Don't be confused. Both OXX OOO and OXX XOX, as well as other combinations are cross fingerings for C natural. What works best depends on the whistle's design and the context of the note in the tune you are playing. Best to know and be able to play a few fingerings as your playing skill grows. Half-holing the top hole, DOO OOO is the one fingering that works on all whistles. Get comfortable with that one too.
Freckle Girl wrote: I stumbled across Mick Hoover Whistles, which should be more suitable for living room playing. Has anyone experienced them?
Sure, everyone has to have one or more of Mack's whistles. Mack Hoover is well known for his quiet whistles. He tends to make sweet sounding whistles. I have frequently said that Mack makes whistles with a very high giggle quotient. Yes, his whistles make me giggle. They are so darned sweet and pleasant to play that I can't help but break out in a laugh when I play them. Yes, put one on your list.
But again, remember, it's all relative. Mack's whistles are on the quiet side but may still be too loud to play in some situations. It depends on what you mean by "quiet". Mutes and the whisper method are your best solutions for playing at lowest volumes. And any whistle can do that. An O'Brien Rover made in Torrified Tiger Maple with a simple mute could be the one whistle to rule them all. Bilbo Baggins carried one in his pocket, or so I've been told.
Or was that Bofur?
Freckle Girl wrote:Seems I have to withdraw from my dream, to carry the one and only whistle with me and be happy whenever I take it out of my pocket.
Whistles are social instruments. Whistles need the company of each other. You have to have a lot of them around each other to be happy.
Freckle Girl wrote:I would say I'm more the kind of one who likes the natural look and feel of a well made instrument. For that reason a pvc / full delrin whistle would not be my first choice. Carey Parks says, the sound of a whistle depends not so much from the material but from where the material is not - which means the holes. I'm far away of being wiser than carey, but I believe I can hear if the flute is made of wood, metal or plastics. That shouldn't become a religion but metal or wood comes closer to my vision.
While I can understand and support your vision I would also suggest that you keep an open mind regarding materials.
Work your way through the wood and metal whistles that are attractive to you first. But you may still find yourself singing like Bono. You know, "I still haven't found what I'm looking for". Then look at alternative materials.
It is true that many whistlers, like yourself, believe that they can hear the sound of wood or brass or aluminum or plastic or unobtanium for that matter. I've made whistles out of many materials and to the same specifications. They sound substantially the same. The material will color the tone but the design and craftsmanship define the tone. Some materials limit design choices while other materials will enable particular design choices. You never know what combination of design and material will result in the whistles that allow you to express your music best until you find it. You might want to keep an open mind on the material. Buy 'em all. Try 'em all. Keep the ones that let your voice sing.
Feadoggie
I've proven who I am so many times, the magnetic strips worn thin.
