Hi, I’m new here… I’m 16 and I’ve been playing the soprano whistle for almost 3 years (since I was 13). I’d just like to know if any of you have suggestions for what type of low whistle I should get. My hands aren’t too big but I think I could play it. The last low whistle I played was a Susato, over a year ago, and it was nearly impossible.
Get a Dixon. They’re about the cheapest, very reliable, polymer so not too heavy, and have a lovely tone.
As to Key - you will ultimately want to get a D, but the whistle is twice the length of a soprano D and takes some getting used to. You would be best to develop the pipers grip early on. You could work your way down to a D via a G or F whistle.
Are you playing alone, or along to CDs or a tutorial tape? This may limit your choices of suitable key.
I’m not a low whistle expert, and have no basis on which to compare different makers, but check out the <a href=http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?topic=4799&forum=1&11>thread on Susato or Dixon, other recent threads in which the name Dixon appears or the FAQ file on low](http://www.chiffandfipple.com/low.html>low) whistles on the home page.
Your best bet is to put yourself in situation where people are playing low whistles and try them out.
You will be able to increase your finger span by just stretching them out each day; at least it worked for me.
When I first received my Susato I though I would never be able to reach but now I play it with a regular whistle grip. Forget about this pipers grip on some of these low whistles. When you think about it only increased the finger spread. My hand are medium or slightly larger
The best advice I can give is:
1)Buy a Dixon low D (tunable or non-)
2) Learn the piper’s grip early. It will serve you well later, especially when you play whistles with hole-spacing less friendly than the Dixon.
3) Buy the Low Whistle Book. It is the best low whistle tutorial I have found. A link to the description page on Thom’s “Whistle Shop” site is below.
Ian
http://www.thewhistleshop.com/catalog/tutorials/tutorialsets/low/low.html
Are you playing alone, or along to CDs or a tutorial tape? This may limit your choices of suitable key.
I play with CD’s but this school year I’ll be playing with other people.
The Dixon is a great whistle but it may be too quiet for session play. I have had a Dixon and have a Burke Al-Pro now. The Burke’s voulume is much better.
Doc