In everyone’s opinion, what is easier to play, a low D whistle or a wooden flute? Which sounds nicer?
I’d say the low D whistle is easier to play because you don’t have to work on your embouchure but the fingering is a little tougher than a flute to me. However the arm position is more comfortable and less tiring than the flute because you don’t have to hold your arms up as high and can be a little more relaxed. They sound somewhat similar since the Low D and the D flute are in the same octave however the materials and the makers make a big difference in the actual sound. The flute skills however, can be translated to a keyed flute so you can play chromatically which you can’t do with a low D whistle. Also, to me, flutes are just cooler 
I’m sure some of the other guys here can give you more info.
The flute is easier (for me) but maybe not for you. But perhaps the two instruments require different abilities. My experience is mostly on the flute.
The flute requires (from me) a strong embrouchure where the low whistle does not.
The low whistle requires (from me), in most cases, a bit more of a stretch for the fingers, at least more than a D flute. This is where I have difficulty and lack of experience. Of people I know who actually play the low whistle, the pipers seem to handle it better than most folks.
Flute tone is unsurpassed, elevates the spirit, thats why they play it in heaven. But the low whistle is haunting, much like the devil himself.
Hmmm…
[ This Message was edited by: rama on 2003-02-18 21:24 ]
In my opinion the low whistle is, hands down, easier to play than the flute.
With the whistle you just have to work the fingerings which, adimittedly, can be a challenge but once you get used to holding the thing it’s not so different from any other whistle.
The flute however has all of the same things going on as a whistle with the added complication of aiming a stream of air at the edge of an emboucher hole. A whistle you can get a tone out of immediately, a flute you may spend weeks/months/years getting your emboucher just right. Then, when you get your emboucher just right you get a new flute and have to adjust your emboucher again.
Just my thoughts!
Wes
Once you get the flute embouchure down, the flute is easier to play and much more enjoyable for you and your audience. The low D is just too blah sometimes. I like my copeland Low D, but if I knew then what I know now about flutes, I would not have spent so much money on a low D. Just one person’s opinion.
I find the flute easier to finger - the whistle is just too painfull a stretch, even though I am a piper with fairly big hands.
However, the search for good tone on the flute is never ending whereas with the whistle, all you really have to do is blow and it’s there (gross over-simplification I know, so please whistle players, don’t jump on me).
So, I find the flute easier, but maybe that’s because I’m prepared to invest the time in practicing it that I don’t invest in the whistle. But if I was asked which was the easiest for someone else to take up, I’d say the whistle - which seems strange, given my own experience.
Cheers
Graham
I find the low whistle very easy to play, and I have small hands and short fingers. I picked up ‘piper’ fingering with no problem, and love playing the low whistles.
But you don’t have the tonal color of the flute…I think it may be a more expressive instrument, though, in my hands, it has a LONG way to go before I can really say THAT.
As for arm and hand position, I think that may be a matter of what you’re used to. I’m more comfortable with the low whistle right now because I found the position that I don’t have to crank my wrists to cover holes easily (and a whistle that doesn’t fight me), but I’m NOT used to having my arms cranked over to one side and raised. After I get a lesson or two under my belt, maybe I’ll find the posture easier to deal with.
And while we’re on the topic of what’s easier, what’s with the split embouchure? I see M & E offers this option on their flutes, and I understand it helps stabilize the low D and E notes (or something to that effect), but I’ve always wondered if it makes things any easier/tougher on the developing mouth of a beginner? Would your mouth notice the difference?
(gulp…it’s starting…the gentle urge within, heading toward the flute is building)
I’ve found the info here terribly helpful over the last few weeks. The links, the posts, and Jim’s flute site have been super. I can picture an M & E in my future…
Jef
On 2003-02-22 18:25, Jeferson wrote:
And while we’re on the topic of what’s easier, what’s with the split embouchure? I see M & E offers this option on their flutes, and I understand it helps stabilize the low D and E notes (or something to that effect), but I’ve always wondered if it makes things any easier/tougher on the developing mouth of a beginner? Would your mouth notice the difference?
In my review of the Hamilton flute ( http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?topic=10028&forum=2&10 )the subject of the “Banshee filter” came up.
The basic idea is to to make the non-sound-producing parts of the embouchure hole unresponsive to air hitting where it shouldn’t.
Hamilton and McGee, as well as many Boehm flute makers, do this by a gentle bevelling of the sides of the embouchure hole. Michael Cronnolly and Skip Healy accomplish the same task by removing material beyond the sounding edge of the embouchure hole. This is rarer but also not unheard of in the Boehm flute world-- see http://butterflyheadjoints.netfirms.com/ for the “Butterfly headoint,” a high-end after-market headjoint that uses this same technique.
It does make a difference, particularly in the quality of tone produced when using a very high-speed airstream.
Rather or not it makes the lower notes easier to hit is subject to debate. What is certain is it allows the flute to accept far more air before the sound starts breaking up due to turbulence in the airstream at the embouchure hole.
I would consider an M&E flute with the split embouchure an excellent, low-cost way to get a good flute to learn on.
I should also point out that a Hamilton still costs about $750 U.S. dollars, making it a remarkable bargain if you can come with a few hundred extra over the M&E and are willing to wait out the 7 month waiting period.
There are reasons you might not want the finest flute as your first flute, though, not least of which is wooden flutes are fragile compared to polymer ones, and require very careful care and maintenance.
If this is too expensive or the wait too long, consider the M&E Rudall and Rose model. It has a really incredible tone and in many ways approaches the Hamilton in tone, responsiveness, and ease of play.
Best wishes, and good luck whatever you decide,
–James
http://www.flutesite.com
I have played quite a few low whistles, but I have decided to buy and flute and learn how to play it. The flute is a beautiful instrament, that to me is more rewarding and satisfying to play. Find some flute players in your area to give you some basic tips on your embrochure. Once you make a few notes, you will be hooked and want your own instrament to practice on!
Good luck on your quest!