[BigDavy]

High - E, Eb, D, Db, C, B, Bb, A.

Low - G, F, E, Eb, D, Db, C.

David

[whit36]

I have mostly high D. Recently purchased one with both B-flat and A tubes. I like their sound on slow reels. They are also less forgiving on the ornaments - great for keeping sharp when I begin to get sloppy at speed on the Ds. I play some hornpipes on my old Generation F. My mom loves these tunes and thinks they sound like the old music boxes. Try Enda Seery’s Dairy Hornpipe on yours Fs.

[Nanohedron]

I play some hornpipes on my old Generation F. My mom loves these tunes and thinks they sound like the old music boxes. Try Enda Seery’s Dairy Hornpipe on yours Fs.

I had a Generation F and it was the sweetest-sounding thing all around, even in the 2nd octave. I agree that it just seems meant for hornpipes in particular. Gives 'em a whole new dimension.

[Huhupat]

I use a high D, and a BASS D (two octaves down, 3d printed head over a PVC tube) for sessions. Got a Generation high G and a high D together taped across the top 3 holes to play harmonies in G. Once I get the design right I’ll make a double head that links the two and covers the high 3 holes on each. Then I’ll have a one-handed double tabor pipe.

[seanpmoran]

I really do have an Ab McManus and a G# McManus.

Enharmonic?

As it happens I have a D whistle and a C## whistle

No, really.

I have an Ab McManus whistle in Mopane

I also have a G# McManus in African Blackwood.

Both are superb instruments. One is a back-up for the other and allows me to give each one a rest from time to time.

Warm regards,

Seán.

PS I'm off to Belfast at the weekend, to visit an old friend in hospital. While I'm there, I'll also try to see Roy McManus in his workshop. That has its dangers though -- it will be hard to leave without acquiring another McManus instrument (perhaps a Db to go with my C#)

[pancelticpiper]

I did a little video where I play all the whistles in my roll, in case anybody wants to hear them all

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkI77qb3gZI

And a still photo of the roll



And here's a closeup of my modified Generation Bb head, the Bb whistle I play on that video. You can see how much the windway is shortened.

[fatmac]

Nice to hear your collection, Richard, especially the low ones, thanks.

Maybe, if I had long arms, I'd try a bass whistle, but I have enough problems reaching my low Ds.

[pancelticpiper]

Nice to hear your collection, Richard, especially the low ones, thanks.

Maybe, if I had long arms, I'd try a bass whistle, but I have enough problems reaching my low Ds.

You're welcome!

Susato was making Low Ds and Low Cs with the angled necks and they were very comfortable and ergonomic. Angled necks are common in the Recorder world, and recurved necks are standard in the Boehm flute world.

I wonder why the makers of big whistles (Goldie and Alba for example) don't offer the angled necks.

Here, a lineup of Low Ds, the top is a Susato with angled neck. It's amazing how much difference it makes- playing that Low D was like playing an F whistle.

[fatmac]

Hmm, if the bass whistle makers made them with angled necks, that might interest me, & quite likely a few more people too.

[benhall.1]

I have way more whistles than I can remember. I've got some beauties - my prize possession being a sterling silver, low D Copeland that I bought from a forum member some years ago. It's beautiful. I don't take it out much, as it is in pristine condition, but I play it a reasonable amount around the house.

I also really like my bass A Alba whistle. I've been thinking of getting some more Alba whistles. The one I have is gorgeous, and I don't normally like aluminium whistles.

High whistles - lots of Ds, the best being my brass and my nickel Killarney whistles, several Cs, a couple of Ebs, Bbs, an F and a really tiny Generation high G plus quite a few more. The Reyburn high D/C set I have used to be my favourite, until supplanted in my affections by the Killarneys, and the Reyburn Bb is one of the best whistles I have.

Low whistles - Copeland sterling silver low D, Reyburn maple head low D with inline holes (I can't abide offset holes), Impempe low D, Alba bass A.

[Huhupat]

I have a G bass whistle with the same range as a contralto flute, 3 octaves below lowest g on a soprano D whistle. That one has a 180deg bend but the mouthpiece needs to be angled better.

[Michael w6]

Mostly playing on D but in my collection: Bb, C, G, F and a few odd keys, two Arab scale, properly Hijaz I think. The Bb is a favorite, mellow mid range pitch. Just tonight I bought a Low C from Goldfinch. This will be interesting.