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Megapop, the holes on a bagpipe chanter are a lot larger than a whistle.Īs far as feeling more substantial, I was referring to the body of the whistle being a tad larger than a metal whistle, but I wasn’t sure if that was the case. I’m sure that wasn’t helping the whistle any.
#CHIFF AND FIPPLE E FLAT WHISTLE CRACK#
#Īfter closer inspection, the Feadog had a crack from one end to the other along the mouthpiece/fipple. the Feadóg is *very* responsive, which makes it not such an ideal beginner whistle IMO. That said, this "breaking up" issue you described is very probably just a matter of breathing control and maybe covering the holes properly (the fingerholes of the pipes are usually somewhat smaller, aren’t they?). There are several threads about those (or Dixons in general)… wait… this one for example: If you’re fancying a Dixon, I’d strongly recommend the DXTRAD brass, which is a superb whistle in any respect. I don’t really know what you mean with "substantial feel"… compared to a Feadóg or Generation or something like that, it is lighter, but has a wider bore. I think it’s a decent whistle, but I don’t play mine a lot. It has a pure, sweet and rather quiet tone. I’ve got the very basic one piece high D. I like that they are polymer, which I think would provide a more substantial feel in my hands (my assumption, of course). "Nobody has commented on the Tony Dixon whistles. If you hear something you like, be brave and ask… Most folk are passionate and willing to share. But, if you can afford it now, as someone else suggested, why not get yourself a low D and grow with it, and there are previous discussions on that, including within a month of this one.ĭon’t hesitate to ask and learn from others, and pick up tunes and techniques that way. You don’t need to fork out a bundle, save up your pennies for later when you go for a low one.
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Yes, there are new players and makers about, but the old standards, like Clark and Generation, remain pretty much as they have. The Eb comes in hand with a number of old recordings, and new, where the results are a half step high, and there are plenty.ĭon’t write off previous discussions that have some age on them, they mostly remain relevant. Have at least a spare D you can keep in your car, for when you’re out and about. Nice contributions already, but as we’re not talking big expense, get the D, as I’m in agreement with pretty much all that has passed before, and get a Bb for your own enjoyment, and why not an Eb and a C too while you’re at it.
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I suggest you: a) take a look at Chiff & Fipple (which is always carrying discussions about taking up the low whistle), b) choose a couple of whistle makers that catch your eye, c) give them a call, see whose advice resonates and buy accordingly, d) once you get it use C&F again for advice on holds, and e) take any tune you know by heart and try to play it.ĭuring the Eighties, when there wasn’t anything like the range of low whistles and teaching materials around nowadays, most low whistle players (including plenty that weren’t high whistle players to start with) learnt by winding and rewinding Moving Hearts tapes and copying Davy. The breath and hold requirements between a low and high D are so different that I’m not persuaded you’re really going to get any benefit by taking the intermediate step. Re: Beginner whistle player … where to start?Īndrew, I’m afraid I’m going to be a contrarian and suggest that you go straight for the low whistle if that’s where your interest lies. Yet with a tweaked whistle, you’re not out lots of cash like you are with a high-end whistle. With a regular inexpensive whistle, it can be hit or miss whether you get a good one. Where are you located? If you’re in the States, take a look at Jerry Freeman’s "tweaked" whistles, which just means he takes inexpensive, mass-produced whistles & makes changes that result in a consistently better sound. & partly on what you want to do with the music once you have it…. So, it partly depends on how you plan to learn most of your tunes…. Yes, the finger spacing on a Bb or an A whistle would be closer to what you’re used to… but you won’t use these as much playing with others, & if you want to learn tunes from recordings or sheet music or ABC notation, you’re get further faster starting on a D whistle.
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"An earlier post recommended a Bb, since the finger spacing was similar to what I’m used to on the bagpipes" The most common uilleann pipes are in the key of D, the most common whistles are D, & the majority of Irish tunes you’ll run across can be played on a D whistle. D is the most common in Irish traditional music (ITM) - if you want to play with others - in a session, for example - you won’t much use a Bb whistle.