I have only been playing the low D almost a month now, and have begun to feel relatively comfortable with my new toy. I have a few q’s that I would dearly love answered if I can. Even performed with it at our folk club, only the second time I have ever performed at all using my whistles. Hit some beautiful notes, and alas, hit some soul destroying ones. HeHe !!! Anyway here goes:
1>>How do you slur a long passage without tongueing ,whilst playing notes that are of a substatial interval apart (which for me causes a lot of squeeks and stuff), and yet manage to keep the tune flowing??? It seems a great deal harder than the normal d whistle!
2>>With the low D, does the player favour this for slow pieces pretty much, or is it used as commonly as a traditional d whistle for jigs and reels,etc..??? Does it suit fast pieces???
3>> Is it of the upmost importance to have your pinkie of your right hand on the side of the whistle???(this is for both the soprano/trad d whistle, as well as the lowD) I have mine slightly off the whistle, and seem fine and comfortable with it. I am developing accuracy, speed and a feel for the whisltes with my current technique. Any advice would be really appreciated.
I have not been playing the Low Whistle for that long myself (about 8 months), so here’s my 2cts, for what they are worth.
On 2001-09-06 07:09, andy wrote:
I have only been playing the low D almost a month now, and have begun to feel relatively comfortable with my new toy…
…Even performed with it at our folk club, only the second time I have ever performed at all using my whistles…
WOW - sounds like you are doing great to me!
1>>How do you slur a long passage without tongueing ,whilst playing notes that are of a substatial interval apart (which for me causes a lot of squeeks and stuff), and yet manage to keep the tune flowing??? It seems a great deal harder than the normal d whistle!
On the Low whistlee it is a lot harder to get a good seal of the toneholes. If they are not properly sealed, your notes are likely to ‘squeeeek’.
This will get better with practice. You could even practice playing long clear notes; changing notes and octaves.
2>>With the low D, does the player favour this for slow pieces pretty much, or is it used as commonly as a traditional d whistle for jigs and reels,etc..??? Does it suit fast pieces???
Of course it is beautiful for Slow Airs - haunting. Have a listen to Joe Mc Kenna’s CD “The Irish Low Whistle” for an answer to whether it suits fast tunes as well
3>> Is it of the upmost importance to have your pinkie of your right hand on the side of the whistle???(this is for both the soprano/trad d whistle, as well as the lowD) I have mine slightly off the whistle, and seem fine and comfortable with it. I am developing accuracy, speed and a feel for the whisltes with my current technique. Any advice would be really appreciated.
Of course you should play the way it feels comfortable to you.
When I just started I did not use my pinky to balance/support the whistle. Now that I am practicing rolls it almost becomes a necessity to use the pinky of the A and B rolls - otherwise the whistle flips out of my mouth (that’s partly to so with my rolls not being so smooth and relaxed yet though…
Hi Andy,it would help the forum to know what Low D it is you have to answer your Q.properly and yes in the hands of an experienced player there is absolutely no speed limit but many ,myself included, are content to play the slow tunes in the begining and aim for the fast ones further along the road. Mike
Andy ~ I hope you don’t mind my jumping in here. I was just getting ready to pose a question to the board on this very subject.
I have a Burke Alpro low D and I am wondering how one ever overcomes the elusive bellnote?
I do much better on the Dixon but not quite loud enough. I, too, would like to know what low D you are playing??
Is the Burke a tough one for the bell? I’d thought about getting one, but wasn’t sure. I’ve played one of his composite low D’s and it was almost TOO easy to play. I wasn’t used to the difference in air needed to sound it, and I was breaking notes right and left!
On the other hand, I find that with my Chieftain and Kerry wink! whistles, that the first octave is beautiful. The second however, requires so much air to sustain notes, and get clean breaks on runs, that it’s silly!
Therefore, I’ve stuck to the slower stuff on them, and will wait to find a more balanced whistle before I dive onto speed with a low whistle.
Well, Bri…it seems to be difficult for me.
Sometime last year, Mike Burke told me he was going revise it somehow…I told him to keep me posted…still waiting. I’m just wondering if others have had the same problem or have they overcome it. Someone snidely suggested I practice with it more. That might be the answer. :roll:
With the low D, does the player favour this for slow pieces pretty much, or is it used as commonly as a traditional d whistle for jigs and reels,etc..?
I use low Ds for song accompaniment and for playing dance tunes. Of course, playing reels and other fast stuff is more difficult on a low D than on a high one, but can be done.
To Mike R and Grannymouse, I play a Howard low D. Thanks to all for the feedback, Im still unclear whether or not I should be using my pinky on my right hand for support though!!!
see ya Andy
No, you don’t need your bottom hand pinky on the whistle. Most people use the ring finger of that hand to stabilize the whistle by putting it down on the sixth hole when playing any note higher than F#. On Low whistles this shouldn’t affect intonation much, if at all.
Yes, the Low Whistle can be played very fast. I think your choice of Low Whistle can impact this quite a bit, but some would argue.
As for your other question about slurring etc., I can’t offer an opinion on that one because I’m not exactly sure what it is you’re asking. Sorry, I’m a bit slow sometimes
GM,
Interesting what you say about your Burke AL Pro Low D, the bell note on mine is very unusual as well. It’s not that it’s really hard to hit the Bell note from a standing start, but onece you get going it’s another matter. Blowing down the scale in the first octave, it’s no problem to hit the bell note, but once you jump to second octave D, the whistle doesn’t like to go back down to first octave D. I find I have to actually interrupt the airstream if I want to go directly from any note in octave two, to the first octave D. Sort of annoying, and this is perhaps the one thing that keeps me from playing the whistle more.
Please let me know if Mike ever reworks yours, and what the results are.
Loren
Andy,you’re a lucky guy to own a Howard as a first low D as its one of the easiest to play AND one of the best…as for the little finger,its a bonus if your hands are large enough(mine are not:cry:)and if you are haveing trouble stabilising the whistle for C# try oooxoo or ooooox.All the best Mike
(that’s partly to so with my rolls not being so smooth and relaxed yet though…
Mike