LOW WHISTLES

[pastorkeith]

New to whistling (less than a year) I love slow airs and tunes that really allow the Low D to sing with its haunting tone. After a LOW D what Low whistles would those "in the know" believe to be most useful?

Pastorkeith

[A-Musing]

Pastorkeith...
In what sort of "know?" And "useful" for what?

[pastorkeith]

"In the know" was a nice way of saying - been playing low whistles longer than me, which is basically everyone. Most useful would be for playing airs and other slower pieces.

pastorkeith

[blackhawk]

Personally I like Bb and A for slow airs. Even C, for that matter, although I like Bb the best. But it's just personal taste. Most trad CDs have a slow air or two on them, and many of those are played on soprano D whistles. I do prefer them on lower keys, myself.

[emmline]

I'm in the Bb camp with Blackhawk. It's just a register I particularly like.

[King Friday]

Ronaldo Reyburn's low D's are known to have a very haunting tone. Mine is by far whistle I've ever played. They can be quite a stretch for someone new to low whistles, but Ronaldo will offset the bottom holes to make it easier if you want him to.

[pipersgrip]

i like Burke low d vipers, very good.

[A-Musing]

Ok! I'm finally "in the know" around here! (marginal...)
I've played Low Whistles for a few years. Low D, Eb E, and F. These fit my hands, and offer the sound range I like. Copeland, Overton, Burke, and MK are my favorites. Every one of 'em is a "stand alone" whistle, in my humble opinion. I play one or several of them every day. Meditation. Enjoyment.

If Joy is useful.....then these great whistles are very useful to me!

[King Friday]

I should clarify. The space between the bottom two holes on a Reyburn is very large compared to most low whistles. I also have a Water Weasel low G which sounds amazing and easy to play if you can find one and a Guido Gonzato low F which is not a bad whistle at all. I had a Chieftain Gold low D that was out of this world good, but I got in a real pinch for money.

[dyersituations]

New to whistling (less than a year) I love slow airs and tunes that really allow the Low D to sing with its haunting tone. After a LOW D what Low whistles would those "in the know" believe to be most useful?

Pastorkeith

I find a low G whistle very useful. My mother's singing range matches the range of this whistle. Also, I have heard a low F whistle sound really good on some fast tunes. Was it McGoldrick...I forget.

-Casey

[Tony McGinley]

Personally I really like the Low F. I have a Chieftan in F
and play it a good deal. The fingering is very easy on the F,
and it takes less puff than the D. Eoin Duignan uses the F
in his CD Lumina. He makes it sound terrific worth a listen.

In the end it is personal preference though.

[blackhawk]

Eoin Duignan uses the F
in his CD Lumina. He makes it sound terrific worth a listen.

He makes everything sound terrific. He's the reason I got into whistling in the first place. He can tear your heart out with a slow air.

[ned o the hill]

I often use a low G a lot in sesh. One guitarist tends to sing a lot of Scottish Death Songs in that key, or bang out tunes on his concertina in C/G. The alpha-male fiddler often segues into A minor tunes.

I tend to use it so much that it's now my avatar whistle.

[Happy are the days]

New to whistling (less than a year) I love slow airs and tunes that really allow the Low D to sing with its haunting tone. After a LOW D what Low whistles would those "in the know" believe to be most useful?

Pastorkeith

It's been my experience that some low D's have a weak bottom hole. If you have large hands, I would buy one where the bottom hole is moved down and is opened up to be almost as large as the second hole. I don't like weak bell notes. I have a Copeland and I was discouraged that the bottom hole is weaker then the other two bottom holes or notes. I love the sound of the Copeland but I think I will sell it. I have a Chieftain Gold coming and I hope the bell note will be as strong as the other lower two notes. Good luck!!!

[Happy are the days]

New to whistling (less than a year) I love slow airs and tunes that really allow the Low D to sing with its haunting tone. After a LOW D what Low whistles would those "in the know" believe to be most useful?

Pastorkeith

It's been my experience that some low D's have a weak bottom hole. If you have large hands, I would buy one where the bottom hole is moved down and is opened up to be almost as large as the second hole. I don't like weak bell notes. I have a Copeland and I was discouraged that the bottom hole is weaker then the other two bottom holes or notes. I love the sound of the Copeland but I think I will sell it. I have a Chieftain Gold coming and I hope the bell note will be as strong as the other lower two notes. Good luck!!!