I’m new to the whistle; prefer the lower keys to the upper keys, so purchasing a handful of cheapies to try out isn’t an option. I spent two wonderful weeks scouring C&F and other places for information and sound clips before choosing two low whistles to purchase.
Since I’m now in that nail-biting time of waiting for the whistles to arrive, I have to keep myself entertained by re-examining (not to mention making lists of future whistle purchases) all of the low whistle reviews and information.
But I’m finding that my impressions of whistle tones do not match what others have to say. For example, what one person called a fat sound, I called airy.
I’m guessing that some of this is still subjective - but from what I’ve read on C&F, there does seem to be some consensus on these definitions.
So, I was hoping you all could educate me on the terminology - What is a sweet sound, a complex sound, airy, breathy, undertones, overtones…etc. etc.
Then I am not expert, but I can help you in some things:
Breathy or airy sound: Breathy talks about to whistle with a very smooth and windy sound, like by the example a Clarke or Shaw. They are ideal for slow Slow Airs and songs.
Sweet sound: This word talks about a sweet sound and pure, like for example classic Clarke Sweetone or MEG, also whistle of PVC are others that also usually have a sound sweet. They do not have that characteristic Chiff or scrapes of others whistle like Walton `s, Feadog or Generation, etc.
Chiff o chaps sounds: it is the classic and traditional sound of one whistle, the one of the old bands like to The Dubliner, The Chieftains, or Wolfe Tones. It is a hot sound and rough, for my he is but the beautiful one. whistles of example can be: Dixon Trad, Feadog, Walton, Generation, Clare, etc.
If you’d like to hear a variety of whistles you should go to www.whistlethis.com It’s a great site where a song is chosen every month and whistlers get to record and share their interperetation of that tune. Maybe that can help you better understand the tonal qualities of different makes.
f.y.i. I tend to assign my own descriptions of a whistle’s sound based on how I feel about it. If I decide I don’t like a whistle I can always sell or trade it without losing much.
