I originally added this in rkottke’s Gen Low D thread but didn’t think I should divert attention from his question.
I play mostly my high D (sometimes a C) in a group that includes a guitar, piano, bodhran, and fiddle. The guitar player is one of those types who is always wanting to change things and often tells the rest of us to try this or that way of playing something. Some of the ideas are good but sometimes it gets a little irritating when you just want to play. :roll:
The other night he saw Solas in concert and now thinks I should switch to playing the low D. He says since the low D plays in a different octave than the fiddle, it sounds better and the sound is fuller.
I am resistant especially when I read comments like Peter’s. I know low D’s are nice and there’s a lot of people on this board who play some nice stuff with them. But I’ve always considered the high D most “traditional”. Maybe this belongs on the trad music board. But what does anyone else think? 
Low D’s most assuredly do not play in a different octave… in fact, generally, they play in the same octave, while high D’s are higher…
So do whatever you want!
Low D is fun though, and I enjoy playing it at the session, and with others…
If you like them you should play them, if you’re not too keen on the idea, then you shouldn’t.
Low D is nice, and you can play fast tunes on some of them. Finger stretch is too much for me, generally, and i prefer the high whistle. Low Ds were invented in the 1960s, i think, by Overton, so in this sense they’re not very traditional. But also the keyless “Irish” flute…
Low D will play in the same octave as the fiddle (and flute). High D plays one octave higher than fiddle&flute.
Lunasa has used low whistles (but often in other keys, e.g.: F) to great effect.
g
If your definition of “trad” ecompasses bands, then i wouldn’t hesitate to include the low D. Further if it helps, I like playing the low D, but wouldn’t if I ever played in a session in Co. Clare (fat chance of that, hah).
Low Ds have their uses. For instance, they can be used to brain pushy, obnoxious guitarists. 
i’ll travel through kerry, through limerick and clare,
and play them at hooleys, at dances and fairs 
If you have a good enough low D instrument, it can function in a band as a sort of flute substitute although it won’t be as loud nor will it have the dynamic, expressive or tonal range of a flute. You’ll need to mic it. The up side is that you will be playing acceptably on low whistle long before you can play flute well enough to include it in your band—a good embouchure takes years to develop. Well played low whistle sounds much better than poorly played flute.
That said, there are interesting differences between flute and low whistle and at least one player who can play flute very well—Seamus Egan—seems to prefer playing his Copeland low D a lot of the time. I’m learning flute but won’t give up low whistle if I ever manage to master flute.
Use 'em both. You may find that the texture that one whistle provides for a tune or set works better than the other whistle, and vice versa. In band situations, I think that varied textures in presentation are a good thing (so long as it’s not overdone, but that’s just me).
Hi Montana,
It’s me Tal. I understand your concern in-terms of choosing the right whistle for yourself. Don’t take the guitar players comment to seriously! You know what’s best for you. Listen to your own personal feelings! It’s always a matter of personal taste!!
What you should adopt is the fact that playing a low whistle will definitely add to your skills! Not a bad trade off I would say. Go for it! If anything, he’s trying to encourage you. Look at the positive side.
You already have “Tears Of The Forest” by now through the raffle. Listen to how many things can be accomplished w/ this particular sound. Low Whistles can be very intimidating. Like anything, it can be learned! It’s a really great instrument for cross over music as well.
Consider a G-whistle if the low-d is not your choice. The key of G is fantastic along with guitar! Something to consider in deciding. Best-Tal
Finbar Furey can play Low whistle like nobodies business-I saw him playing Overton low D AND a baritone A or G(?) a couple of years ago.He put in a fantastic performance on them.
Packie Manus Byrne also plays an Overton low G on his album ‘To Donegal and back’,which is assuredly I-Trad.
A little amplification goes a long way with the Low D. We have an acoustic band and it’s the only instrument we amplify. (Which makes the band non-acoustic, I know I know).
FWIW-- Seamus Egan uses low whistle almost exclusively in Solas these days. Seems to sound OK to me, although they are not totally trad. Heard a LOT of low whistle back a while ago at a Lunasa concert too.
Yeah. I’d really like to know why he prefers low whistle to flute. Since I’ve only been playing flute for a few months and still have an embouchure about as tight as a damp tissue, it’s pretty easy to see why I prefer my Copeland low D at this stage. But Egan plays flute rather well.
Though there’s bound to be differing opinions on how “traditional” a low whistle is in Irish music (from both Irish and non-Irish players), it seems to me that if ITM is to be considered a bonafide living tradition, then an instrument like the low whistle is a perfect example of how the tradition is indeed alive–growing and redefining itself with each new generation, which includes the instruments played to make the music. One of the qualities I appreciate the most about ITM is that although it’s rooted in an old (some even say ancient) tradition with established depth and integrity, it’s constantly evolving (albeit “evolution” has a different time scale in the west of Ireland…) as well, with innovations and new territory continually being explored, which again includes the inclusion of instruments not found in its historical roots. As for the decision to use a high d whistle or a low whistle (let’s say a low d) in a session or a band situation, well, obviously they’re different instruments, not only in being somewhere around an octave apart, but most low whistles have a sound and character all their own. This is what I appreciate the most about playing low whistles–it’s not a flute, nor is it a tin whistle (“high whistle”)–the low whistle is a unique instrument with a character of its own, also what I appreciate the most in accomplished players–professional or otherwise–who really push the envelope with this instrument. So, I’ll say, play what you feel works with the chemistry of the music and those you’re playing with, and politely (or otherwise) suggest that said guitar player minds his chords and leave the whistling to whistle players. 
Wombat, that is one of the more beautiful and elegant examples of understatement I’ve seen.
Steven
A fellow KY musician plays low whistle exclusively in his trad/crossover/ fusion band and it’s quite nice. Not Solas or Seamus of course, but I wouldn’t mind playing like him! He’s got some sound samples at tenrecmusic.com/multimedia.htm
I’m personally a flute freak, but I wouldn’t NOT take a crack at the low whistle if it seemed a tune called for it. Then again, our band includes a five-string banjo and a mandolin, so I can’t call us trad exactly, either (“Tradgrass?”). But I do think varieties of sonority can be the spice of life.
<eeewwww, that was BAD!>
Thanks, guys, for your discussion of low whistles in other keys as well. I always forget about that option.
But then again, I was born in 1973, so I’m even less trad than a low D.
Not to cause a stir, but I see the question of whether you can play traditional music on a given instrument the same way I see the question of whether one can write poetry in given language, or with a ball-point rather than fountain pen.
Caj
Thanks for the input. Some good points were made.
I do play flute but only in the slower stuff, when I’m looking for a more poignant sound. I guess it wouldn’t be bad to add in a low D whistle for some tunes. Just still prefer the higher whistles for my bread and butter.
And I didn’t mean to infer that you couldn’t/shouldn’t play ITM on a low D; hell, you can play it on a saxophone. I just had this feeling of wanting to stay closest to the traditional (historical) kind of instruments when playing the traditional tunes. I’m probably not expressing that well. :roll: