What key whistle?

DrPhill · Post by **DrPhill** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 1:43 am

I am trying to learn a tune by ear alone. I have chosen one that I like and cannot find dots for. Please could someone confirm if I am correct in using a D whistle for this: Joannie Maddens 'The Immigront' (sic).

It seems almost sacrilegious playing along to this - I am sure Joannie would be wincing.

Pyroh · Post by **Pyroh** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 1:49 am

Yep, D whistle is allright.

However, I think there could be simpler tunes to learn maybe...but if you like it, go for it

DrPhill · Post by **DrPhill** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 3:06 am

Thanks Pyroh.

It may be out of my league, but I can hope to get some of the way there.... trying to copy Joannie is daunting, though.

chris_coreline · Post by **chris_coreline** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 3:22 am

Pyroh wrote:Yep, D whistle is allright.

However, I think there could be simpler tunes to learn maybe...but if you like it, go for it

nahhh, start on somthing next to impossible!
when i was re-starting whistle after a 10 year leave of absence the frst tune i went for was 'The Cats Meow', also by joennnie Madden. Damn trickey!

david_h · Post by **david_h** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 4:30 am

Lovely tune. Am I right in assuming her subtle vibrato is fingers ?

rhulsey · Post by **rhulsey** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 6:01 am

Jean Lewis compiled a book a few years back of Joanie Madden's recordings and teaching sessions, among others. Many of us here have it, I'm sure as it's a nice book to have particularly if you have the CD's and can listen along. Included in the book, by the way, are the tunes mentioned here - The Immigrant and Cat's Meow.

Go here.

The book shows Jean Lewis' email address as jeanlewis (at) aol.com

Reg

DrPhill · Post by **DrPhill** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 7:17 am

chris_coreline wrote: nahhh, start on somthing next to impossible!
when i was re-starting whistle after a 10 year leave of absence the frst tune i went for was 'The Cats Meow', also by joennnie Madden. Damn trickey!

No way do I expect to get to sound anything like as good as Joannie Madden this or even next decade. If ever. It seems, however, a mellifluous way to try learning a tune by ear (instead of by dots); and maybe I will learn some other techniques along the way. I am ever the optimist.

fearfaoin · Post by **fearfaoin** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 7:28 am

david_h wrote:Lovely tune. Am I right in assuming her subtle vibrato is fingers ?

Yup. You can watch her do it (on a different tune) in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAyENIYI328

walrii · Post by **walrii** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:21 am

It's not a tune for a complete beginner but I found the basic tune relatively easy to learn. I'd listened to Joanie's CD about a bazillion times before I started and that helped. The tune is a great work out on the second register.

anniemcu · Post by **anniemcu** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:26 am

Beautiful tune, indeed. One of the first that I started trying to learn when I focused back on whistle a few years ago. Still don't have it 'right', but it sounds pretty good, none the less. It's a good one to keep working away at while you get on with other tunes as well.

MTGuru · Post by **MTGuru** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 10:13 am

I hesitate to mention this, since you're learning by ear. But since it's already done:

viewtopic.php?p=615810#p615810

BTW, on the recording Joanie plays this on a C whistle, using D fingering as transcribed.

DrPhill · Post by **DrPhill** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 10:29 am

MTGuru wrote:I hesitate to mention this, since you're learning by ear. But since it's already done:

viewtopic.php?p=615810#p615810

BTW, on the recording Joanie plays this on a C whistle, using D fingering as transcribed.

I am not going to look yet, just in case I cheat.

What do you mean played on a C whistle using D fingering. Do you mean played (very cleverly) on a C whistle using the notes available to a D whistle?

Damn, my question does not make sense even to me.

Please elucidate, MTGuru, sir.

[[I will take a swing at an answer for practice - and so y'all can laugh at me. On a D whistle I can play E minor. So on a C whistle I can play D minor. But if the tune is in D minor I will have the wrong set of notes/pitches on my D whistle. So she is only using those notes common to D and D minor? Which means the dread 'mode' word is going to appear? Oh heck. Or I cant play the tune on a D whistle. Or I have got entirely the wrong end of the stick cos the heat here has addled my brain. Or perm any three from five....]]

MTGuru · Post by **MTGuru** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 10:49 am

DrPhill wrote:Please elucidate, MTGuru, sir.

Well, learned Doctor Phill, sir ...

The recorded tune is in the key of C major. And Joanie plays it on a C whistle. You can figure out the rest from there ...

DrPhill · Post by **DrPhill** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:03 am

But MTGuru, sir.... Pyroh said I could play it on a D whistle.

Pyroh wrote:Yep, D whistle is allright.

However, I think there could be simpler tunes to learn maybe...but if you like it, go for it

But I cant play C major on a D whistle can I?

{{Edit - maybe Pyroh misunderstood my my question. I meant to ask if I could play along on a D whistle, and I assumed that that was the question she answered. }}

fearfaoin · Post by **fearfaoin** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:14 am

DrPhill wrote:{{Edit - maybe Pyroh misunderstood my my question. I meant to ask if I could play along on a D whistle, and I assumed that that was the question she answered. }}

You left out the possibility that Pyroh was wrong.
Mistakes are always a possibility to keep in mind.
For example, I don't think Pyroh is a "she".

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