Beginner questions

Whistle
1

There are probably similar questions asked on this forum, and I apologize in advance for any repetition. But I should mention that having a sticky for beginners is usually a good idea for any forum, be it having reptiles as pets, whistles, cars, or sports.

Now to my question:

I was walking in Cartagena, Colombia this January and a local was playing what looked like a flute to me. The sound and tune of the flute blew my mind off: it was melancholic, soft, emotional. I asked him whether he would sell his flute (he was selling bracelets) but he pointed to his heart and told me in Spanish that the flute belongs to his heart. I asked him where he got it from, and he told me some tourists from Ireland gave it to him years ago.

My search for Irish flutes then began, but none of the Irish flutes I saw looked like the one the guy was playing, and just by accident i happened to come across a picture of a tin whistle. THAT WAS IT!! It wasn’t a flute, it was a tin whistle.

So now I’m ready to buy a tin whistle… but what, which one? So many variations, in both material , keys, etc. I play the piano pretty well, but that’s as far as my musical experience goes, hence a complete beginner in the blowing musical instruments.

So what should I get? My guess is someone’s going to tell me a whistle in D, though I really like the melancholic sound of Bb. What material should it be? And where should I get it from? I live in Toronto, so if someone knows a local store, great. If not, an online store would do just fine.

Thanks, and again, sorry for any repetition.
Sep

2

Hello and welcome to the whisltling world, as for a music store, go to long mcQuade, they have a few cheapies which are good to start one, I would say get a D, but if you want a Bflat feel free to go for that, I think the only Bflats that they sell are generations which are pretty good, come to think of it, you should buy a Bflat and a D. all of the ones they sell get talked about here, pretty sure, and they are all great, so go for the one that yells at you “take me home!”

Good luck!

3

Sepandee,
I’ve purchased several whistles over the last year. I just got a Feadog brass whistle in the key of D (purchased on-line from Lollysmith in PA). It set me back $6.95 plus shipping. It played very fine right out of the shipping container. I did the usual tweek with poster tack (read about this on the forum). It plays just as nicely as my $100 whistle. Try it, you’ll like it (and if you don’t, it only cost a few bucks!). kbr :smiley:

4

Yes, D is going to be the most recommended key because D and G are very popular keys for Irish music. However, you can always feel free to get any whistle you like.

The Generation Bb has a good reputation for a cheapie. I have one and like it a lot. I’d recommend getting one.

If you just want to play, then just play. If you want to learn some Irish music, then I’d recommend getting a D, a C, and a Bb. Most tunes can be played on a D, many of the remaining tunes can be played on a C.

So, you can use the C and D to learn the tunes (trying to learn by ear is easier when playing in the same key), then you can play those tunes on your Bb for the more mellow, melancholic sound you’re looking for.

Jason

5

Do you recall what the whistle the guy in Cartegena looked like? Did it have a plstic top and did you noticed what color it was (if it did have a plastic top)? Was the body gold or silver colored? That might help narrow it down to what whistle he was playing. Different brands have slightly different sounds. I’d probably recommend a Generation or a Waltons. D and C have been the most useful for me and a Bb sounds really nice.

6

I don’t remember much about the whistle, but it was small (like the Feadog in D that I bought, possibly even smaller), and I think it was black.

Now, I bought a Generation in Bb, and a Feadog in D. I must say, it’s quiet an experience. I still have to figure out how to hash out a few things: like when cover all the holes, there’s always that buzzing sound, and i have trouble going from one octave to the other.

Right now my question is this: in this video, http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=AE1Zo5Ljws0, what’s the high note that’s played at 0:31 seconds? I don’t think my whistle in D goes that far (I’m pretty sure it’s 1 key away from it).

7

It’s actually just a second octave G. I’ve found a midi file of the song and transposed it to whistle range. If you consider the lowest note played a d then the note at 0:31 is a G indeed.

8

No, not g. The note is a high d in the 3rd octave. Usually fingered oxxooo or oxxxxx or some variation thereof. Should be playable on any D whistle, if you don’t mind sterilizing your hamster. :slight_smile:

My transcription of the original Star Trek setting is here:
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=55726

9

Hmmm, as someone who;s been playing the whistle for 24 hours, I have trouble playing the 2nd octave a bit, but I have no idea how to go to the 3rd octave…
…
I just tried blowing even harder and I did hit something, but I think my gecko just went deaf!

“sterilizing your hamster…” sorry, I’ve never heard that phrase before. What were you trying to imply?

10

http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=57404

11

careful there MT…you’re treadin’ into medical territory :smiling_imp: