Why is it recomended that a beginner learn tunes on the D whistle?
Most thankfully,
W B
This suggestion is targeted to a (at least one) specific group of learners: Irish traditional music enthusiasts. The reason is that most tunes are in the keys of D major (and it’s minor modes) and G major (and it’s minor modes). The key of G can be crossfingered on the whistle by using this fingering (oxxooo) to get the C natural.
If you had interests in music that, for example, most tunes are in B flat and E flat, then a B flat whistle would be a better choice. Most of the tutor packages (book/cassette/CD/CD-ROM) focus on the Irish music. Bill Ochs’ Clarke Tinwhistle tutorial includes English, Scottish and American (and maybe welsh) music that all follow the same keys as are accessable to the D whistle.
Also, the UP board gets much less traffic than the Poststructural whistle board. You’re whistle questions would be exposed to a much larger group of folks over there.
Cheers.
You’ve been most helpful. However the pipes do have two more , note-holes, for lack of a better term, than the whistle. How again does this prepare an Ullieann pipe student with regards to the fingering aspect?
W B
While it is true that a whistle is no substitute for a chanter, about 60-70% of D whistle fingerings work on the chanter, and they share the same range. Many piping ornaments can be learned on the whistle, and the whistle is the easiest way to learn irish music.
If you didn’t grow up playing irish music on the whistle, or if you’re not a very musical person but would like to become one, the whistle is the least expensive and traumatic way to do so.
Trying to learn irish music AND pipes simultaneously is very difficult for adult learners, especially adult learners with no prior musical training.
Well said Pat.
At first, the question looked to be off-topic.
WB there are two other products that have correct pipe fingering but one is in the key of A and the other has an imperfect plastic reed. Starting with a whistle in D will get you learning music for much less money.
Thank you very much for your imput. I have been playing GHB for about eight years and have a stong grasp of GHB notation. I studied standard notation in highschool , but it certainly does not come to me very quickly. I have much to learn. Also, for the first time in my life , I am not sure what to do with my mouth.
Thank You again,
WB