Hello there! Pardon me if i’m not posting in the proper section here. I am looking to take up playing the tin whistle but don’t have any idea where to begin. I don’t know that i will enjoy playing one (think i will though) so don’t want to spend over $30 buying my first, which doesn’t look like it will be a problem. But what type of whistle to buy?
I think i would like something made of metal, but brass or tin, or what else? And what key? What is a good brand? I am going to be doing some backpacking travel in the near future, so i want a durable flute (one that won’t mistakenly get bent in my backpack…
Also, what is a good book and cd to buy to teach me some nice jammin irish songs? I also like beautiful slow songs as well! Definitely in the celtic range though.
I am open to suggestions and really grateful for anyone’s feedback on this.
This is the flute board. Post this to the poststructural whistle board. It’s whistle oriented, plus it has a lot more readers and posters than this one. You’ll get plenty of responses there.
Buy anything at all in D. When you’re new, there can be plenty of distinction between whistles, without any real difference.
The great secret is that there isn’t a tremendous amount of difference to be had, frankly. The difference between a cheap whistle and an expensive one is that more of the latter are good whistles, whereas the cheaper ones are more variable in quality. As soon as you’ve played for a month or so, you’ll be entirely equipped to tell the difference between a keeper and a dud.
Find a music store which will let you toot the offerings, and then by all means toot them. Blow both octaves. If you get a pleasing sound, that’s a whistle as good as anything you might spend the big bucks on.
Conical whistles with wooden blocks at the end take slightly greater amount of air, so if you’re asthmatic or a chronic smoker, don’t buy one of those. However, if you aren’t IMO they have a sweeter sound.
