Chiff and Fipple Forums

Picking a favorite whistle and bonding with it is an excellent thing. While you might find that focusing on just one whistle can make it feel like you're not so good with other whistles, I think that's just a backhanded way of noticing how well you've adapted to your favorite whistle. And as WhOA ru...

Anyhow, as the man said, it reminded me of a tune.I am afraid, pre-coffee, maybe it sounds as if I hadn't completely waken up yet. The Cuckoo Hornpipe Thanks, that greatly improved a low-energy morning, and got me out on the porch and whistling. Since the weather has gotten (intermittently) so nice...

I should add, although you already mentioned it in a way, that until you can play them well it might appear that you and the people you enjoy listening to are playing completely different whistles for quite a long time, even if it's the same whistle, until you learn to get it to sound the way you l...

Peter, those are lovely. They go straight to the mystery (or humor!) one feels around so many tune names.

I was asking only about the tonal qualities of the whistle itself, which seem to differ quite a bit from a shaw or clarke even if you take into account the player's skill. I assumed it wasn't a generation because of the fipple color. Maybe it's an oak, then? IIRC, the Shaw and the Clarke are both t...

I put in an order for my new Blackbird a week ago exactly, and got a shipping notice today.

Next step: tracking the Blackbird's flight across the continent.
http://xkcd.com/281/

The Bluebird has a very balanced range, solid low D, and a lovely, sweet tone. The Mellowdog, because it's wide-bored, gets a bit more strident in the second octave and takes a bit more push. This is exactly right, and it's why I much prefer the Bluebird. I like tunes that dance around high in the ...

Jerry, are you still making Bluebirds?I ask because I've had a renewed relationship with mine, and have come out thinking it's hands-down the whistle I would choose for a beginner. I've hardly touched my whistles in the past four years, bar a few weeks here and there, celebrating spring with a bit o...

I just want to say a quick thanks for everyone's responses. I'm still digesting, more later.

Do you learn well from videos? Here are two free online video introductions, which teach you Irish tunes as they introduce whistle skills: Ryan Duns' videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFA9EDE38B53CC6D4 Online Academy of Irish Music http://www.oaim.ie/free-lessons/whistle The following i...

Thank you Chuck, I remember you giving me a hand out of ABC jams in the past. Your cheat sheet was exactly the sort of thing I was needing. Whereas I used to recreationally study language specifications with my morning coffee, those days seem to be over, at least for now. I have a chronic illness re...

The whistle teacher I had started everyone with jigs, which worked (perhaps too) comfortably for me, and in my spotty whistling career since then, I've simply continued exploring jigs, because I got along well with them. I did some forum searching, and was reassured to see how many others confessed ...

I like to note tonguing and breathing, as well as the usual slides, cuts, strikes, rolls, short rolls... I think that's about all I'm able to hear/identify using Transcribe! (the software).

ETA: It sounds like my experience with ABC is very dated, also. Thanks for the heads-up on that.

I've been wanting to do some more whistle and flute transcriptions using ABC, but I've never been clear on how best to match up the musical symbols available in ABC with the kinds of ornamentation we have on the whistle. So in the past I've just done vanilla abc => pdf => dead trees, and written in ...

I am so, so sorry to hear this sad news. Evlin's story and photo also touched me deeply, and I too had prayed for her recovery. I can only begin to imagine the loss you must feel, but I will transfer my prayers to your family as a whole, that time might bring you healing and peace.