Key of E anyone?

neohealy · Post by **neohealy** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 11:30 am

I'm new to these forums, so let me first introduce myself. My name is Katie and I have been playing the whistle for about 6 years now. My question is this....

I recently came into contact with someone who would like me to play in his band. I've never played in a band, or in front of people at all for that matter. I went to practice with them with my Sweet Heart professional D whistle. As it turns out, most of the songs they play are in E so now I am on the hunt for a nice sounding E whistle.

Does anyone have any suggestions for something that is affordable and pleasant sounding? I looked at Elfsongwhistles.com and they have affordable E whistles. I found a Cheiftain Low E on Ebay, but I have a Kerry Low D and a Cheiftain C and am not very fond of either.

I'm also wondering if maybe I should be setting my sites on an A whistle instead.

Any input would be appreciated!

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 11:34 am

One of the whistlers in our session, Jen Felio, has an Elfsong E that is just wonderful.

--James

neohealy · Post by **neohealy** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 11:37 am

Is that a High E or a low E?

Screeeech!!! · Post by **Screeeech!!!** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 11:55 am

Those are pretty whistles. I can feel an attack of WhOA coming on for a rainbow cotton candy in sassy brass. I just need to decide what key.

Thanks for mentioning Elf Song. And welcome to the forum.

Adrian · Post by **Adrian** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 11:56 am

I like my A whistle for playing in E and occasionally my high E at the moment. However, when you find your perfect E whistle please post what it is as i'm also interested in buying a low E.

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 12:21 pm

neohealy wrote:Is that a High E or a low E?

Jen's is a high E.

--James

NancyF · Post by **NancyF** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 12:30 pm

I have a very beloved high e whistle.

It was made by Mack Hoover and donated to a raffle we had on here years ago. I won it.

It is the sweetest more exquisit sound I have for solo stuff and then its also useful for playing rock and roll in E and A, lol.

Nancy

khl · Post by **khl** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 12:49 pm

Hoover, O'Brien, Bingamon, and Burke are some that I know who make whistles in high E. Oh, and Susato, of course. I think all of the above (Except O'Brien) could make a Low E also.

chas · Post by **chas** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 12:55 pm

I have a Burke low-E composite that's wonderful. I don't play whistle anymore, so I'd part with it for 75% of the current list. PM or email me if interested.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 1:01 pm

Are we talking about Eb...because if not I didn't even know they made an E...I've decided to buy C and Eb (the only reason is because Flogging Molly uses a Eb and I could play along with the CDs)

*edit...I looked it up and found some Es (sorry for my ignorance), which is more practical the E or Eb for sessions?

neohealy · Post by **neohealy** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 1:07 pm

Nope, I'm talking about an E natural. I have an E flat which isn't really helping me at the moment lol Who'd have thought and E whistle would be so hard to come by. I'm starting to think I should get an A too...And of course those aren't as easy to come by and I'd hoped either lol

I'll have to check my collection. I could have sworn I had a cheap one by Generation. But now that I've looked, I don't see that Generation even makes one.

colomon · Post by **colomon** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 1:49 pm

FenianForFreedom wrote:*edit...I looked it up and found some Es (sorry for my ignorance), which is more practical the E or Eb for sessions?

Well, unless you're planning on playing in (as far as I can tell mythical) Eb sessions, the Eb is pretty darn useless for sessions. I don't think I've ever used one of mine at a session. (If I have, it was probably in duet with a Bb whistle when all the non-whistle players had gone home for the evening.)

E, on the other hand, is moderately handy for playing tunes in A or E in sessions. Not the commonest of things, but it does happen every now and then. More often if you're hanging out with Canadian or Scottish fiddlers. (I picked up a lovely A major crooked reel from Quebec's Pascal Gemme over the summer -- sounds grand when played in a low E whistle / fiddle combo. Doubly so if the fiddle is tuned AEAE.)

FJohnSharp · Post by **FJohnSharp** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 1:54 pm

I was told an E whistle is good for following the fiddles when they go up to A. So far I have never played with fiddles who do that. It would be fun though.

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 1:56 pm

The Mason's Apron is a tune which fits very well on the E whistle, although it's certainly playable on the D as well.

--James

IDAwHOa · Post by **IDAwHOa** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 3:18 pm

Well, let me be the first to mention Overton as another maker of high and low E whistles. ( and every other key of whistle you could think of!) I don't play mine much, but it has a very wonderful sound.