Hello all! First of all, thanks for any advice etc! This really seems like an awesome forum!
I love Irish music, and I’ve been dying to learn a new instrument. (I currently play guitar, and used to play the trumpet.)
Well, I’ve fallen in love with the Irish whistle and as of right now I’d love to learn the “high D” whistle.
I don’t know what brand of whistle to get, but I’m bound and determined to learn how to play…AND I’d also love to know how I can start learning! Sorry you all, as you can tell, I’m completely new at this!
My first whistle was a Clare D brought to me as a souvenir from my father-in-law’s trip to Ireland in 1987. I played it for a long time before I started experimenting with different whistles, and did find that I liked other whistles better. I had not played the old Clare for many years, having graduated to lots of other whistles bought, tried, kept (a few), and dismissed (more than a few).
I went back to the Clare a few years ago, having found it in the bottom of a drawer. It’s a better whistle than I remembered, though I wouldn’t call it an excellent instrument. I keep it now for sentimental reasons, as it was my starter whistle, and also in memory of my father-in-law.
My point is that you may go through a few whistles before you find one you like, and everyone likes different characteristics. I like 'em loud (band is tough competition), but I don’t like Susatos, though many do, and I’ve seen some amazing music come out of a Susato. My favorite cheapie is a traditional Clarke, but now for performance I use a mix of Milligans, an Ethnic Winds Ceol Pro, Hoovers, a tweaked Shaw, an old-style Chieftain, occasionally a B-flat Generation, and a nickel Gen with a Hoover Whitecap.
Surprisingly, I like the Meg when I am teaching young whistlers, because they’re cheap and pretty reliable.
In any case, you probably want to get something reasonable to start, and stick with the same whistle for a while, working on technique and breath control. More money doesn’t always get you a better whistle, either.
Non-tunable may not be in tune, but most are close enough.
A couple of questions come to mind: What is your budget? Are you wanting to play (eventually) with others, or just for your own enjoyment? What kind of music do you enjoy listening to and want to play?
You may have already done so but search the Session (just google “session”) web site and you’ll find sessions in your town. You’ll probably be able to find someone to help you get started. What you already know about guitar will be a help.
Speaking of guitar, check out John Doyle. He’ll get you thinking that you should your git-fiddle chops up to speed as well. Every session can use another good guitar player
Whistles are addictive, and fun. Welcome to the fraternity.
Of the nicer whistles I have, the one from ethnicwinds is probably the easier to play. Nick has several lines, some more expensive, some less so.
I thoroughly love the Milligans that I have, one in C and one in D, but they’d be tough for a beginner to learn the upper octave on. It’s like they can sense weakness, and if you aren’t really committed to being in the upper register, they buck and kick like a mule. On the plus side, you learn really good breath control with a whistle like that.
Others will weigh in, I’m sure, on nicer whistles they’d recommend for a beginner, too.
JJR welcome to C&F. I grew up in KC but live in San Francisco now. I can’t help with local music stores but there are a few sessions around there. I’d second the suggestion to go over to thesession.org as they will help put you onto the local ITM scene.
As for whistles, yours is a difficult question as there are really good whistles at prices ranging from $30 to $500. Playing characteristics are something that you need to be specific about and some of it is purely personal, like tone and finger spacing. You can’t go wrong with anything that Jerry Freeman sells and you can find his instruments through his personal posts here on C&F as well as his eBay store.
Several inexpensive whistles play well right out of the box for $15 or less, like the Feadog Pro or Walton’s Little Black IMHO. Some folks like untweaked Generations or standard Feadogs. I’ve never found one that played well but YMMV.
My advice is to get a couple of good solid whistles like those that have been already mentioned in this thread and play the hell out of them until you get used to them and the playing characteristics you like, then make a step up when necessary.
As to the question posed by can-shao-yang about the Shaw. They are usually in tune. They also require a great deal of breath to play and have a very breathy tone to them, both of which may be a non-issue to you. I prefer a different whistle but there’s nothing wrong with them if you’re happy. That’s all that matters anyway.
Another suggestion would be to keep an eye out here and elsewhere for used whistles. Buying a used whistle gives you the chance to try out a maker’s instruments. If you like them, you keep 'em; if you don’t, you can sell them without losing much money …sometimes you might even come out ahead.
Try contacting our member Jayhawk ([u]profile here[/u]) by PM (private message) or e-mail. He’s a good player and a nice guy, and he can help you with info about learning and playing opportunities in KC.
JJrPilot,
Welcome to C & F. With the great advice you have received here, the resources for instruction, and your enthusiasm, you are off to a fine start. Listen to as much Irish Trad music as you can to help train your ear. As mentioned, you can spend a lot of money on a whistle, but it is not a requirement at first. Figure out the sound you like by listening to different players and sound clips and find out what whistle matches your desire. Enjoy the journey.
Welcome jjrpilot, another newbie here, you got a load of info here already (its a good start) and use the C&F “search” http://forums.chiffandfipple.com/search.php its a huge encyclopedia of info and your early questions can be answered after you weed thru all the humor. Most of all, get a high D whistle in your hands, practice, and have fun! keep posting Welcome!
I’d definitely like to play for my own enjoyment!
keep posting 
Welcome!