Low D for Small Hands?
-
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2006 8:09 pm
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Tennessee
Low D for Small Hands?
I'd like to get a Low D, but I have small hands and I am a beginner. I don't want one that takes huge amounts of air, either. Does anyone have any suggestions as to which one I should try?
Thanks,
Gwen
Thanks,
Gwen
- Loren
- Posts: 8393
- Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2001 6:00 pm
- antispam: No
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
- Tell us something.: You just slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don't need to be coy, Roy
Just get yourself free
Hop on the bus, Gus
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free - Location: Loren has left the building.
At one point Colin Goldie made a Low D with the closest hole spacing of any (low D) whistle I ever measured, plus his whistles always require a very low volume of air (although you do have to supply some pressure.) I'd suggest contacting Colin, and asking him for a custom whistle, to the old specs.
Colin, I know I'm putting you on the spot here, but I do want another Low D with tone holes like my old one, and I'll force you into making them again one way or the other!
Gary H. do you still have my old Overton Low D?
Loren
Colin, I know I'm putting you on the spot here, but I do want another Low D with tone holes like my old one, and I'll force you into making them again one way or the other!
Gary H. do you still have my old Overton Low D?
Loren
If you have small hands but you don't have skinny fingers,
the Howard Low D is good, and it isn't expensive, either.
The Dixon will serve as well, cheaper still.
The Whistle Shop online is a good place, and if you
call Thom, the owner, he will give you good advice.
Neither whistle takes a lot of air.
the Howard Low D is good, and it isn't expensive, either.
The Dixon will serve as well, cheaper still.
The Whistle Shop online is a good place, and if you
call Thom, the owner, he will give you good advice.
Neither whistle takes a lot of air.
- swizzlestick
- Posts: 670
- Joined: Sun Jul 31, 2005 5:34 pm
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Boulder, Colorado
The Sweetheart low D might be what you are looking for. Take a look at the hole spacing and the offset holes:
http://www.sweetheartflute.com/lowwhistle.html
A bit expensive, but I hear good things about the sound.
However, be aware that most people end up using Piper's Grip or some modification of it for low D whistles. It really helps.
Here is what it looks like: http://www.thewhistleshop.com/beginners/lowd/lowd.htm
http://www.sweetheartflute.com/lowwhistle.html
A bit expensive, but I hear good things about the sound.
However, be aware that most people end up using Piper's Grip or some modification of it for low D whistles. It really helps.
Here is what it looks like: http://www.thewhistleshop.com/beginners/lowd/lowd.htm
All of us contain Music & Truth, but most of us can't get it out. -- Mark Twain
- Jennie
- Posts: 761
- Joined: Mon May 24, 2004 7:02 pm
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Valdez, Alaska
Is there a photo anywhere of a lineup of low D's, so that one could compare spacing and tone hole size? I don't have any low D's now at all, because of the stretch being extremely uncomfortable.
If the tone hole size is what's concerning you, there are some makes that would be better. But if it's the stretch, you may want to consider a different one. The Howard is what I had and didn't work, because of the long reach to the bottom tone hole. (Sorry, I seem to be repeating this story a lot.)
Anyhow, if you get a chance to try several, or even just hold them for a while in a shop, you'll be better able to judge.
Jennie
If the tone hole size is what's concerning you, there are some makes that would be better. But if it's the stretch, you may want to consider a different one. The Howard is what I had and didn't work, because of the long reach to the bottom tone hole. (Sorry, I seem to be repeating this story a lot.)
Anyhow, if you get a chance to try several, or even just hold them for a while in a shop, you'll be better able to judge.
Jennie
- billw
- Posts: 354
- Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2004 3:47 pm
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: TUNING THE SMITHY!!
- Contact:
DAN BINGAMON makes keyed whistles. That sounds like just the ticket for anyone with hands too small to play a low D.
Contact him here:
http://www.bingamon.com
Cheers!
Bill Whedon
Contact him here:
http://www.bingamon.com
Cheers!
Bill Whedon
Ye Olde Whistlesmith Saying:
A whistle without a fipple, is just a piece of leaky pipe!
Click the WWW and come have some fun with poems and music and now BOOKS! and check out the preeeety whistles and the T-shirts with attitude!
A whistle without a fipple, is just a piece of leaky pipe!
Click the WWW and come have some fun with poems and music and now BOOKS! and check out the preeeety whistles and the T-shirts with attitude!
-
- Posts: 271
- Joined: Sat Dec 10, 2005 8:21 am
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Bergen, Norway
Is this (D Tenor Short Reach) the type of Overton you're talking about?Loren wrote:At one point Colin Goldie made a Low D with the closest hole spacing of any (low D) whistle I ever measured
- IDAwHOa
- Posts: 3069
- Joined: Fri Jul 11, 2003 9:04 am
- antispam: No
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
- Tell us something.: I play whistles. I sell whistles. This seems just a BIT excessive to the cause. A sentence or two is WAY less than 100 characters.
Try this thread I started some time ago
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php ... er+compare
One whistle that I have added to my collection that is not discussed there is the Bleazey low d. It has a great small hands finger spread and even my wife enjoys playing it.
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php ... er+compare
One whistle that I have added to my collection that is not discussed there is the Bleazey low d. It has a great small hands finger spread and even my wife enjoys playing it.
Steven - IDAwHOa - Wood Rocks
"If you keep asking questions.... You keep getting answers." - Miss Frizzle - The Magic School Bus
"If you keep asking questions.... You keep getting answers." - Miss Frizzle - The Magic School Bus
- Oreo
- Posts: 87
- Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2005 8:37 pm
- antispam: No
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
- Location: Siloam Springs, AR
It should be mentioned that Susato has keyed low whistles available from G down to D.
They are at www.susato.com.
Oreo
They are at www.susato.com.
Oreo
- Black Mage
- Posts: 180
- Joined: Fri Jul 08, 2005 10:08 am
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Ogden, Utah
- Lawrence
- Posts: 96
- Joined: Fri Sep 12, 2003 1:48 pm
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Spokane, WA, USA
- Contact:
I've never played one, but Ronaldo Reyburn will make a Low D with an optional hole pattern that's supposed to be easier for people with small hands.
http://reyburnlowwhistles.com/hole.html
Optionally, you might consider a Low G.
http://reyburnlowwhistles.com/hole.html
Optionally, you might consider a Low G.
Lawrence
"Well, Scotty, now you've done it!" - McCoy
"Aye. The haggis is in the fire for sure." - Scotty
"Well, Scotty, now you've done it!" - McCoy
"Aye. The haggis is in the fire for sure." - Scotty
- Loren
- Posts: 8393
- Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2001 6:00 pm
- antispam: No
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
- Tell us something.: You just slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don't need to be coy, Roy
Just get yourself free
Hop on the bus, Gus
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free - Location: Loren has left the building.
Hmm, interesting. I honestly don't know, I'd have to hear from Colin on that to have a definitive answer.Ostekjeks wrote:Is this (D Tenor Short Reach) the type of Overton you're talking about?Loren wrote:At one point Colin Goldie made a Low D with the closest hole spacing of any (low D) whistle I ever measured
Paging Mr. Goldie, Paging Mr. Goldie...........
Loren
- Congratulations
- Posts: 4215
- Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2005 6:05 pm
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Charleston, SC
- Contact:
OH MAN! Have I got an endorsement for Mr. Reyburn.Lawrence wrote:I've never played one, but Ronaldo Reyburn will make a Low D with an optional hole pattern that's supposed to be easier for people with small hands.
http://reyburnlowwhistles.com/hole.html
Optionally, you might consider a Low G.
First of all, I don't play low whistles. I've played several, and I don't like them. I don't like how they sound, and I don't like how they feel. But recently, I heard a clip of a Reyburn Wide Bore low D, and I thought it was absolutely stunning, so I ordered myself one, you know, to see. Plus, my friends and family all wanted me to get a low D "so I could do that cool thing like on Titanic." These are the people I live with.
Anyway.
I ordered it, and it came, and I have scarcely put it down. Absolutely fantastic whistle, once you get a hold on the breath requirements. The upper octave (especially middle D) can be finicky, but that's part of the whole "Wide Bore" schtick. Once you figure it out, it is the most gorgeous-sounding low whistle I've heard. I'll not trade it for anything.
The finger spacing is not especially ergonomic, though, so those of you with shorter fingers may be inclined toward his off-set fingering pattern thingy. I don't know anything about it, but it's supposed to make things easier.
oh Lana Turner we love you get up
- Black Mage
- Posts: 180
- Joined: Fri Jul 08, 2005 10:08 am
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Ogden, Utah
I've played a Howard low D before, and a Burke low D, both were pretty hard for to play. Those bottom D holes are a very large stretch for me.gwen wrote:Thanks for all the advice! I ordered a Howard Low D this morning. I guess if I can't play it, I can always sell it!
"Playing the whistle is nothing impressive. All one has to do is cover the right holes at the right time, and the instrument plays itself."