Hello everyone! I have recently learned that I love playing the tin whistle!! I currently have a Waltons D whistle, which seems pretty fine for me. But I was looking for a new whistle that is maybe a bit softer. I mainly get to play after my kids go to bed, and have been getting complaints from my 4 year old that I am disturbing her! I am also wanting one that does not take a LOT of breath, as I am a bit new to the wind instruments, and still have to master that breathing pattern…so one that requires little air flow or breath would be best. I would love to hear some advice on what might work best for me. I have been researching a lot lately, and just am having a hard time figuring out what I should try, as all I can really hear is sound samples, and they seem to play at all volumes. Anyways…thanks in advance!
Kari
Clarke soak the fipple in oil -but i does require a bit of air–wife approved 
Cavefish, what does the oil do? What kind do you use?
Kari, you could ask Mack Hoover to make you a quiet whistle. I’d recommend one of his Black Caps. They’re very pretty-looking and sweet-sounding. If you don’t want to play with others, you could get one in a lower key, Bb or C, perhaps. The lower keys may not be quieter (I’m not sure) but to my ear they tend to be less grating.
Hmm… I’ve recommended Mack’s whistles often enough that people are gong to wonder if I’m on his payroll. Not yet!
sweet almond --seals , preserves and tightens up the pores it will also close the airway -a little (swelling the wood)it helps the backpressure-------not much -but anything is better than nothing -it dampens the sound slightly -Clarkes are quiet anyway
I’ll second the nomination for a Hoover whistle. I have a whitecap and its the sweetest + quietest of my collection.
trill
i bee thinking of one of those i have a Bb Gen --5/8 tube—but his mouthpieces say sizes other than 1/2 -and i dont want a loose MP
Hey, Cavefish. I think he can make them whatever size you need. Generation Bb is probably very consistent in its size, so he should be able to match that easily.
Impempe Bflat
I believe Mack can vary the volume on his Blacktops/Whitecaps somewhat, so you have a choice when you order.
I am a big fan of Mack’s whistles too. Some day I would like to own a full Generation set, high G to Bb, with Hoover tops. Now that I think about it, I am already half way there if I just switch a few tubes around. 
Kari,
From an earlier posting on the board:
Here’s some good info from Brother Steve’s tin-whistle pages
How to mute your whistle
I got this tip from Winnipeg-based whistle teacher Sue Hammer, who got it from the fine flute and whistle player John Skelton.For times when you want to play quietly, get some of that stuff called “blue tack” or “sticky tack” (a kind of putty used to stick posters on walls inside the house). Take a small ball of the stuff and place it on the “exit ramp” of the whistle’s windway - at the end of the window farthest from your mouth. Experiment with different positions - you’ll find you can adjust the volume of your whistle from full to zero by rolling the ball back and forward, obscuring more or less of the window.
Hi!..and Welcome!
As a Mom with 2 teens, I remember how tight money could be when they were little. I second the Clark; not only is the volume a bit lower than others, but so is the price–and iff one of the kids gets ahold of it and has an accident with it (it happens) you’re not out much.
To be really quietat naptime and for late night practice you can rest the mouthpiece just under your bottom lip and blow across the rectangular slot–you will hear the very quiet ‘whispered’ notes. (This also seems to work well with ocarinas and recorders by the way.) My honey works 12 hour night shifts and has extremely sensitive ears, yet I don’t disturb his rest with this. Also haven’t gotten any complaints from the 2 testy teens even when I play in the same room!
I’d also like to suggest the Clark Tin Whistle book by Bill Ochs. Comes with a CD, teaches the fingerings and names of the notes plus how to read music, 50+ tunes (some are children’s songs), and how to play ornaments. (I got my whistle and book together on eBay for around $18 +S&H).
Suggestion for the kiddos? I was in one of those Dollar Stores (don’t remember which of the several franchises it was) and saw amid the party favors a 4 pack of mini recorders for $1! They were 6" long, had 6 finger holes and a thumb hole and were in transparent colored plastic (orange, green, yellow, and I forget the other color—pink maybe?). I’m 5’7" with a 7" spread between the tips of pinky and thumb and couldn’t really cover the holes properly–but they’d be perfect for small kids to learn on. Maybe if they had their own little instruments they’d be less troubled by Mom playing.
The very first song in the Bill Ochs book is Merrily wWe Roll Along (takes 3 notes) and the next 2 are Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and London Bridge, the 6th is The Muffin Man.
I second the Mack Hoover suggestion. I was traveling with work a few months back, and, in the course of corresponding with Mack, expressed my desire for a whistle that’s soft enough to use in a motel room. He happened to have one of his own that was returned because the customer thought it was too soft - and he sent it to me, and it’s perfect. It’s all brass, has a c natural hole in the back, very small scale, and sings like a little bird. I’m sure he could make you one just like it!
Reg
I’d have to go with the Clarke Original D with the wood fipple block if you can manage the air requirements. Never tried oiling it though…
I asked Mack for a quiet Whitecap and he delivered. Very nice whistle with low volume.
thanks everyone for the advice! I will look into the suggestions. And for countrykitty- my daughters do have lots of their own instruments, those type of recorders as well! We have a little band going on in the days sometimes!
Kari
I have used the same technique as Country Kitty for many years and it really works for practising the fingering, although it doesn’t help too much with breath control.
The cheap and easy way to make your own whistle quiet is to use a paper clip as a whistle mute. Just drop a paper clip in the windway, the top hole of your fipple, and let it angle back toward you. The paper clip mute doesn’t work on every whistle but it’s worth a try. I use it on my Dixon Trad D and My Dixon Poly D and it works great. they are dramatically quieter but still play and sound great.
The Dixon Poly gets my vote as a whistle you should consider. It’s quiet, responsive, easy to play, easy second octave, low air, has a beautiful sound and is only $18.00 at Harp & Dragon. They call it “One-Piece Tony Dixon Plastic Whistle TDSW1A”
i tooth pick might be better being wood absorbs sound--------i guess
A tooth pick could help if you could get it to stay in place. With a mute of any kind the whistle gets quieter because the windway is made smaller. A paper clip works well, is cheap and stays in place but others have had good success with other materials.
i have a Clarke original i am going to paint all black - i am willing to bet it dampens the sound-i will let you know