I’ve been playing a Susato Oriole (high D) for a while, but I’m really struggling with the upper register. The high notes sound very impure, airy, and often break.
I know Susatos are known for needing good breath control, but I’m not sure if it’s my technique, the whistle itself, or something like moisture buildup in the windway.
I’ve tried using faster, more focused air and tightening my embouchure, but the issue persists. Does anyone have specific advice for taming the Oriole’s high end? Or could there be an issue with the fipple/blade that I should check?
I don’t play much on high whistles, and don’t have an Oriole, but you could try backing off on the breath pressure in the second octave, instead of blowing harder; blow softer and see if that helps. And if it’s moisture, then blow it out more often (finger over the windway) and see if that helps? You also might try the search function with “second octave notes”, or the like, since it’s been discussed before for various whistles. Good breath support with your diaphragm helps always too. A teacher is even better!
Thank you so much for your help! This issue has been bothering me for days and I couldn’t figure it out.
Unfortunately, the YouTube link you shared is blocked in China, so I can’t open it. But I will definitely try your suggestion of blowing softer. After reading your reply, I now realize that I was indeed blowing too hard and too fast. Most tin whistle tutorials in China teach that you need to blow faster for the high notes, so that’s what I followed.
I’m a self-taught beginner, and without a teacher, I often feel lost and stuck. I really appreciate your advice!
Also, please excuse me—this reply is translated by an online translator. My English is not good, so if some sentences sound strange, I hope you’ll understand. Thank you again!
I will also try searching the forum for those old discussions about second octave notes that you mentioned. Hopefully I can find more useful tips there.
Thank you for your reply! I checked my mouthpiece carefully and didn’t find any molding flash or burrs. The overall build quality is actually very good - no visible flaws at all. So I guess the issue is more about my technique than the whistle itself. I’ll keep practicing!
Just one more question - since you had a good experience with the Oriole Bb, did you find it needed a specific breath pressure for the high notes? Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
This might sound odd, but have you tried ignoring the annoying sound and just carrying on playing?
Even after three years of learning I still tend to over-tighten my diaphragm muscles at the start of a practice session. It throws the tuning off and makes the whistle sound rough. It takes at least 10 – 15 minutes to fully warm up the muscles and (equally importantly) to relax into playing.
When I first started learning, the high notes sounded terrible before I’d warmed up. It also took longer then than it does now, so some days I only got a few minutes of warmed-up playing time before I began to tire and make mistakes. After the first few months, the playing period gradually got longer and longer.
On the other hand, it might be the whistle and not your technique. If you bought two identical whistles from the same maker you’d probably find they don’t play quite the same, and if you’re unlucky one of them will be a really poor example. It might be worth trying another whistle to see if the problem persists.
If you can’t borrow one, there are makers in China producing very inexpensive tin whistles. I’ve tried a couple and they weren’t bad – played in tune, and a similar sound to the cheap whistles produced by Generation etc. One of those might help you find out where the problem is, even if you decide you don’t like the tone very much.
Thank you for sharing your experience! I think you’re absolutely right about the warm-up. I usually pick up the whistle and start playing right away - I never thought about needing to warm up my muscles first. I’ll try taking 10-15 minutes to relax and warm up before playing the high notes.
I also appreciate the suggestion about trying another whistle. A cheap local one might be a good way to test if the problem is me or my Oriole. I’ll look into that!
All great replies, and some new suggestions that sound promising, good on you guys! Anyway, it might help going over this old thread I found in a search; lots of replies and other ideas as well, here:
Thank you for digging up that old thread for me! I’ll read through it carefully and see if I can pick up any useful tips.
By the way, the idea of practicing the melody in the lower octave first to get familiar with the fingerings sounds really practical. I’ll try that too!
Really appreciate you taking the time to help a beginner!
Thanks for the tip about gentle tonguing! I’ll try that next time I struggle with the high notes. Since I’m just a beginner playing for fun, I don’t think I need to worry too much about what the purists think
Also, sorry if my previous reply looked strange - my translator got stuck and repeated the same sentence many times. I didn’t mean to do that!
