Hey guys, I’m new to the forums as well as the pennywhistle. In fact I’m so new I haven’t really played one yet and I’m trying to gather some advice on chosing them.
For a little background on me, my dad was/is a musician and so I grew up with music. I sing and have played guitar for 4-5 years and generally pick up instruments pretty fast. I figured out one of my favorite songs on piano (full chords both hands) in a day, basically the same thing on trumpet and ocarina. Taught myself to a competent level of guitar in 4 months or so. I tell you this not to be showy but just to let you know that I’m pretty musically confident and so the risk of whether I’ll really be serious about the pennywhistle or not is not a question. The fact is I love music and have chosen to take up and get serious about the pennywhistle next because I enjoy it very much. It is not only excellent, but as you could probably tell by my last name it’s part of my heritage.
So, with that in mind along with my musical knowledge I know I’ll want a few different keys from the start. Having listened to recordings of many different whistles I definitely enjoy the sound of Clarkes, though I haven’t heard a Sweetone yet. I like the idea of forcing myself to learn breath control a little more from what I’ve heard of Clarkes, as I learned to play guitar on a really bad one and it did me well. However I also think I would like to compare to a Sweetone, but on the whistles page it talked about tuning issues with them, especially in C. So I’d ask for advice on chosing original Clarke and Sweetones and which keys would be best for either, maybe Megs if you have any experience with them. I understand it’s not exactly objective, but I’d like to hear your opinions and reasons.
My second question is regarding Generations, from the recordings I’ve heard I really enjoyed the Bb generations, but there is that issue of it being hard to find a “good one” well my question is in what way the “bad ones” are bad. Are they bad as in sound, or as in difficulty of play?
At some point I’m certain I’ll want to get a Low D, but from what I’ve heard I’ll probably go for a more expensive brand and put a lot of consideration into it, but I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.
The whistle is an amazingly complex instrument from what it first seems.
Before you get a low D, try a low G or F. The transistion is better if you go from soprano D to soprano C to Bb to A to G to F to low E or D, instead of jumping straight from soprano D to low D.
Oh, common, Cran. Can it. Give the poor man some decent advice.
You’ll have a hard time finding a Gen Bb that won’t play. If they’re bad they may be a bit screetchy and the second octave can be weak. I wouldn’t hesitate to get one. If you don’t like it, let us know, we’ll tell you how to improve it. Chances that you get one that can’t be improved are slim.
I’d go with a Clark in D and a Clark in C, forget the Sweetone (that’s just my opinion; many people like the Sweetones for beginners).
Don’t get a low D for at least a year. Don’t bother with low G or F, no profit in it, imho. But get a good start on a hi D or C first.
Dan, welcome to the board, and as you can see, we have a varied contingent of opinions here !
I do like Sweetones, esp. for beginners. If you’re set on getting a Bb Generation, there is a man on this board named Jerry Freeman who tweaks Generations, Shaws, and even Sweetones. You can search the Archives to find info on that. They’re available at thewhistleshop.com. My tweaked Gen D is on the way!
D is the usual key if you want to play Celtic/Irish music, but I have them in different keys too just for the different sounds.
Enjoy whistling, sounds like you’ll pick it up quickly!
Bb generations are the most consistent,
as Bloomie says. Oaks are routinely
good D whistles, IMO. The Clarke
in C is tough going; the
Sweetone in D is routinely
playable, the Sweetone in C
is less good.
There is a whistle, the Clare, which
is good in D. These are all
inexpensive. Susatos are
playable but shrill in D,
better in C, I think.
Do get a high D, whatever
else you do. Welcome aboard, too.
I’m the kind of person who plans things out way ahead of time then kinda just goes with whatever feels right from what he’s gathered when he gets there. Where I am right now I’ll start with a Clarke D, Gen Bb, Walton C, maybe something else if I get the cash (yeah I’m slightly poor at the moment, being around the holidays and all)
Then further down the road I’d probably want to get Shaw D and (later on) Low D both tweaked by Jerry. And I’ll no doubt want to try different high D’s to get a feel for things but which ones, whether I get them tweaked or not, etc, is up in the air. Same for other popular keys like Eb, I’ll like to hear more first. I do have my eyes on the Copeland A.
What may be incredibly useful is any known resources for sound clips of various whistles. Currently I still don’t even have a real solid idea of the difference between Nickel and Brass. Also while I personally enjoy the breathy tone of a Clarke in some recordings I’ve heard, I’d imagine that on paticularly speedy reels it would probably be a good thing to minimize so each note gets it’s own clearly defined place.
But ultimately if we’re (for the most part) talking cheap whistles, I’ve certainly spent a lot more money on videogames in the past, so I’m not too disconcerted by the idea of getting various whistles and experimenting, maybe even a touch of WhOA. But for the start here I would like to pick whatever would help my learning experience the most.
I added the above quote because I agree- it’s hard to describe- but… I’ll have a go , and remember this is just my opinion-
My nickel whistles are clearer sounding, but also are “slick” to the touch.
My brass whistles are a bit more complex in tone, and you can get a “grip” on them- of course I’m also of the “patina” loving school, never polishing my brass whistles. :roll:
I personally prefer the brass, both in sound and touch.
I see you’ve already gotten some excellent advice. However, while you’re at it, just go ahead and get a Sweetone. What do you have to lose, $6 or something? The difference between a guitar, piano, etc. and a whistle is that you have to learn how to get a nice tone out of it. I’d played saxophone for more than 10 years, but it still was a little bit of a learning curve to adjust to the whistle, and the sweetone is good for that first month (or longer) of adjustment, even for a wind player. It’s nice to have a good whistle that you absolutely can play no matter what, and that’s what a sweetone is good for. So, bite the bullet and order one of those, too.
Have fun, I started about a year ago and am having a great time with this little thing called a tinwhistle!
Once you learn to relax while playing, you will drop the nickel plated ones because they are so slippery. I usually rub some beeswax where my thumbs rest if I use a nickel plated whistle.
Some people say they can hear a little difference between brass and nickel plate. To me, the nickel plate sounds just a little brighter, more edgy, more strident. This is very subtle, but I think I can hear a little difference. And like they’re saying, nickel is slippery.
I know Shaws are a bit more money, but they are better made IM very 'umble O and from the very few I’ve tried certainly better in the second octave. And if you have a problem, you can always get Doc Jerry Freeman to look at them for you.
Welcome on board, Dan. For what it’s worth I like the sound of the Bb Gen (just hate the aesthetics of primary coloured plastic).
