I looked around the forum before posting, but did not find the answer, so there.
My first and only low whistle is Dixon D (plastic, tunable). While I like the way it sounds, by the time I get to A in second octave it becomes unreliable (squeaky). I am sure part of the problem is my lack of experience. I read that Dixon is good as a beginner whistle.
After a thorough (hopefully) internet research, I decided on Goldie low D (not tunable) as a “serious” whistle. Please, voice your opinion. I am not building a collection, just need a solid reliable instrument to grow with.
In my experience squeaking tends to come from lack of adequate breath pressure in the upper octave. I had the same problem, but on a high D. My Busman practically squealed until I had the guts to push it a little harder. A technique I used to practice this is to focus on the throat and position of the tongue when playing. Don’t let your tongue creep back on the high notes, or rather, narrow the inside of your mouth and push from your diaphragm. Try constricting or dilating your throat to change the sound and see what works. A Dixon is a fine instrument, and the addition of a non-tunable but more expensive instrument is not likely to magically fix the problem. However, each instrument reveals something new about your playing, so if you are going to get a new one, choose one that has a distinctly different sound from your current one, and switch between them. You’ll find that both start sounding better. I think if you want a reliable instrument you’re keeping for a while you need a tuning slide, but that’s just me.
I have a Dixon tuneable polymer low D that I happened to play for a project much of Thursday and Friday of this week. And it worked well. I’ve owned a couple other Dixons just like it. I have not experienced the issue you describe on any of these Dixons. However there has been some variability in the Dixons I have owned (several other keys) so YMMV. I do often recommend the Dixon as a beginner low D whistle. Yet it doesn’t have to be treated only as a beginner whistle. While it is not as robust as a Goldie low D, it is still a pleasant and very useful whistle and can be played “seriously”. I’d suggest working on your technique a bit more. Try tonguing to get to the high notes until you get the breath pressure right on a reliable basis. Sometimes that helps.
Of course the Goldie is a really nice whistle. If you do get one, just remember that you’re not going to be able to blame that whistle for any squeaks.
Feadoggie
Hi Zabava77,
FWIW: what usually makes the squeaks when I play (and they are awful!) is incomplete hole closure.
What I have found helps is as follows: when I get a squeak, I make small changes in the way I’m gripping the whistle. I try up/down/left/right, with emphasis on the bottom hole being closed. With a little exploration, a reliable grip can be found. Each new whistle I’ve gotten (especially a new key) has taken a get-to-know-it training period.
Do you play other whistles ?
HTH,
trill
Thank you all for your helpful comments, I truly appreciate it! I guess my Dixon deserves more attention before I venture into a different instrument.
I play high D (made by Tyrone Head), various sopilkas (Ukrainian folk whistle), and a couple of Czech fipple flutes (made by Marek Gonda).
One of the older Dixon tuneables was my first Low D and I would continue to recommend it as a great introduction to Low D whistles - no excessive reach requirements, good tone plus an easy and sweet second octave.
After seconding “all the above”, I’d just like to add one additional check - the tuning slide is a simple affair, and on mine became quite loose. Cork grease or vaseline was adequate to stop the leaks and squeaks at first, but after my 7 and 8 year old sons’ successive “practise sessions” it needed PTFE tape to tightened up the fit.
I started low D on a plastic Dixon two piece. At first I didn’t like it so well beyond the usual beginner grumps, suffered squeaks and the sound overall was not pleasing me. Found I wasn’t sealing the holes right at times and after a couple weeks liked it much better…
I’m curious about the Marek Gonda six-hole flutes. Does he make any in the low D range? I would like to have a low D out of wood or bamboo. I’ve found a Swedish maker who makes a number of kinds of six-hole fipple flutes but they are expensive (for my wallet)…
I have two of Marek’s six-hole flutes: one in G, and one in F. G is superior: the sound is pleasing, notes are clear, the craftsmanship is outstanding. I believe F is the lowest he makes his six-hole flutes in. His F is equally amazing. At first I had problems reaching the first hole (the distance between the centers of 1st and 2nd hole is 1.5")
It took some time to position my fingers just right. The piper’s grip on this flute would be difficult, since the flute has carved designs and the holes are part of it.
You may want to ask him; maybe he can make one in low D as well…