Well, a cheapie Low D bamboo whistle cost me $8 at amazon.com. The piper grip where you use the middle joint of your finger rather than the fingertip to close the hole makes the reach practical. I taught myself and this just made sense to me. The first time one of my friends who was in band saw me playing like this she said I was playing wrong. She just didn’t know.
I would like someone else to confirm this but I hear the bamboo sax only has a one octave range.
Let us know what you decide to do and what you ultimately find that pleases you. I’m not into this ITM stuff at all but I like the sounds of all these instruments. I’d like to hear what another non-ITM player had to say about things.
I second Mutepoint’s recommendation of a Low whistle.
If price is a problem, go on Guido Gonzato’s website and follow the instructions for making one. The Low Tech Whistle Site.
And if you are worried about the finger-stretch, make a Low G. It’s easy, it’s cheap, and there is little or no stretch to the fingers. And it is mellow.
Well thanks for all the advice, I’ve decided to go ahead and get the blues penny whistle, the bamboo sax, and a flute. Just going to bite the bullet and learn some new techniques to get the sound I want. Between the three of those instruments, I think I can play most of the music that I want to.
And I will probably build a few a wind instruments soon too. I’ve already built a few guitars, diddly bows, and electric kalimbas. Why not a whistle or two?
Several Native American flute makers make diatonic/major scale flutes as a standard item. Try Leonard McGann (Lone Crow Flutes) or Charles Littleleaf. There are also “Native American flutes” in various other scales other than the “standard” pentatonic minor.
