New to whistling (less than a year) I love slow airs and tunes that really allow the Low D to sing with its haunting tone. After a LOW D what Low whistles would those “in the know” believe to be most useful?
Pastorkeith
Pastorkeith…
In what sort of “know?” And “useful” for what?
“In the know” was a nice way of saying - been playing low whistles longer than me, which is basically everyone. Most useful would be for playing airs and other slower pieces.
pastorkeith
Personally I like Bb and A for slow airs. Even C, for that matter, although I like Bb the best. But it’s just personal taste. Most trad CDs have a slow air or two on them, and many of those are played on soprano D whistles. I do prefer them on lower keys, myself.
I’m in the Bb camp with Blackhawk. It’s just a register I particularly like.
Ronaldo Reyburn’s low D’s are known to have a very haunting tone. Mine is by far whistle I’ve ever played. They can be quite a stretch for someone new to low whistles, but Ronaldo will offset the bottom holes to make it easier if you want him to.
i like Burke low d vipers, very good.
Ok! I’m finally “in the know” around here! (marginal…)
I’ve played Low Whistles for a few years. Low D, Eb E, and F. These fit my hands, and offer the sound range I like. Copeland, Overton, Burke, and MK are my favorites. Every one of 'em is a “stand alone” whistle, in my humble opinion. I play one or several of them every day. Meditation. Enjoyment.
If Joy is useful…then these great whistles are very useful to me!
I should clarify. The space between the bottom two holes on a Reyburn is very large compared to most low whistles. I also have a Water Weasel low G which sounds amazing and easy to play if you can find one and a Guido Gonzato low F which is not a bad whistle at all. I had a Chieftain Gold low D that was out of this world good, but I got in a real pinch for money.
I find a low G whistle very useful. My mother’s singing range matches the range of this whistle. Also, I have heard a low F whistle sound really good on some fast tunes. Was it McGoldrick…I forget.
-Casey
Personally I really like the Low F. I have a Chieftan in F
and play it a good deal. The fingering is very easy on the F,
and it takes less puff than the D. Eoin Duignan uses the F
in his CD Lumina. He makes it sound terrific worth a listen.
In the end it is personal preference though.
He makes everything sound terrific. He’s the reason I got into whistling in the first place. He can tear your heart out with a slow air.
I often use a low G a lot in sesh. One guitarist tends to sing a lot of Scottish Death Songs in that key, or bang out tunes on his concertina in C/G. The alpha-male fiddler often segues into A minor tunes.
I tend to use it so much that it’s now my avatar whistle.
It’s been my experience that some low D’s have a weak bottom hole. If you have large hands, I would buy one where the bottom hole is moved down and is opened up to be almost as large as the second hole. I don’t like weak bell notes. I have a Copeland and I was discouraged that the bottom hole is weaker then the other two bottom holes or notes. I love the sound of the Copeland but I think I will sell it. I have a Chieftain Gold coming and I hope the bell note will be as strong as the other lower two notes. Good luck!!!
It’s been my experience that some low D’s have a weak bottom hole. If you have large hands, I would buy one where the bottom hole is moved down and is opened up to be almost as large as the second hole. I don’t like weak bell notes. I have a Copeland and I was discouraged that the bottom hole is weaker then the other two bottom holes or notes. I love the sound of the Copeland but I think I will sell it. I have a Chieftain Gold coming and I hope the bell note will be as strong as the other lower two notes. Good luck!!!
Chieftain Golds have do a very strong bell note. The only thing I don’t like about them is the extent to which the C# is flattened to improve overall tuning.
I agree with Tony McGinley and really like my Chieftain Low F. It is much easier to play than a Low D (for me anyway) but low enough to sound nice on slow airs. I also like my alto G.
Have you ever heard a Low C? They can be amazing! Not an easy stretch for everyone, but more manageable than I ever expected. Of course, N-O-T-H-I-N-G beats a flat C set of uilleann pipes! 
Happy…
I’m surprised to hear that your Copeland has a weak bell note. I have a Copeland brass Low D and same in Low F. They both have solid, robust, gorgeous bell notes! Like BUTTA…rich and golden smooth…
Is the bell note as strong as the other low notes. Sad to say, mine isn’t. When I’m playing with the bottom hole open and then when I open the second hole, it’s like a jet taking off. I need to contact Copeland. I think I will ask them if they can make me one by lowering the bottom hole and opening it up.