I just want to write a note to anyone struggling with the low D whistle.
When I first started playing back in March of this year, I immediately abandoned all hope of ever playing a low D.
Thanks to the encouragement from Mick Woodruff, I began gradually working my way down until I can now play my Dixon low D without any real difficulty.
You’d just have to see how small my hands are to truly understand the significance of this achievement.
It hasn’t been easy, and it has taken a lot of practice to condition my hands to make the necessary stretch.
I just want anyone struggling with the low D to know that with patience and practice I believe almost anyone can do it.
Gradually work your way down to a low G and learn piper fingering on it.
I had planned to move on to a low F, then to a low E, and then tackle the low D, but I jumped right from low G to low D.
It would have been easier to have stuck to my original plan, but I just couldn’t wait any longer! 
Since I made such a leap, I did go through quite a bit of difficulty that could have been avoided if I had continued my gradual finger stretching routine.
My fingers cramped very quickly, and the tendons in my hands were sore for weeks, but I wasn’t going to give up until I won the fight.
I urge anyone who would like to play the low D to believe me when I say that if I can do it with my tiny hands, so can you.
What low G would you recommend for a beginner?
On 2001-10-30 22:53, avanutria wrote:
What low G would you recommend for a beginner?
While I cannot say enough good things about my Silkstone G/A set, I know it’s probably beyond the price range most people would be aiming for.
I don’t have a Dixon low G yet, but I’m sure one would be an excellent choice for anyone.
Dixons are by far the highest quality whistles at the lowest prices that I know of.
My hands are large enough, but the thing that kills me on the low D is the angle that my arms have to be situated at in order to play it. The piper’s grip is new for me, as well as the different air requirements. But it’s too cool, so I’m gonna persevere with it!
Raindog,would you mind giving us your hand size as I’m certain others would be interested also…in metric please.Peace,mike 