I play on an American Indian flute and love the ease of play and the full rich tone. It is a walnut 6-hole flute, although I only use five holes with the sixth covered.
Anyway, on to my question. I love the sound of the low D pennywhistle from Riverdance, etc. I’ve been reading and researching and understand the reach for the holes is somewhat difficult and that the whistle takes a LOT of air to play. (I own 3 smaller pennywhistles and enjoy playing on them also) I just thought it would be nice to have a flute/whistle just like the american indian flute with holes that would allow the notes of the tinwhistle. I mean, constructed and set up more similar to the american indian flute. The indian flute is soooooooo easy to play and makes you feel like you must only barely breathe into it for it to sound good. Why the difference between the two instruments, such that the “low” whistle would require so much more air?
I’m sure I just don’t understand something about it, but I would love to have a wood low D whistle that plays as easy and beautifully as my american indian flute. Has anyone ever tried to make such? Maybe from an indian flute “perspective” of construction? Maybe they are made different internally?
Anyone have the time to educate me on why a low whistle can’t be made to play as easily? I would appreciate it greatly.
Another thought. Take one step at a time and get a Freeman Tweaked Generation Bb. It gets you halfway there, plus a little practice on a wider reach and perhaps even a bit of a pipers grip, and the Bb Generation has a great voice for the money.
Gary has an Ebay shop that primarily sells Woodsounds Native American Flutes made by Brent Haines; however, he recently had a wooden pennywhistle offered on his site (I think Brent was trying out a pennywhistle design). According to the item description, the whistle was modeled on the specifications of a Chieftain Low D and from listening to the sound clip it sounded like a woodsy version of a Chieftain Low D. The look of the whistle, though, was more that of a Native American flute.
I think the whistle I’m talking about has now sold, but Gary will take custom orders and work with you and Brent to design what you want, so they may be able to help you come up with the Whistle/Flute design along the lines of what you want.
Thank you all for your response. I’ll look into each answer and consider what to do first. Gary Leathem’s idea definately sounds similar to what I’ve been wondering about.
Thanks Again!
Of course, I’m still open for more comments and help.
Hello Lobo, and welcome to the forum. The Native American Flute (NAF) and the Low Whistle are two very different designs, and will not sound the same because of it. The low whistle has more volume too, which is good, since many times they are played with louder instruments. The NAF is more of a solo and meditative instrument, but still can be played with other instruments, just not a large group or session. The overall voice or tone, is different too.
There are makers of NAF’s that do make diatonically tuned flutes, with the same scale as the low whistle, so that they can play more easily with other instruments that will be in accompaniment. You just have to search these makers out, because not many do make them. Most just make the pentatonic scale flutes, like yours. Gfleatham on Ebay has some very nice NAFs, but also very expensive. You can probably find one for less, if your budget is such.
So, if you want to play Irish music, then the low whistle is the voice you want, but if you want to play music in the style of the NAF’s, with that tone, then look for one made the same way. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to play both, but one is not a good substitute for the other. Of course, you can have both and still be happy! As mentioned, a wooden or composite low whistle will sound more mellow like the NAF, and a metal low whistle will have that Riverdance tone.
By the way, stop over to the Chiff Native American Flute Forum and say hello-the link is at the bottom of my post.
I should mention though that the moment you try a Chieftain low D you’ll have no have other whistle and long for it constantly. I might finally get mine this week.
Amen. I have my share of Chieftains and the rest of Phil Hardy’s whistles and one of the great things is that you can switch between OS, NR, Gold Chieftains, Songbird, and Kerry Pro and the fingering is darned close to identical.
I tried several Chieftains when I was in Ireland. I would say they are nice, but there are better options at the price (i.e.: Burkes if you are new to low whistles). The tuning wasn’t as on as I like it, the voice is not to my taste, and the playability is pretty good.
However, they take much less wind relative to other low whistles - so if you’ve challenged lungs, a Chieftain would be a good pick.
Lobo