Frequently I have seen references to part a and part b. Can someone explain to my poor ignorant self what these refer to.
Second question. I am considering buying a Dixon low G. However, what I really want to play is a low D. Would I be better off buying the low D or buying the low G and playing it until I get used to the finger spacing and then move up (down) to the low D? Or is there an alternative?
Everyone has given me great advice in the past. I hope you can help with this.
Ron
I am sure the more experienced players can explain this better than me (beginner myself) but to my knowledge many (or most?) traditional tunes have 2 parts to them (A and B part). They are variations on a theme (hope that’s correctly expressed) and get repeated throughout playing the tune. I think you can play AA-BB or AB-AB.
As for playing the low D whistle - here is my story: I bought a Dixon Low D as my first whistle about 4 weeks ago. I have never in my life played a whistle and I guess I broke all the “rules” and disregarded all advice that you should never start playing on a low whistle.
I was pretty apprehensive about it but in the end I thought “What the heck, I’m just going to try it, worst thing that can happen is that I won’t be able to play at all”. I got into it pretty quickly, didn’t have a problem with the finger spacing, was never frustrated and still practice about 30 mins to 1 hour a day - I guess I approached the whole thing with the attitude to have fun and no expectations that I am going to sound like a pro anytime soon.
To make a long story short, I think the whole thing has a lot to do with attitude and what you expect from yourself. As long as you are having fun with it and accept that it’s not easy, I see no reason why you shouldn’t start playing on a low D.
The only thing is that you should check out if you will be able to reach all the holes with your fingers - maybe go to a local music shop and hold a whistle. In case you can’t get your hands on a Dixon Low D, I have scanned my own whistle and you can download the image here - just print it out and you have the accurate hole spacing to test. Dixon](http://www.refluxed.com/other_stuff/dixon_lowd.jpg%22%3EDixon) Low D
And as an afterthought - the Dixon Low D costs $49. If you can’t play it at all, you can still get another whistle, not a huge loss.
Most trad Irish songs (and indeed most dance tunes in general, be they American, Irish, Scottish, English, or whatever) have 2 parts to the tune. That is probaby what they are referring to.
there are very few absolutes in this world of whistle lovers. that is part of the reason the whole thing is so much fun.
if you can find a low D of any kind and hold it you will know if the finger spacing is a problem. otherwise, go for it. a dixon low D is not expensive as low D instruments go. futhermore, the finger spacing is not very different from an unkeyed flute, which people do start playing cold.
furthermore, it is not unusual to develop delayed appreciation for a new instrument. meaning: lets say you get the low D and do not take to it immediately. you can buy the low G and get comfortable on that. pick up the low d months later (unlike eggs and milk, and reeded pipes and wooden intruments for that matter) it will not spoil, and you will love it more the second time around.
have fun
meir
Yep…that’s it exactly. If you’re listening to a tune, you’ll usually hear a theme (A), which is repeated (making AA), then a second, slightly different theme (B) (also usually repeated: thus BB). It’s kind of like the AA is the verse and the BB is the chorus (in fact, in Morris, that’s how it’s danced). If you’re looking at printed music, the first theme will usually be four to eight measures long, with a repeat mark at the end, and the second theme will be the same length, also with a repeat mark at the end of it…the idea is you play AA then BB then AA and so on until you’re tired of playing or the dancers are tired of dancing 
Redwolf
Whatever you do, get a high D whistle too–of course
you probably have one already. If you are
going to go right to a low D, the Dixon is indeed
a good place to start. A low G is beautiful sounding and
much easier to play. You can just use the
fingerings you would use playing a D whistle,
in effect, so you can play everything on it.
The key of C, which is what you’ll be playing in
a lot on a G whistle, isn’t so useful in
Irish trad–but as said, you can play
in it just fine by yourself. So if you
want a G whistle, get one.
Many will have troulbe with a low D,
initially–but if that’s what you want,
I agree with the above posts.
I understand the a and b part now. Thanks for the explanations. Thanks for the image Marcus. I think I will go to the Low D directly. I do play a soprano D, several of them as a matter of fact. I have a Bflat Gen that I really like. I made a low D copper pipe whistle that works but the stretch is a litte tough. I think I will go to the Dixon low D. Thanks all.
Ron