I am a complete whistle neophyte!

Whistle
1

Hello everyone! My name is Tony, and I am utter musical neophyte. First of all, I really need to thank everyone here for the huge volume of really useful information here on the forums as well as the website. It’s been an eye opening experience, for sure, and I can’t stop reading in hopes of educating myself.

I was lucky enough to inherit my dad’s extreme manual dexterity. Some people are born with a sensitive sense of smell, or taste, or what have you… for me, it’s dexterity. It’s come in handy for a few different professions over time, and I’m hoping it will help me learn to play the whistle, too :slight_smile: I read the artical on recorders vs whistles vs the norelco and got a great laugh out of that - my only musical experience was learning the recorder in elementary school. I could play two of them simultaneously pretty well -I hope that doesn’t shun me from the group already :smiley:

So, I am going to attempt to open up a can of worms or two for all of you seasoned whistlers. I hope you all will take pity on me. I would really like some opinions/advice on what type(s) of whistles to acquire to learn with. Reading the guides to whistle shopping on the internet is amazingly educational, but it’s almost a bit too much information overload to really help me pick out what I should be looking for (and I also have no hands on experience at all.)

I like the idea of getting a low whistle quite a bit. I’m a big guy, with a really large lung capacity, which seems beneficial. I think having a normal (high?) whistle is also a good idea. You all are probably agreeing with me so far, since like my other hobbies, this one seems chok full of enablers! It seems like the iconic whistle key is the D, so maybe that’s where I should start… a high D and a low D? Please do correct me if I am totally off base.

I do have a little Irish heritage, and after reading about the history of Irish whistles, I’m not so sure I could wrap my mind around a plastic instrument. I think I would prefer something made out of metal, kind of traditional (this is probably to my detriment, I realize.) I might be able to abide a plastic mouth piece, but I like the aesthetic look of a solid metal whistle a lot.

My brother is heavy into music, and has his own little hodge podge recording studio. I don’t know if some whistles are inherently louder than others… but I have hopes of maybe one day playing the whistle while he plays his bass guitar just for fun, and he has other musically inclined people over all the time, so if there is a “louder” whistle, maybe it would help me avoid being washed out in the collective sound of everyone.

Lastly, I’m pretty certain that I’m not in the market for any of the (really tempting) high end whistles. Just something to learn on, but high enough quality where I could potentially do some recordings with my brother down the road. I’m also finishing my education as a hospital x ray tech (left the Army special operations lifestyle and wanted something a bit safer for a new career), and my wife is still going to nursing school, so I think if I plopped down $500 for a whistle… she would ensure that some morning, I simply would not wake up. $100 range is probably realistic, I’m pretty open minded to prices.

So, can you guys help me out? A thousand thank yous for reading my giant post!

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Welcome and hello from a fellow n00b.
First, many people have played recorders, no biggy. I still own one with no shame, so no shunning from me.

Well, I don’t know anything about low whistles but there is a site that I like to read about them here;
http://pipersgrip.50webs.com/

For high d whistles I really like some of Jerry Freemans work and at about 30-40 dollars they a very nice.
I like the Bluebird and Mellowdog in particular.
Half way bewteen the high d and low d is the Bb whistle and an off the shelf Generation or Freeman Tweaked Gens
may a nice intro to the low whistle.
I have no finacial interest in it, but there was a Bluebird, and Dion Tweaked Gen Bb for sale on the Used Instrument Board recently at a decent price.

So you wanted to play Irish Traditional Music?
If you’re into other genres thats ok too, whistles are versatile as all get out.
Anyways, welcome.

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As far as I can tell the consensus seems to be that in general, any whistle will do. If your going for loud, stear clear of he conical bore whistles made by Clarke. The sweet tone (my favorite) does indeed have an incredibly sweet sound, but it’s mellow. As mentioned, anything with Jerry Freeman’s sticker is bound to have just a slightly sweeter sound, he takes an ordinary whistle and through a series of minor modifications makes it better. But To begin with, I’d start with a basic D whistle. Just as a jumping off point. Maybe the Oak brand, fairly solid, nice sounding whistle. Generation is fine too. Seems that the nickle plated are a little brighter than the brass. Shoudnt spend more than 30$ on your first whistle. After you learn half a dozen tunes you’ll have a better idea of what you’re getting yourself in for.

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I just have one thing to say to you.

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Start with a high D. It’s by far the most useful whistle.
While you’re at it, use some of that dexterity of which you’re justifiably proud to make your own low D for very little cost:

http://www.ggwhistles.com/howto/

Good luck, and keep us posted on your progress. You’re in for more fun than you can imagine.

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What BrewerPaul said. In this respect, whistles are like books. Read or play as many as you can. They are not so expensive that this is a difficulty, unless you go for the real expensive end of the market. Once you’ve established your taste, you will know which to avoid and which to enjoy. Don’t forget you can also cheaply make your own! http://www.ggwhistles.com/howto/

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I enjoyed your story. I have eye hand coordination coming out of my ears . That comes in pretty handy. My wife and I had a rule that we’ve kept since we got married a long time ago. All financial decisions over $50 require a joint discussion before hand.

Buy a few cheap whistles of different materials and different keys so that you can hear the differences among them. Keep them all over the place, including your car. Do not drive and whistle. I have to wait to pick up my wife from work and it’s a great way to spend the time.

Invite us all over to your brother’s studio.

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I’d have one of Jerry Freeman’s Mellow Dog whistles, with the additional C body.

It’s the only D whistle I play now, because it sounds so much better than all the inexpensive whistles I’ve bought over the years. Easier to play too.

I’d suggest getting a high D at first, and learn the basics. Then branch out. Any instructional tapes or videos will be in D.

As far as recording – that’s all up to the guy running the recording session and then the mixing. The quietest whistle could dominate a brass section, or the loudest whistle could be buried by finger snaps and whispers.

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Welcome indeed.

You’ve received lots of good advice so far to I’m going to make an attempt at being the devils advocate. Let go of your feelings about plastic. First of all there are lots of things that folks call plastic, enough so that it’s generically used, almost like Xerox. All the previous instrument suggestions you’ve received are accurate. For the price range you suggest, you should consider Parks whistles, made from, I believe, PVC. They have lots of really helpful features like a volume control mechanism which will allow you to play loudly or softly without have too detrimental of an effect on tuning.

You’d be mistaken to start with anything other than high D for most of the music we’ll talk about here but many different keys will eventually become attractive. You will want a C and many folks, like myself, are enamored of Bb and A for various reasons. I’d also advise that you not equate being a big guy with big lung capacity as necessitating a big whistle. I’m 6’4", 260 lbs and wear XXL gloves so I understand the temptation.

Your dilemma will be that different designs of whistle space the holes differently. For example, I struggle with wide bodied high D whistles because the bigger body normally comes with holes that are closer together than a narrower body. My fingers just don’t fit some whistles well. The Freeman Mellow Dog just barely works for me and it’s a great whistle. I can’t play the Burke session because of the spacing issue but a narrow bore is just lovely.

I’ll also second (third, fourth?) making a GG for a low whistle to start.

Finally, your big lung capacity will be both a blessing and a curse in the beginning. Controlling your breath is the most difficult part to learn. It will also affect your choice of whistles since some of them offer more resistance while others are very free blowing. Some folks, like me, prefer some resistance as it helps with articulation. Others prefer the more free blowing instruments. Horses for courses I’d say.

good luck with your new passion,
ecohawk

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Welcome Tony… “utter musical neophyte”? Well, I’m a “newbie” too… look over to the left and see my date, that’s me with my hands in my pockets. I’m a newbie, penurious, tone-deaf, wannabe whistler and its been slow going, BUT, a whole lot of fun. I can’t add any whistle-wisdom so just use what everyone has already mentioned. And, just ask for the help. So welcome.

I made the lifestyle change quite a while back and just wanted to say THANK YOU for your MILITARY SERVICE.

This is a good place to be… and just know that “nobody will leave you behind.”