I’m struggling to describe the sound quality I’d like to be able to get, but some players can coax a barking sound out of a lower whistle without it jumping an octave.
Is there a technique for doing this?
Thanks, John
I found that giving the dog a kick up the arse usually produces a bark - if not a bite 
That bark you describe might be a note just on the point of breaking into the upper register. With practice you can get a bit of the upper and lower register into the note. It will take a bit of tongue to get it-- I don’t think you can play these notes legato (at least I can’t).
Another interesting technique is to humm into the whistle as you play the notes. Usually you hum the same note you’re playing which gives the note a sort of buzzing quality. You can hear Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull doing this sometimes and in limited amounts it’s quite effective.
Thanks Paul - It does sound like a stacotto technique. I appreciate the help (and really like the blackwood whistle you made me a couple of years ago)!
Best, John
1-Is this bark relegated only to low d whistles or can it be produced on soprano whistles?
2-Does this bark seem to be relatively consistent throughout a piece?
3-Related to Question 2- is this bark very much in line with the rhythm of the whole piece?
If it’s what I’m thinking…what your’re looking for is a breathing technique
Thanks, but can you elaborate?
look at my post before the one you referenced!
OK Thanks!!!
So, what’s your advice for playing at a higher tempo? Move your fingers faster?
I don’t know much about low whistles but the going knowledge here concerning them is that you should become a tree, preferably a palmtree, I am sure that will sort out the bark. 
jmccain: If you just answer the questions I presented maybe I can help you decipher what your looking for, because it doesn’t sound like tounging technique to me. Either way, no biggie to me.
if this is a jump between octaves…playing a lowish note and briefly hitting the same note but higher then I am an expert !!! Sadly , it always happens by accident! It sounds great much of the time but it has never occured to me to have a go at it deliberately…probably won’t be able to do it ..Les.
if this is a jump between octaves…playing a lowish note and briefly hitting the same note but higher then I am an expert !!! Sadly , it always happens by accident! It sounds great much of the time but it has never occured to me to have a go at it deliberately…probably won’t be able to do it ..Les.
I do this sometimes with the last D note in Maid behind the bar (and some other tunes that I can’t think of at the moment)..i think it makes it sound flutey. In actually, it probably just makes it sound like I can’t play the whistle very good 
No question that my description is lacking. It’s a sound that I’ve heard quite a few whistle players use (Seamus Egan & Rory Campbell of the Old Blind Dogs to name a couple). It may not be specific to low whistle, but it’s when I notice it.
It’s a louder accent, with a bit of distortion/overblowing very close to what Paul noted.
My question, evidently poorly asked, is whether there is a specific technique, or set of directions for getting it. I realize it’s likely to do with attack or breathing.
Thanks, John
You briefly lift and replace the chanter from the popping strap on the octave notes E F# and G. 
Oops, wrong forum!
Is it similar to what Sean Potts and Paddy Maloney do on their “Tinwhistles” album?
Or, is it like the “swell” you can get on the Michael Burke AL-PRO Low whistles?
The one I got, he designed for airs and you can “swell” the notes without breaking the octave and with very little change in pitch, but some notes take a different fingering to get it than what you have available on the high whistle.
It does require pretty precice breath pressure and proper tonguing to play it fast, though.
try ‘huffing and puffing’ at a regular rhythm into the whistle while playing the tune. it’s an old school style which should produce some interesting effects, one being the bark. other’s being ghost notes and rhythmic backing.
A full moon and either an entire bottle of red wine or a full glass of good whiskey…
Philo
“Writing about music is like dancing about architecture” - Elvis Costello
Pete D’s description (huffing and puffing) is as good a description as any, and brewerpaul points out that tonguing the beginning of the note is also important in getting it to bark. Here’s the best bark I can do:
Caribou Reel w/some barks 2nd time through (MP3)
(Copeland low D brass, although I can do it fairly well on my Susato too)
David Lovrien
Gallus