I would really like to have a whistle that doesn’t mind too much if I am lazy and don’t want to lift my first finger for the second octave D. I seem to be able to get away with not lifting on my Generation, and instead I am careful with breath control and there’s not much of a problem.
On the other hand my newly acquired Silkstone will chirp and spleaaahh quite readily if I don’t lift the first finger on the D, or unless I a am very very careful with breath control. What’s the deal? I will either have to learn to be very very careful with the air requirements , or I will have to go back and re-learn the tunes with the lifted first finger.
Do most whistles require a lifted first finger for D? I know it’s that way on most fingering charts, but what to do when going for speed?
Give it a little time before you give up on the Silkstone. It’s a very different whistle from a Generation. I had the same problem you have when I first got my Silkstone, but now I play Ds either way without a problem. In fact, I like the Silkstone because the finger down high D is very solid, stable and in tune.
I would’ve said the Silkstone is pretty forgiving about not venting the second-octave D, but you do have to move some air through it. I do have one or two whistles that are a bit touchy about it.
I was playing for years before I ever thought about venting the second-octave D. It just doesn’t seem necessary to me, plus I like the sound of the non-vented note better in most whistles.
interesting that this topic came up today. i just received a Busman in mopane. i was comparing it to some of my other favorites. i noticed that the Busman is quite forgiving about the D–really doesn’t seem to mind how i play it, and i do prefer to be lazy and flop that first finger down. but, in comparing, i realized that on another of my favored whistles i will have to pay much more attention, especially on airs, because, compared to the Busman it was sounding noticeably flat. nothing like educating one’s ear. by the way, that mopane is a beautiful wood–even more so than i expected.
I think the vented D sounds more open on my whistles–but the difference is very slight. BUT, I think a cut on a non vented D sounds noticably worse while a cut on a vented D sounds normal.
Sorry–can you believe this? I don’t even own a camera! I’m still breaking this whistle in, but I’ll write more later. Brewerpaul did comment that he needs to update his site with some more pix. As I understand it, mopane is popular as a substitute for blackwood but is supposed to lend a slightly softer tone. This whistle does have, to me, a very pleasing degree of “edginess,” but how much can be attributed to the wood v. the basic design I can’t say. Anyway, it is quite flexible and forgiving re D.
quite readily if I don’t lift the first finger on the D, or unless I a am very very careful with breath control. What’s the deal? I will either have to learn to be very very careful with the air requirements , or I will have to go back and re-learn the tunes with the lifted first finger.
