Howdy Whistlefolk!
I’ve just signed up here after a couple weeks of lurking about.
I’ve had my little Oak D whistle for at least a decade, but just really started doing some serious tooting in the past few weeks since being inspired by a low whistle player I heard playing in a pizza place in Santa Fe, NM. Thanks to reviews I read on this very forum, I’m now the proud owner of a Sweetheart Resonance Low D! Despite the efforts of many music teachers as a child, I still can’t read those little dots, but I’m having fun fingering out tunes on my own. Thanks to all for making this forum such a great source of information and entertainment!
Cheers,
Ryan
Welcome Ryan , to C&F, and the exciting world of whistles.
Welcome!
Welcome, Ryan!
Judy
Hello 
Hello and welcome Ryan 
Hi Ryan!
Where in Santa Fe? I went looking for music and was told that I’d have to go to Albuqueque or Taos.
Sincerely,
Tyg
Hi tys—Always nice to see a new face! Keep tooting away!
And Howdy to you Tys!! From an occasional contributor to these pages. I’m a low whistle person myself and playing just over a year. Like you, I never learned to read the dots properly but have developed a good “ear” as a result.
My wish for you is that you gain as much deep satisfaction from playing as I do. Having come from playing the piano, I find the wind instruments so organic and so expressive in a way that satisfies something deep inside me in a way that the keyboard does not. (that reads a bit awkwardly, but I am sure you grasp my meaning) Still love playing piano, both instruments fill different needs for me.
Hope to see you around here a good deal.
Fáilte go dhi Chiff&Fipple,
Welcome,
So tell us, how do you like that Low Whistle of yours? I’d have considered getting one if I didn’t already own a Low G/A Water Weasel Set, a Low D Chieftain and a Low D Copeland (oh yeah, and a M&E Flute). Still, it’s nice to hear about what’s out there…you never know…
Glad to have you join us Ryan.
This group has been a great resource for me. I’ve acquired lots of advice, a few instruments, and a connected feeling with the rest of the planet where my kind of music is appreciated. Folks have pointed me to some really good recordings, books, and sessions. I know you’ll enjoy the conversation.
Jennie
Hello, tys! Always good to see new folk here (it covers up my own ignorance !. Hope you hang around for awhile.
The folks in this forum are generally kind and supportive. So much so, that I find I keep getting more and more involved. Although I have little to offer in the way of experience or knowledge and I have little experience or desire to spend my time in chatrooms or with bulletin boards, I have learned a great deal from these people and so will you.
Welcome!
I never found a session in Santa Fe, either (in the week I was there). But there is an Irish dance school, and the owner gave me contact info for a local musician. So if there’s not a session already it seems that there are at least a few people around who might be interested.
I did find a session in Albuquerque, but the timing didn’t work out for me.
Anyway, welcome to the board, Ryan!
Thanks everyone for the warm welcome!
As for the Santa Fe deal… My girlfriend and I went to Upper Crust Pizza one Saturday night last month, and there was a fellow there playing music: guitar at first, then he pulled out a big metal tube and proceeded to make some lovely sounds with it. He played mostly Irish sounding tunes and some Native American sounding ones also. If I see him again, I’ll definitely go talk to him!
I don’t know about sessions in Santa Fe or Albuquerque (where I live) but I’m new at this so it will be quite a while before I’m ready to play with others.
Regarding my new whistle (Sweetheart Resonance): I don’t have the experience or vocabulary to give you a proper review, but I like it a lot. I bought it online having never played a low whistle before, but all the comments about it were very positive. I was able to get lovely sounds out of it right away and was therefore pleased with my choice! I have since played with an Overton and a Susato at a local shop. I can say that it’s easier to play than either of those. (fewer squeeks and such) It sounds better than the Susato and requires MUCH less air than the Overton. I spent five minutes blowing into the Overton and then looking perplexed as to why it made no sound!
My only problems with the Sweetheart is that the Low D note is hard to play without squeeking, and I can’t get a good tone on the upper octave (especially above the first couple of notes). I assume these are MY problems and not the whistles, however.
Cheers,
Ryan
Welcome Tys~
Hate to say it but those ARE your problems. Not to worry-- with practice you’ll fix them. I have the same whistle and it plays like a champ. Every note is solid and clear. For that lowest D, your problem is probably a leaking finger or two and you may be blowing a bit too hard. The upper notes also need a good solid finger seal and a bit more air. Try starting the note with a bit of tonguing: silently say the letter “T” or “D” as you blow. That little extra burst gets the air moving quickly enough to make the note speak.
You were probably being a bit too timid with the Overtons-- they have quite a bit of what is called backpressure and require blowing harder. Really nice whistles though, once you get the feel.
I was going to say the same thing about getting your fingers situated right on the Low D. Any leaks lead to squeaks - Oh! I’m a poet.
Also, you may want to back off on a hard articulation (tonguing) on the bell note (low D). I’ve not played the Sweetheart Resonance, but my Reyburn for example prefers a glottal articulation to start the bell note.
Oh yeah! Welcome.
Agreed-- tonguing needs to be definite but subtle. For any given note, make sure you have a good finger seal, then experiment with the amount of tonguing or glottal articulation (sort of a huff with no tongue) to get a feel for what’s needed. Every note is likely to be different, and every whistle will have it’s own quirks.