Hi, I am dave and I’m new to the tin whistle. I have a Walton’s Irish D whistle and a book called How to Play the Penny Whistle by Gina Landor.
As the title suggests I need a little help, with the high d. I can go up the scale from low d up to c# OK, and I can go from high e to high c# OK_'ish_. I think I can get the high d but it seams that I have to blow harder and then blow softer when I go into the second octave. If I try to keep my blowing even then it screeches. Do I just need to keep at it or am I doing some thing wrong? I am willing to spent up to £20 on a whistle that will be easier to play if you think it is a good idea.
Thanks for reading and any help will be gratefully received.
Dave
If you are getting most of the second octave then you do better than most beginners.
I struggled to get decent sounds from A and up on the high end when I started.
So welcome and congratulations.
Most whistlers end up getting more whistles whether or not they are needed, and with such moderate prices why not?
I take it that you are in the UK, so consider a Dixon Trad as an upgrade if you really think you need one. http://www.bigwhistle.co.uk/shop_results.asp?subcat=7&search=1&offset=35
So, what kind of music do you like or want to play?
I can go up the scale from low d up to c# OK, and I can go from high e to high c# OK’ish. I think I can get the high d but it seams that I have to blow harder
Dave - don’t worry about playing up that high. It’s rare that you’d need the high D anyway - and if you persist on using it all of the dogs in the neighborhood will no longer think you’re a jolly fellow.
Whistles vary in the upper ranges - and by vary, I mean that they usually will play the notes that you want but the fingerings may be different from whistle to whistle - and you simply have to get used to those alternate fingerings.
My natural fingering (the one that I default to) when playing high D is 0XX 0XX - and that works on most of the whistles that I’ve played, and of course it’s necessary to blow harder and it’s difficult to control the volume.
As a side note, my Kerry/Chieftain whistles break up on the high C# in the normal 000 000 position, but if I change the fingering to 000 00X they work like a charm.
Since you’re just beginning on the whistle, I’d say stay in the lower part of the whistle and try to make the tunes sound like music before being too concerned about reaching for the upper limits.
Thanks for the warm welcome.
I think I might have called the tone by the wrong name, the d that i’m having problems with is the highist d on the low octive.
@hoopy mike - I am using the oxxxxx fingering. I can get the tone if I sound each tone on it’s own. The problem is when I blow continuely and go up the scale. Does that make sence?
@ maki -I think it’s the second octive, it some times sounds like it’s just louder, but if I blow harder it screeches (LOL). And I’m only going up and down the scale at the moment. I’ve had a look at the Dixon Trad you recommended, and after reading the reviews I ordered one. I just hope I helps my playing/learning.
@ Flexismart - At the moment I’m just trying to connect the two octives. As I said earlier, it’s the … middle d that I’m having problems with, but I sure it will fall into place. I will have to have a go with the oxxoxx fingering, it might work better for me.
Thank you all for the replys, it’s always nice to find a friendly forum.
the 1st octave would be the lowest note that a “D” whistle can play XXX XXX
the 2nd octave would be the 2nd octave “D” OXX XXX (also known as middle D)
the 3rd octave will not win ya any friends… OXX XXX
That octave shift thing seems to me to be a combination of proper breath pressure and “hearing” the note you are trying to sound. They work together. That said though that middle d seems also to me to be one of the notes that is awkward to sound if your instrument is partially “blocked” by the accumulation of moisture. I’ve noticed the blocking issue on the middle d or from high g on up to 3rd d (which like others I generally avoid to keep peace in the family). This blocking thing is insidious, and sometimes seems to have a mind of its own. I had a recorder the “never” blocks block badly in the last movement of the last piece in a concert. This despite regular unblocking and cleaning of the passage with a feather.
If you don’t know what I mean by blocking do a bit of a search here. To try unblocking, cover the fipple area with your thumb and blow HARD into the mouthpiece. There shouldn’t be any sounding note if you do this properly, just the whoosh of air and probably a bit of moisture coming out. That should remove the moisture. There are other less drastic techniques too, but that one will probably do a better job of cleaning things.
Thanks again for the advise, I think I just need to pratice(a lot). LOL
I have received my new Tony Dixon whistle and it is slighty easier to play. I have found the high octive a lot easier to play, but it still needs a work though.
Has anyone got any good web sites that have some good tunes for beginners?
Sites with good tunes abound on the Internet. Google is your friend.
It’s often helpful for a beginner to get some basic techniques under their belt while learning good tunes. You might want to start here. These lessons can move you along quite quickly. Ryan Dunns has taught tinwhistle at Fordham University and that blog follow the outline of his course. He also has a lot of videos of other good tunes well played (darned reverb).
Whistle This can be helpful. http://www.whistlethis.com/index.php?content=Y0hKbGRtbHZkWE09
This site has the sheet music, and mentor examples for tunes.
Some suggested beginner tunes could be,
The Butterfly, (slip jig)
The Kesh, (jig)
The Tar Road to Sligo, (jig)
All three of these tunes are on The Bothy Bands ‘1975’ masterpeice album, BTW.
Couple more favorites,
Road to Lisdoonvarna, (slide)
Rolling in the Rye Grass (reel)
It may be helpful to have your own favorite tunes that you WANT to play.
Who do you listen to? Listening is a very important component of learning.
Please don’t neglect the masters.
There is good and bad in having a decent and dependable whiste.
The good is that now the instrument is not your problem.
The bad, now you know it.
Go forth and whislte.
Thanks guys, it’s good to have recommendations for sites.
I started to play the whistle cause I wanted to play a instrument, and it was the simplist to learn and play that i could find.
As for music, for the whistle, I have found myself draw to the irish aire tunes. I listen to old rock and blues mainly, but I like most kinds of music, from Led Zepplin to John Williams. That’s a thought, has anyone ever played the blues on a whistle?
I just want to be able to play some music!
I believe a maker here can custom make a blues scale whistle.
Search the threads.
Anyway, you can play anything you like on a whistle.
Old timey, bluegrass, gospel, christmas music, and Aires(of coarse).
To find aires you might like to play search youtube for Tin Whistle+Slow Aires, or some such combo.
Dave if you want to play blues I would get a harmonica. I played blues harp from around 1969-73 and I can not see how a whistle would fit. At least in the Chicago style I used to play a whistle would sound too lame…Bob.
thank you very much everyone.