I’m new to whistle playing and to music in general, and I’m asking: Why are Bb whistles so special?!
What I mean.. I see that people become crazy for a Bb whistle, but I don’t understand why. They certainly sound pretty, but isn’t Bb a ‘weird’ tone, or I’m wrong? Are they useful?
Please, if you can explain this to a total newbie I’ll thank you a lot!
Cheers,
Bothrops
For me, the Bb compared to a D holds the same appeal as the cello compared to a violin.
Exactly. I virtually never play a Bb in public, but it’s one of my favorite whistles for playing around the house – I love the sound and it’s so comfortable under my fingers.
Just because they are mellower and rounder sounding, I think, but still at a soprano pitch - they sure don’t sound like low whistles, though perhaps their sound is what pointed to the desirability of a low whistle in the first place… and I’m ONLY thinking of Generation here, being the original and only until the late 1970s (Clarkes only did C and there weren’t any others.)
I agree they are of little use at sessions unless its an Eb session or there’s a Bb set of pipes around (B nat is more likely there, though exceeding rare!), but for tootling mellifluosly at home, practicing without waking the baby or setting off the neighbourhood dogs, great. Or for lonesome melancholy wanderings. They come into their own for song accompaniment, though - many of Planxty’s great song arrangements involve Liam O’Flynn playing Bb whistle, for example: classic stuff. If you don’t know them, get to hear them!
It’s low enough to be very pleasing to the ear and still small enough to be easy on the fingering. I think there is also something about that timbre that resonates in the human being.
And military fifes were (theoretically) in Bb.
Very well put!
Thanks for the answer, guys! Now I can understand why do you all like Bb whistles. I heard a Generation Bb and certainly sounds mellow and pretty, but I didn’t know if there was something more besides of that or not.
Thanks again 
Bothrops
Here’s my two cents on the Bb phenomenon: Perhaps its range most closely resembles the voice of a high male tenor?
FWIW, a lot of hymns are in Bb or Eb, so having a Bb whistle is nice to keep them in a singable range for most people. Also it means I can play along with another instrument, like a guitar or piano, without having to transpose anything. I don’t think a lot of ITM is in Bb, though.
I have heard somewhere that the universe is tuned to Bb
I own an Impempe Bb. I use it in our band. The key I use depends on the key we play a song in, and that mostly depends on the best sounding key for the singer. The Bb is especially useful for me in songs, like Raglan Road. Also it can be quite nice to play slow airs with, like Amhran na Leabhar which I play in Bb. It’s has som nice low notes without being a low whistle. this also goes for the popular whistlekey of A. The sound is lower, mellower and nice to the ear.
Have a listen to the CD “Kitty Lie Over” and ye shall have your answer…
Definitely. Although a couple tracks seem to have been done in B natural as well. I seem to be the only one who’s hearing the half step tone differences, unless those “B” tracks were sped up some I don’t know… (for your own curiosity on this matter, if you have the album, click on track 8, listen to the drones, then click on track 10 immediately after and listen to those drones, you’ll hear it [hopefully], even though the liner notes say only Bb…)
At any rate, I’m with the above, it’s mellow, sweet sounding, and just fun to play.
I’ve found that a simple key change, (as in a different keyed whistle) can really add color to a tune in many ways, or give it a different feeling then what you might get using the standard old D. Be it Eb, C, B, Bb, A whatever your pleasure.
I also like the sound of two Bb whistles perfectly in tune playing The Kerry Fling into The Home Ruler, it’s a sweet thing to hear.
-Eric
Thanks again people.
I’m from Argentina and here it’s not easy to get whistles. Nevertheless, today I found a nickel Generation Bb for 8 dollars in a shop! I bought it, and it’s awesome.
Playing it mostly in the first octave it’s fantastic. I can play ‘My heart will go on’ and it sounds so beautiful 
Cheers,
Bothrops
Nope, you’re right. There are two tracks on the “B” pipes, and at least one whistle track is in B as well.
Originally much of trad. Irish music was played somewhere around modern Bb. I believe that this music fits in that tonal range far better than modern higher pitches.
I think also that people who find the high D whistle too shrill at the upper end of the range for their tastes mind find a Bb, or even a C for that matter, easier on the ears. While they’re only tuned a step and a half or a step lower respectively, they have a deeper, more flutelike quality. The shrillness is gone on the upper end.
I agree, when you get up in the second octave, the cheapie soprano Ds are sometimes useful for calling the dogs. On the otherhand, I have a Thin Weasel in the same key and it doesn’t set my German Shepherd Dog into fits of howling and my wife does’nt frown at me and leave the room. Yep, as many know, some higher quality high D’s can handle two octaves plus without sending people running, but you have to spend that do-re-mi.
I think the Generation Bb is one of those “special” whistes; especially if given a modest tweak; like filling the empty space under the airway with putty or sticky tac. Best, Cyril
Bb is also the key of whistles that Hohner made in South Africa in the 50s and is probably the most popular key for playing kwela (pennywhistle jive).
You’re also only a small step away from the key of F, which is a popular key for many instruments. So having a Bb in your quiver of whistles is a useful thing!
I am kind of split on this. Sometimes I play the D long enough, and wear myself out with the high notes. Then I switch to the Bb, and feel like, “ahhhhhhhh!” Sometimes I pick up the Bb first and think, “Boring!” Then I go right to the D. Both of these things happen in me.
Perhaps I need medication.