Newbie: Volume difference between high and low notes?

Whistle
1

Hello! I’m a newbie. Please be gentle. :slight_smile:

I’ve been practicing for a few weeks now and I’m hooked. But I’m learning from books and videos, so I’m often not confident that I’m doing it right.

My first question is about the volume of low vs high notes. Is there supposed to be such a big difference in volume between the low end and the high end? The way I’m playing it now, a low D might be heard across the room, but I think a high G might wake the neighbors. (Especially on my shiny new Susato Oriole, which is quite loud compared to my Walton and Sweetone.) Is that normal, or am I doing it wrong?

Thank you!

2

Hi, and welcome. :slight_smile:

It’s normal, sometimes a 20-30 dB difference.

3

Welcome!

This volume difference can vary greatly, depending on the whistle. To some degree, with experience you can learn to narrow the gap.

4

Ah, good to know.

Thanks for the feedback! :slight_smile:

5

Tricky Widget,
Nothing to add to what MTGuru and Paul had to say other than welcome and nice to have you join us here on C & F. :thumbsup:

Cheers,
Cayden

6

You’ve already stumbled on one of the reasons whistle-players acquire so many whistles, even in the same key: one to be sound and true in the upper register, one to be strong and resonant in the lower register, and one to be a balanced compromise across both registers…