Ok. This might seem a stupid question to some but I am confused as to why there are so many different key whistles. I know it has something to do with scales but does it match with sharps and flats. The D whistle does f# and c#. I now have a whistle in each key. They breed like midgies in Scotland here. How do I work out what plays what?
Hi Selkie ~ Shortly after I started whistling some kind soul on this board sent me little “cheat sheet” which I use to this day…although I’m finally learning.
4 #'s = E or B
3 #'s = A or E
2 #'s = D
1 # = G (D)
1 b = F or C
2 b’s = Eb
3 b’s = Bb
Hope this helps. I stapled this inside my whistle case for quick reference. Good luck! Gm
Whistle keys are the same as major scales:
C = no sharps or flats
G = f sharp
D = f and c
A = f c and g
E = f c g and d
B = f c g d and a
F = b flat
Bb = b and e
Eb = b e and a
Ab = b e a and d
Db = b e a d and g
You can go one sharp fewer or one flat more (up the sharp list or down the flat list) by cross-fingering.
Charlie
What??? You didn’t like my simple “cheat sheet”, Charlie? I was just trying to show what whistle to use according to how many sharps or flats were in the tune. Gm
Selkie,
Keep the charts. There a big help. But if your question is more “why are there different keys”? then here’s is how I understand it:
The key that you use to play a tune is not a big deal, unless you are playing with other musicians. Then everyone agrees on a key to play in.
When my niece plays an air on her “C” recorder, I can just use my “C” whistle to play along. I don’t have to think about sharps and flats. Trying to use the “D” whistle would just be too complicated.
bye
bill
Right. Different whistles play
in differen keys. So the D whistle gets you
D, G, and A (plus e modal),
the G whistle gets you G, C, and
E. When I’m playing with other musicians
and they play in C, say, I can’t follow them
on a D whistle. That’s why there
are so many keys.
If you wish to pusue understanding scales, keys, modes and whistling even further, I’d recommend 2 sites:
- Jos H. Hindriks has written and excellent article on Irish](http://www.geocities.com/novairishsession/modes/modes.html%3EIrish) Modes and the “D” Tin Whistle
- Teoria books has Online](http://www.teoria.com/reference/index.htm%3EOnline) Muisc Theory Reference that provides fairly easy lessons on intervals, chords, and scales.
Hope this helps you …
Selkie,
Once you have learned the fingering for a tune on the D whistle, you can play it on whistles of other sizes (in other keys) using the same fingering. It is not necessary to know the names of the notes on the other whistles. (eg: one finger down would be B on a D whistle or “a B fingering” on a C/Eb/F/Bb whistle.) At sessions, 99% of all tunes will fit on your D whistle. Sometimes a singer will sing lower or higher than what fits on the D whistle so you will have to change to a different whistle. (Unless the singer or a guitarist knows the new key, you will have to figure out which whistle by trial and error - or use the opportunity to take a few swigs from your Guiness!
On 2002-02-11 22:37, Grannymouse wrote:
What??? You didn’t like my simple “cheat sheet”, Charlie? I was just trying to show what whistle to use according to how many sharps or flats were in the tune. Gm
I hope you’re just giving me a hard time, but since there are no smilies in the message indicating that it’s in jest, I will respond.
I have nothing against your cheat sheet, and I didn’t say a thing disparaging about it, so I don’t know why you would get the impression that I don’t like it. I gave a more detailed response; some people like to know details. What you posted is easier to remember, what I posted is more complete – I don’t view either as better, they’re just different. Other people have posted other valid, still different responses.
Charlie