I would like to know if my Whistles are low or high. I have a Waltons Little Black
Whistle in D, an Oak Nickel in the same and a Sweetone by Clarke in the same.
[ This Message was edited by: bulldog on 2002-05-08 14:40 ]
The ones you have are soprano, or high, whistles in the key of D. You can tell from the sound of them–the lowest note on them will match a D right above middle C on the piano. The low whistles have a lowest note (bell note) of G below middle C, down to D or C below middle C, and the mezzo sopranos are somewhere in between (A and Bb right below middle C). The lower the whistle, the longer it is, and the lower the sound.
The whistles you have (along with any high D) are the common ones for Irish music. The other keys are good for playing with other instruments (such as pipes in Bb, I think, or to match a voice in another key) or when you want that low-whistle Riverdance kinda sound.
If they are short, they are high. If they are long, 21" or 50cm, they are low (that’s for whistles in D). All those you listed are high. You can also tell by pitch: each pitch has a different length. Look at description of whistles on the main page.
If your whistle constantly has the munchies, it’s high.
Conversely, if it mopes about the house mostly playing slow airs and showing little interest in jigs and reels, your whistle is likely quite low.
Loren
Anyone know where I can get antidepressants for my Gen Bb? I can force it to play the dance tunes, but it sure doesn’t appreciate it…
On 2002-04-19 10:31, cj wrote:
The ones you have are soprano, or high, whistles in the key of D. You can tell from the sound of them–the lowest note on them will match a D right above middle C on the piano. The low whistles have a lowest note (bell note) of G below middle C, down to D or C below middle C, and the mezzo sopranos are somewhere in between (A and Bb right below middle C). The lower the whistle, the longer it is, and the lower the sound.
Actually, all this is up one octave. The bell note on a soprano D is a major ninth above middle C. When reading music it seems as if the D you play is right above middle C, but in actuality the whistle plays an octave higher than written. Think about playing a tune with a fiddler, reading off the same music. The whistle’s an octave higher, unless you’re on a low D.
On 2002-04-19 10:41, Loren wrote:
If your whistle constantly has the munchies, it’s high.Conversely, if it mopes about the house mostly playing slow airs and showing little interest in jigs and reels, your whistle is likely quite low.
Loren
Hmm… Its not just the whistle,
Its also in its affect .
I practice high whistles everyone in the house goes out for Mickey Dees.
I practice low whistles everyone just moans.
Trevor,
Consider starting your whistle on a Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, such as Prozac, Paxil or Celexa. Although more expensive than the tricyclics, they have fewer drug interactions and if your whistle is already taking medications this will make things easier all around. Consider getting your whistle to a therapist, and if it starts giving away all of its tunes and suddenly perks up, make it agree to a verbal contract not to harm itself or shudder become a recorder.
On 2002-04-19 10:26, bulldog wrote:
I would like to know if my Whistles are low or high. I have a Waltons Little Black
Whistle in D, an Oak Nickel in the same and a Sweetone by Clarke in the same.
“No-one I think is in my(Oak?)tree,I mean it must be high or low…”.The author of this most likely pondered the very same question as yours. Who knows the song title and its writer? 
peace,Mike
Strawberry Fields Forever----Lennon and McCartney
More seriously, here is the basic custom for referring to whistles. High,Low as well as soprano-bass.
Terms:
- (High) G = sopranino
- (High) F = soprano/sopranino
- (High) Eb = soprano
- (High) E = soprano
- D = soprano :: The standard or Regular whistle. (about 12")
- C = soprano
- Bb = soprano
- (Low) A = mezzo-soprano
- Low G = alto
- Low F = alto
- Low Eb = alto/tenor
- Low E = tenor
- Low D = tenor (22-24")
- Low C = tenor
- Low Bb = tenor/bass
- Double Low A = bass/contrabass
- Below double Low A = here there be Monsters
The key is generally named by the bell tone of the whistle. The bell tone is the lower octave tone played with all the finger holes covered. Notice that some whistle keys fall on the border and may end up be referred to as part of more than one group of voices or ranges.
Hope this helps you understand more of the various discussions of whistling.
Regardless which key, always …
Enjoy Your Music,
Lee Marsh
Editted to add ‘contrabass’ to double low-A.
[ This Message was edited by: LeeMarsh on 2002-05-07 16:21 ]
Double Low A??!??
On 2002-05-07 15:12, Kendra wrote:
Double Low A??!??
A monster made by Overton. Bell note is A below Low D.
Would that be the rare contra bass whistle?
Gary
“Musicians are tempermental; half are temper, the other half mental.” - Quote from a Maranatha! Music worksop Instructor
Would that be the rare contra bass whistle?
Yes. 12’ long and it takes a well-trained giant octopus to play it.
On 2002-05-08 03:44, Jens_Hoppe wrote:
Yes. 12’ long and it takes a well-trained giant octopus to play it.
[ This Message was edited by: pixyy on 2002-05-08 04:13 ]
[ This Message was edited by: pixyy on 2002-05-08 04:14 ]
I’ve heard it said that low whistles
begin with G (low G, of course).
To whom it mat Concern: DO NOT SEND me more than one set of replies to my Postings. I have getting more than one set of them in the past two days. Thanks
On 2002-05-08 12:34, bulldog wrote:
To whom it mat Concern: DO NOT SEND me more than one set of replies to my Postings. I have getting more than one set of them in the past two days. Thanks
It happens that posters to this thread don’t have any control over that, but you do. When you started the thread there was a box to check, or uncheck, that enabled notification when a post was made to it. I just looked, and notification is in fact selected for this thread. That’s why you are being notified. It is apparently also done when a post is later edited, which could account for the duplicates.
If you don’t want notification, you have to edit your original message and turn it off. Only you can do that.