I tongue, but I vary my tongueing technique depending on the sound I want to get…for example, I may use just the tiniest kiss of a “d” if I want a sound that’s legato, but not tied, but I might used a harder “T” or “K” sound if I want the articulation to be firmer. I’ll tongue before a grace note if I want to emphasize it, and not if I don’t. Sometimes I’ll use a cut to articulate, but I don’t do it all the time…just when that’s the sound I want to achieve. I guess it all comes down to developing a personal style (for myself, I don’t care if I sound “authentically Irish” so long as I sound good ). That’s another beauty of this instrument, I think…while there are certainly basic guidelines, the bottom line is, if it sounds pleasing, it’s “right.”
Redwolf, I completely agree with you. And the no tongueing dictum (and yes, the exception was, you do tongue after a breath) did at least force me to learn cuts and rolls and so forth, but I found I had to get some tonguing back in there before I could get the rhythms to sound right. Later, when I visited Brother Steve’s website, I followed his advice to try a no tongueing jig, and found it very helpful. But the one whistler who I am able to hear live quite frequently, uses tonguing along with cuts, and it makes the sound very lively, somehow. So that’s one of the techniques I use the most now. And I do generally prefer a very soft tongue sound, but have never tried to use the k sound - I might have to try that now.
I’ve always been interested in folk music we even had a tin whistle knocking about the house when I was young, but a few swipes around the earhole for make an awful racket put a stop to it. Became a fine bugler, tried the trumpet, concertina, pipes, giutar, keyboard, just about anything that came may way I gave it a go. The local “folkworks” people give workshops for beginners on traditional instruments and so off i went to a one day workshop for the tin whistle. Haven’t looked back since, that was a couple of years ago and I’m progressing slowly. however I’m still banished to practice in my car up on the fell or sitting in the woods somewhere. Last xmas there I was with my new whistle, cold snow, all alone when to my amazement walkers appeared from all over the place saying how lovely it was. What a grat vote of confidence. Told the wife and all she said was " naah naah na naah na"
Still trying and love it.
Thanks all for your support.
Watcheer Hinny!
I’m about as new as one can be to this group and to whistling. My first ones are supposed to arrive tomorrow. I ordered a Clarke Sweetone, A Clare one piece, and a Walton LBW, all in D. And I’ve started making a Low D whistle out of a piece of 3/4 in. copper pipe. I think I might have a case of Whoa. Is that possible?
I was actually looking for articles on the Internet on making drums and other instruments. And I came across several on making whistles out of PVC pipe and copper tubing, etc. I was fascinated that one could actually make a sweet sounding instrument out of ordinary materials. And something I might actually be able to play.
My two sons have the real musical talent. Both are acomplished in several instruments. My oldest started in a band program in the 7th. grade. He had never touched an instrument until then. Someone mentioned a “Tonet”. He was given something similar and within weeks he was playing ahead of the other children. He could play polkas at full speed within 2 months. He moved from there to the tuba. He was a big kid and by the ninth grade he was carrying a Sousaphone in the Senior Band. His 8th grade music teacher told me that my son had “real talent”. Guess who’s going to get the Low D whistle when it’s finished?
I sold our TV when we moved to Seattle and we lived 3 years with one. He learned to play the string bass, guitar, and piano.
The younger son, who was 13 months younger, wasn’t about to be outdone. He wanted a drum kit, so I bought him one. He wasn’t satisfied so he learned to play the guitar, and piano, too.
They had their own band for a while, which is hard to do in a rural area like ours. It was something to listen to the youngest son, the drummer, explain the chords and changes to auditioning players, or to point out the correct chords to songs they were doing. Both boys have wonderful ears and can play new songs just by hearing them on the radio.
So maybe whistling will be a happy addition to their skills and make it possible for their skills to grow even more. And who knows maybe I can play with them too. After all whistles are a lot cheaper than the Gibson SG and ES335 I’ve bought for them along with the dozen or so other instruments. And maybe our group of pagans who meet every month will appreciate the music too.
And maybe our group of pagans who meet every month will appreciate the music too.
Live well and prosper.
William
perk Pagans? Yay! I’ve been feeling a bit.. uhm… surrounded here. Not that I have anything against Christians… I ordered a whistle from one, actually! But now I have someone to say ‘Blessed be!’ to. And welcome to the board!
(I do wonder, though, about the spirituality/whistle connection… actually, more spirituality/music… we do have a -lot- of Christians here and I wonder if everyone who didn’t chime in on the Whistles & Spirituality thread is just spiritual in a non-Christian way… )
). That’s another beauty of this instrument, I think…while there are certainly basic guidelines, the bottom line is, if it sounds pleasing, it’s “right.”
And maybe our group of pagans who meet every month will appreciate the music too.