Which key whistle: C or Bb?

Whistle
1

Hi. I have a chance to get a new whistle for the upcoming holidays. I already have a couple of nice D sopranos, a low D, and an A whistle that I like. I have a Bb by Generation but it just isn’t any fun to play. I’ve had other Gens as well and I’m just not that big of a fan for the way they play.

I can’t decide on which key to get. I play some slow airs and I want a key that is more toned down and less bright than a soprano D. I have the A which is nice, but I want something a little smaller in size than the A, and with a more mellow tone than a soprano D. Is a Bb too close in tone to an A? I can’t tell with the Gen because it plays poorly. Or what about getting a C for what I want to play? Any views or suggestions for me really would be appreciated!

2

My view would be C - you can easily play in keys of C and F, it´s crucial for playing tunes with no sharps.

But since you have all these whistles, maybe you could buy something better (I haven´t found any Clarke or Generation, which would be fully in tune)

3

You’ll probably get at leat one of each eventually. Just toss a coin. Both are great keys. IMO Bb is quite different from A and it’s worth having some even if you don’t play with other musicians.

4

I went through this decision a little over a year ago. I finally decided that the somewhat lower tone was a priority for me. The C was close to D, the Bb was close to A (which I also had), but in the end, lower was what I liked better.

BUT…

Adrian is right. You’ll eventually want both, so don’t look at this like it’s the last whistle you’ll be buying.

I already have a Bb, but I’m eyeing an Impempe Bb now. Trying to work out the logistics.

5

I have a Generation Bb and a Susato Dublin C, I love them both, but the sound of the Susato is incredible, and not too loud. The price is just u$s 21,90, so it’s not that expensive.
Here’s an example of the sound http://www.whistlethis.com/index.php?content=YkdsemRHVnU%3D&utid=TVRJeU1nPT0%3D

6

Do you play alone or do you play along with other or recorded music?

Do you play for others to sing to?

7

Bb is hard to beat.

8

I’ve used C way more when playing with others but I love to play my Gen Bb on my own.

9

both

10

The C is good for fast tunes, like reels and jigs, the Bb rocks for ballads and slow airs.

11

I really doubt the Generation plays poorly… Unless you have some plastic gunk in the fipple etc.. But I have a bunch of Gens, and the Bb in brass is one of my favorites to play. If you’ve never played Generations before, they’re going to play “poorly”, simply because they’re not so forgiving as say a Clarke Sweetone - One has to learn to play them…

If you’re asking which key between Bb and C would be more useful in a session, I would have to say C over Bb.

If you want my opinion, for a mellow but still somewhat bright key, B would be the way to go. :slight_smile:

12

I really hated my Generation Bb too. I’m mostly a flute player but recently I got out my Bb and wow! I really love it now! What happened to it?

13

Nothing happened to it, YOU happened to it. By becoming a better wind player. Simple as that. :smiley:

14

Thanks to everybody for your replies. Your comments helped me make my decidion. You are right, I will someday have tin whistles in both keys. I am going to put a Bb whistle on my Christmas list this year because it will probably sound the best with the slower tunes that I like to play.

15

No problem, it was a pleasure answering… oh.

16

The Bb really shines with slow tunes, airs and praise music. You’ll love it! I play my Bb more than anything else.

17

Remember, the world is actually tuned to Bb (as opposed to B, which has been stated before). Black Holes vibrate at Bb.

It’s a wonderful key.

18

This weekend I bought a C. I like it more than my Bb. It’s nickel and seems to have a really nice sound to it. It almost feels like the D to hold it, and it has the same brightness, but it’s just that much lower so as to remove all the shrill piercing tones from the top that break your ear drums.

I also bought an Eb. You’d think half a tone wouldn’t make a lot of difference, but man does that thing hurt my ears!

19

I love, just love my Gen Bb, it is known to be the best Gen in the range. I tweaked mine a bit: I put it for 30 secs in hot water (just not boiling) and got off the fipple. Then I put in some putty underneath the windway and with a smaller whistle I got rid of the little redundant pieces of plastic. Then I put the fipple back on. Now I have a much more stable and tunable whistle with a very storng bellnote and in tune and with a strong note throughout the 2 octaves.