Hi All,
I bought a Low D whistle from a guy in Knoydart a few years ago it was fine but I found it very difficult to go from the low octave to the higher one , even yet I can only manage the first two or three notes on the higher octave.
Although I used to play the bagpipes when I was young ( 40 years ago ) I really am a beginner and haven’t practiced often enough but I feel I would like to try harder now , I also find that my whistle clogs up with syliva after a couple of minutes and this prevents it being played but perhaps that’s down to me ??
Anyway I would be keen to try another whistle but don’t wish to waste money if its not going to make any difference , I know plenty of pipe tunes etc so not a problem with that its down to not being able to get the proper tone from my whistle .
Any advice appreciated , also any links to whistles for sale , is it better trying at a shop before buying ??
May I ask what whistle you are currently playing? If the windway is all-metal, it may need a special cleaning treatment, due to the fact that corrosion inside the windway can cause moisture to build up faster inside the windway. Also, make very sure you warm your whistle head well before playing, so less condensation will collect in the windway. I do this by holding the whistle head in a closed hand for a little bit, and then placing a finger over the window and giving a very hard blow through the whistle. Doing this should decrease clogging, as will making sure the windway is completely clean.
Good advice there.
Yes it’s best to play a whistle before you buy it, unless you’re getting it directly from the maker, the maker is known to be consistent, and you’ve played other whistles from that same maker.
Perhaps the best “first Low D” whistle is the all-plastic conical-bore Low D from Tony Dixon, for the following reasons:
-inexpensive
-ergonomic (due to the combination of relatively small and closely-placed fingerholes, slim tube, and light weight)
-takes less volume of air than most Low Ds
-the 2nd octave is easy
-doesn’t clog
Here it is
http://www.tonydixonmusic.co.uk/products/tb012/d