Hello, everyone. I’m a newbie around here, and I’m hoping someone can answer this question for me. I’m looking for a decent low d whistle (and preferably not too expensive) for small hands. I bought a ralph cook low d a while ago, hoping to grow into it, but alas, a few years later, I think my hands have done all the growing they’re going to do. Since I’m a girl, and kind of short anyway, my hands aren’t as large so I have a difficult time playing even the ralph cook. Can anyone suggest something with smaller holes that are spaced more closely? (if such a whistle even exists…)
The conical stuff tends to have a closer finger-spacing than the cylindrical ones. Your Cook was cylindrical; the only two conical whistles that come to mind are the Copeland (pricey!) and the Shaw (lots of air!).
If Jerry Freeman’s still tweaking, a tweaked low D Shaw might be a good bet. Copelands are expensive and the most recent stuff lacks the attention to detail that his work used to have, so I couldn’t recommend a new Copeland low D, and the used ones are still expensive.
The Dixon low D has smaller fingerholes and closer spacing than many - I have medium-sized-male hands and can play it with my fingertips (barely), though I normally use a sort of modified pipers grip.
The new 3-part Dixon low D at Bigwhistle (I’ve only seen photos) might be a touch easier, since you can adjust the LH and RH sections separately.
I think the Serpent Low D is another that doesn’t need too much stretch - I seem to remember Bill posting that this was one of his design goals. (My Serpent Low F is very easy, but there’s a huge difference between a Low F and a Low D)
Or if you want the low whistle sound but an easier reach you could look at the many fine Low F, G, or A whistles out there - I think the Overton Low F whistles I’ve tried (2) were about as easy as my Serpent Low F.
A suggestion: you might try a Generation Bb - it seems like an awful reach compared to a Gen D at first. For $6, how could you go really wrong? Then once you’re used to that, order an alto in the A-F range, adjust again, then see if you want to go down to the Low D.
The Jubilee Practice low D has the smallest finger spacing of ANY low whistle I have had my hands on and it is also the least expensive at $18. it has pretty decent air requirements and will quickly build up your lung capacity.
The next smallest are my Overton and my Bleazey. The Overton is fairly reasonable in price and the Bleazey is a pricey wooden whistle. Both have moderate air requirements.
I can vouch for a Freeman tweaked SHAW low d. Very easy spacing. The conical shape fits in your hand a certain way when you piper grip, making it very comfortable. I have that 18dollar practice whiste. The spacing on that is pretty small. I think they have different size spacing depending on what you like on thier regular low Ds. So you could order one for small hands if you wanted.
I had occasion to meausure the tone hole spacing on a variety of Low D whistles a while back, these whistles included: Cook, Copeland, Dixon, Overton (Colin Goldie), Howard, and a few others I can’t recall at the moment. The Dixon and the Overton had the shortest reach Overall. The Copeland had a fairly short right hand reach, but the stretch for the top three fingers was surprisingly long.
Having said that, I’m not certain that Colin is still using the same hole spacing on his low D’s since a later whistle I received from him had a slightly longer right hand stretch.
My suggestion: Try a Dixon - they are inexpensive, and if you can’t get comfortable with a Dixon then you’re not likely to find a Low D you can get on with. If oth the Dixon works out for you, then Perhaps an Overton or another top line whistle may be an option down the road.
may I suggest you check before you do anything if you are considering the practice whistle or the tweaked shaw low d.
the practice whistle has been at my home for a visit and I have small hands, I found it a HUGE stretch and holes big enough to fit my thumbs in…mind you most people on this list playing those practice whistles are men…womens hands are much smaller even compared to a male small hand.
if you contact daniel he will be very nice to deal with and is very helpful, sure he can advice or suggest you try the whistle for a while to see if it suits you like he did for me, which is great!
as for the tweaked shaw low d, I thought jerry told me he has stopped tweaked those shaws lower than D/ C so you can ask him.
maybe someone else on this forum knows more about it?
I recommend the dixon low d since they are very affordable, very easy on small hands and although the second octave takes a bit of practice it is not hard.
very good service, tony has too.