looking at the whistle that I was given by my boyfriend, Bill. And the condition was that I actually learn to play it! He bookmarked this site for me and said Chiff and Fipple is the place to go.
I’m having a little bit of trouble with my fingers at the end of the whistle, my fingers are so short and tiny. But I keep trying. Now I sit and wonder where do I start? Hmmm…
I started wanting to play after my vacation to a cabin in the middle of nowhere. Bill played outside after dark with the stars sparkling. So I took his whistle and went to have a seat on the porch while he aws in the cabin and started blowing. And here I am!
What kind of whistle do you have? I have a Meg C and can’t reach the bottom D hole, but my Meg D is fine, as are all the other D’s I have. So, maybe another whistle would solve your problem (WhOA)!
I was under the impression that some older Sweetone and Meg Cs have their last holes really far down. My Meg C is like that. The last hole is (goes to measure it)…1 1/4 inches away, center to center.
I would suggest as a learning tool Bill Och’s Clarke Tinwhistle book and definately get the one with the cd. That way you get the written music, plus hearing the subtle phrasing that you can only get by hearing the tune played correctly. I got one from the Whistle Shop. Whether you can already read music or are completely new to it, there is something for everyone in this book.
BUT- in the meantime- think of a simple tune that you know- then find it on the whistle. That’s one of the joys of whistling- not having to rely on written music for a tune!
I just started playing whistle in late January, so I’m pretty new to it myself. When I started, I was a rank beginner with no musical experience whatsoever. I’ve since memorized about a dozen songs and now sound almost like a professional player.
Well maybe not professional level, but definitely advanced. Okay maybe not advanced, but a pretty good intermediate.
Okay. Okay. So I sound like a beginner who knows a dozen songs, but I’m having fun.
If you have really small hands, you might want to get a slightly more slender whistle to start with. I have a Susato, and it’s the biggest around of any of my whistles, except for perhaps my Elfsong. Perhaps a Generation?
The best exercise for limbering the hands (you don’t really need to strenghthen them so much as loosen them up) is quite simply lots of playing. I agree with what’s been said here…think of some simple tunes you can hum and pick them out on the whistle, while you wait for that Bill Ochs book to arrive (I second that recommendation). The more tunes you acquire, the more you will enjoy playing and the more playing you will do…and the facility will come.
It might help to practice the scale a bit, just to get a feel for where the notes are. The fingerings for the basic major scale in D are straight up the whistle…start with all holes covered (that’s D…or “Do” on the scale), then lift the bottom finger for E (Re), then the two bottom fingers for F# (Mi), and so on up the whistle. When you get to the top, lift all your fingers for C# (Fa), then put them all back down again except for the very top one (high D, or “Do” again). That’s your bottom octave, and with that, you can pick out quite a few tunes.
I am indeed hooked. I have my whistle sitting next to my mouse pad. Not many things get that place. They must be very sacred.
I’ll start looking for tunes that I can play and practice fingering too! I think that book is going to come in handy. My best friend Cori has been here 7 days or so. She bought the book last night after reading here!
The Bill Ochs book is great…the best whistle tutor out there, IMO. Another thing you can do while you wait for it is visit some of the on-line whistle tutorial sites, such as:
Just thought I’d say hi and welcome, and add that the Susato is a good whistle, but a little hard to control on the 2nd octave.
It takes some time to hit the notes solidly without making them shrill; the good news is, once you’ve got the Susato down, you’re not going to have much trouble playing any whistle out there.
If you have really small hands, you might want to get a slightly more slender whistle to start with. I have a Susato, and it’s the biggest around of any of my whistles, except for perhaps my Elfsong. Perhaps a Generation?
Also a Generation or Clarke are not so difficult to play, the Susato can be very loud and if you are just beginning this can be a drawback.
If you get a chance listen to Sean Ryan, a wizard whistle player, he plays Susato whistles. His music can be found at http://www.tradmusic.com/shop/shophome.asp
I think that if you just play a lot, memorize 2 or 3 tunes and play them over and over you will find that your fingers will improve and just automattically go to the right place. When I started my fingers where never in the right place. Now they just fall into place. I agree with the others I have a Susato D and it is a little hard to play in the second octave. I would recommend a Clark SweeTone as an easier Whistle to play in the beginning. Of course you should buy at least one of each brand until see what you like.
Ron
Not alone, Sweet Cori! You have the whole C&F gang to guide you, and help you through the cold turkey afterwards!
Hi Chel!
I agree with those who have suggested possibly getting another whistle for a change. I love my Susatos now, after 18 months or so of playing, but at first I found them hard work. The pluses are that the tuning is spot on, they look great (in my humble) and the volume will carry when you play in a group, but they do take good breath control which takes time to develop - plus for solo playing they can be loud. But a great whistle, once you get used to it!
So is Bill a regular here, or a lurker? Is he really the great Walden in disguise?
Peelj. I have another whistle that I can try of Bill’s. I just started out with this one cause it sounded better to me. But then, what do I know?
Dave, Nice links there. Thanks.
Hi Cori!
Martin, Bill is uses the main pages more. I don’t think he drifts in here. Mostly gets newsletter emails and looks around. He’s not the message board type.
I played notes for him last night and he said I did really well. Kind of surprised me. Guess I’m doing better at this than learning the violin!
My fingers are a little more comfortable. Still not automatically finding the holes but I’ll get there.
I’m a little overwhelmed by college life which is why I haven’t been back before now! Thanks for all of the wonderful advice and keep it coming!
My fingers were cramping while holding the whistle today. But I can find the holes a little easier now. Get a sort of steady sound out of it that doesn’t squack too much.
I’m hyper to learn to play a tune, but first the real work of learning the notes!
