Could someone help me please.

Whistle
1

I would like to buy a tin whistle but I don’t know what kind to get. I have played insturments before and I know what kind of a sound I would like but I don’t know what kind I should go for. I like the light airy sound. I’m not big on the high pitch. And what kind of book should I buy to go along with this? Thank you for the help.


Jenni

2

I would start by going up to the “search” link, and using keywords such as newbie, beginner, tutor. (a better detective than I might post some links.)

Then read the main website commentary on the various high and low end whistles one can acquire.

3

here’s the main C&F site links:

http://www.chiffandfipple.com/inexp.html
http://www.chiffandfipple.com/Expens.html
http://www.chiffandfipple.com/low.html

4

You might consider a Clarke tin whistle. They’re not too expensive, deliver a very airy sound (lots of chiff), and they’re said to be easier to play than most other whistles. Not sure whether that’s true, but the Clarke D in my small collection is probably my favorite tin whistle (except for my two low whistles, but that’s a different story).

Walt

PS: To learn more about Clarke whistles, visit www.clarketinwhistle.com/.

5

For a light airy sound, a Clarke. I started with a Clarke C original. Most players prefer a D. You can get a Clarke D packaged with a book and a CD for about $25 on most of the whistle vendor websites. Many prefer the Clarke Sweetone over the original, the difference being a plastic fipple on the Sweetone over a wood block on the original.

Downsides: Clarkes tend to require a lot of air in the upper register, and are on the quite side.

  • Bill
6

Check with Jerry Freeman for tweaked Shaw, Generation and Sweetone whistles. He makes them so they play in tune and are more balanced than straight out of the box. A little more than stock, but can be less frustrating.

Erle of Syn Whistles in Austrailia makes a very nice tunable whistle for less than $40 shipped to your door too. We like ours a lot. Lightly airy and can be tuned to match our other instruments. We have found this to be quite important. He is syn whistles on this forum.

7

If you’re looking to avoid the high pitch, definitely consider a Bb or A whistle. There are a lot of sample sounds on Clips and Snips. I’ve become pretty accustomed to practicing in these keys, so high d whistles sound a bit piercing to me.
Tony

8

And what kind of book should I buy to go along with this?

A lot of folks have chimed in with whistle advice, so I’ll answer your second question. For me, the Grey Larsen books are superb. A top notch whistle player recommended them to me, and I haven’t seen better. I love them, and they really helped me refine my ornaments.

Good luck.

9

Thank you for all your help if anyone can think of anything else let me know. :smiley: You all have been a wonderful help!
Jenni

10

For a new player I’d recommend Bill Ochs’ The Clarke Tinwhistle (works with any D whistle, not just Clarke). Grey’s books are indeed terrific, but I don’t think they’re great for learning from scratch. Get under way with the Ochs’ then suppliment it with Larsen.