Starting out.. What key would you recommend to learn first?

Whistle
1

I have hopes of playing with some fiddle and such over time. What key would you learn first. I am playing a low D since that is the tone I gravitated too. D is an easy key to pick up on tunes for myself at the moment, but don’t know if that is a key that is played in sessions. I tend to play more celtic tunes.

Thanks in advance.
Curt

2

Keep in mind that the whistle is a diatonic instrument for the most part. Learning to play on a D whistle will allow you to play all tunes in D and G for starters.

If you want to learn the same tune in F, say…go buy an F whistle (but dear god, get a low F or you will just torture all the dogs on your block) and play it the same you would if it were in D.

Switching whistles is an auto-transpose. Honestly though, for at least your first year, just stick to a D whistle. PERHAPS get a C. I practice on a C whistle quite a bit, as it’s just a little darker and easier on the ears of my family. Then I just pick up a D whistle and BINGO…instant transpose.

Hope this helps

3

Scheky’s on the mark.

A ‘D’ whistle will do almost everything you need in a session, (plays in keys of D, G, A and relative minors). Pick up a cheap C for or Bb for playing at home, as it’s mellower and more soothing. Fingering is the same regardless of size/key of whistle.

Enjoy! :party:

4

I think a D would be enough, but with a D/C/Eb set you’d be ready to rock :smiley:

5

Thanks so much for the advice.

Curt