My wife grew up playing a classic keyed flute in school band. In past amatuer jamming she used to dabble with a set of penny whistles I bought her. She also dabbled a bit on a wood keyless flute and an old wood flute with a few open holes and a few keys. Now, I would like to introduce her to playing a Low D whistle for some of our slow tunes like Down By The Salley Gardens. She is middle-aged, tall, but with fairly small hands. I like a subtly airy sound. I am concerned with finding a flute with reasonable air needed, and reasonable reach of the 6 holes. She has always played more with her fingertips, but I had noticed when she played a regular band flute some fingers hit the key pads with their sicond digits.
I would like your recommendations on a Low D whistle that may be suitable and efficient for her to play as an amateur. Price range…perhaps 80.00-150.00 US.
Firstly, I’d much prefer to buy/choose my own low D than have someone buy/choose one for me as a present, but that rather depends on you and your wife. But I’m no expert on gifts. Last year I bought my wife a CD of Ukranian folk music and one of music from Tibet for her birthday. The next month she bought me a handbag for my birthday!
In that price range, how about a Dixon polymer low D? You could get a flute head for it too.
I agree with Hoopy. Buy the cheapest reasonable low D so that she can decide if she likes it (and from what I have head the Dixon fits the bill) and promise to subsidise her next whistle purchase… or meal out, or pamper day, or dress, or (damn thats another whistler lost )
I wouldn’t recommend the Dixon to anyone (I have the aluminium barrel, plastic head version). I recently acquired a Chieftan V3 low D - very breathy, but very easy to play, overall I’d say an excellent starter low D. The upper registers don’t need as much push as the MK Pro. It really does play itself, but the tone might not be for everyone. On the other hand, the MK Kelpie, designed for beginners, sounds like a good instrument at a very reasonable price. If it combines the ease of playing of the V3 with the more focused tone of the MK Pro, then I’d say it’s a winner.
“If you sort of love your wife then stick to your price range, if you …really… love here buy her a Goldie or MK”
Well, I few years back when I indicated my desire to switch from guitar to clawhammer banjo, she went out and bought me a 40.00 banjo at a garage sale. So…
Anyway, I am enjoying reading your recommendations. Thanks, all, Brad
I haven’t played a decent low D that could be fingered without using piper’s grip. With her background, she shouldn’t have any trouble getting used to it. It’s the people who resist playing with piper’s grip who have trouble with it. If my fingers were small enough, I’d play the high whistle using it… it’s so much easier on tired hands.
People recommending the Kelpie… that’s funny… making recommendations based soley on the advertising…
Based on all of your criteria, I’d recommend the Shaw whistle.
You all have given me many whistles to consider and explanations why. That has provided much to consider when reviewing the information and availability of the variety of Low D whistles. And, in this quest I have learned much more about all whistles. I even learned of such a critter as the Low D harmonica, which I ordered a Seydel low d for me (since I play harmonica a bit). I guess it is time to quite procrastinating and pull the trigger on a Low D whistle.
Thanks, Brad
I went for the offer and to my suprise it arrived in the post this morning - I didn’t expect to receive it for a good few days with the Easter holiday and bank holidays too. My first impressions are that it’s a lovely whistle. It’s clogging a bit, but maybe that’s just me. I haven’t tried adjusting the head - I wondered about making my own C tube. Has anyone else tried that? I also didn’t realise that the £35 included postage - what a bargain!
So, here is what I did. When I dove in to the world of banjos, I decided to build one first. After a couple of months of researching banjos: what kind, what maker, how much money, I just built one. Then I “Got It”. After that I could see what all of the fuss is about, and why custom built one’s cost so much, etc…And since then have bought many banjos.
So, I downloaded Guido’s guide on How to, learned about online hole calculators, etc, and just built a couple of pvc Low D pipes. Guido says it takes about an hour to build one. Well it took 8 hours to make the first one, and the second one only about five hours. This includes the miscuts, and mistakes. Yes, they play, but,
NOW I GET IT!
This excersize along with all if the great information and recommendations you gave me will help me with my purchase. Thanks, folks.
Brad
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