For a person with small hands what is the best low D whistle he/she can play without difficulty?
The Burke composite EZ is supposed to have a comparatively easy reach. It’s what I would try first if I were looking for a low D.
Dixon Low D or Shaw Low D for small hands
I have one of those, and I’ll second the recommendation. This whistle is also very light in weight which makes it easy to support for long periods of time.
i have one aswell, i can play a burke low C, but i’ll never need another low D.
I am pretty happy with my Shaw low D. Yes, it takes more air, as it has a wooden fipple… But that can be an advantage, if you’re switching from High D to Low D for the first time. Overton Low D’s are nearly impossible for me to play, as the holes are so big and the air required is so soft.
I like Shaws because the holes are quite small, they have a nice breathy sound, and the holes aren’t that far apart, either. The only disadvantage to Shaws is that they tend to be slightly flat, so I usually warm mine up a bit before playing with others.
I hope nobody beats me up for this - nobody on C&F presently owns a Serpent Python low D because it’s brand new. Consider this my August announcement, please…
I make a brass tunable low D with Delrin fipple plug to keep the weight down. The measurements between fingerholes are (center to center, top down)
1 to 2 – 40.0mm - 1-5/8 in
2 to 3 – 32.5mm - 1-1/4 in
4 to 5 – 27.5mm - 1-1/16 in
5 to 6 – 38.5mm - 1-15/32 in
5 to 6 is the critical one for most people, and this whistle can be played by a friend of mine with very small hands, without using piper’s grip. You can see the whistle at:
http://www.serpentmusic.com/allwhistles/allwhistles.html
It’s the big one in the middle. 
serpent
Geeze, I wish we could put this to rest once and for all - I mean this get’s asked sooooo often, and the (well meaning) answers that people give are often…well, not based on factual data.
Hey Dale,
Any chance of posting a comprehensive Low D hole and reach comparison somewhere on C&F? I certainly wouldn’t expect you to compile the info, but if one or more people compliled the data and sent it to you, would you feel up to putting on the website?
I realize there may be concerns from some makers, but this could be a good thing for everyone - might light a fire under some makers to make some changes, and perhaps for others to stop moving holes around every few weeks - you know who you are 
Loren
Hey! Good to see you again, Loren!
I second the motion! Good info that a lot of people would like to see!
Cheers,
serpent
I third the motion (you can do that, right?)
So we wont have to bother the wonderful whistle makers of the community; please, everyone send your low whistles to me and I shall sacrifice myself for the greater good by measuring all the distances between the many many holes 
Consider a Reyburn low-D with off-set holes.
Reyburn holes are farther apart than some low-Ds but with the off-setting you can easily play with your finger tips instead of the piper’s grip. You use your pinky for the holes regularly played with the ring fingers.
It isn’t hard to make the switch and IMO doesn’t confuse or complicate when playing smaller wihistles in the traditional finger arrangement.
I’ve owned the following low-Ds:
Dixon
Laughing
Burke (al-pro)
Copeland
Overton
Reyburn (just temperment off-set)
All are excellent instruments with wonderful qualities. The Reyburn is the only one I still own. It is absolutely astounding.
One thing I will mention is that the Reyburn took the longest to “learn to play”. Most of the other low-Ds seemed to “have what they had” as far as a tone pallette (if you know what I mean) but the Reyburn seems to me to have a much broader range of expression.
Give Ronaldo a call. If your hands really are to small to play the thing I’m sure he’d be happy to refund.
http://www.reyburnlowwhistles.com/contact.html
Cheers,
Doc
Serpent, no ones going to hit you over the head. You might hit me though.
If you really small hands and can’t reach that pinky hole, just remember that you also get whistles with keys on the bottom hole.
I do make a small hands model - spacing:
Top down
1-2 1.41
2-3 1.38
4-5 1.02
5-6 1.58
The single key whistle model uses a key for the bottom hole making the spacing of 5-6 less than 1".
Available in Brass or Copper.
…uses a Reyburn. Not only is it the easiest reach, but the tone is
rich and wonderful. And it would make one heck of a weapon when you have to shove your way through crowds of adoring fans…