This is fun…my first whistle in a key lower than C! (no, it’s not a low whistle, but it’s about as far as my tiny fingers are likely to stretch at this time). For those who responded to my “Susato vs. Dixon” query, I ended up getting the Susato mainly because The Whistle Shop was sold out of Dixons (and getting a Bb soon so I could play along with my husband on his fife was more important than waiting for a particular brand). I’m not sorry, however…that unique Susato sound works particularly well in this key, and I think I’m going to enjoy this whistle a lot. The one thing that I’m not fond of is the long reach for my right ring finger, but I think (?) that’s more a function of the key than a problem with the whistle, and I will get used to it.
For enquiring minds, I got the standard bore, not the medium bore (price being the main deciding factor).
I suspect I will be doing the same. I was playing it in the (parked!) car today while waiting for my daughter to get done with her piano lesson, and I found my right hand gradually approaching something resembling the piper’s grip.
I think this is worse on Susatos than on Dixons. I don’t know why they offset R3 that much. I have a Susato A and don’t play it very often for that reason, and I don’t have small hands.
It starts with a Bb Susato and before you know where you are, you’ve entered the world of low whistles. Resistance is futile.
Seriously, Redwolf, pipers’ grip doesn’t take much getting used to and really does make those lower whistles feel good to play. It’s not a bad idea to work down though rather than to start with a low D straight away.
