What’s the purpose of a Bb whistle?
Ah…what’s the purpose of a “D” whistle?
This sounds like a trick question…
Playing in Bflat and Eflat?
that seemed too easy an answer for me…
I thought it was to provide us an excuse for another “whistle keys leading in to modes in Irish music” thread.
It’s an honest question. Are there many tunes in that key? Is this a key people sing in? Or is it just that it’s lower and sounds more mellow? I was just curious. I did buy one, but because I wanted to stretch my fingers. Doesn’t seem like the real reason for having one to me!
I think Mr. Laban is getting soft. 
I have the two Bb Gens. available. Save for a little plastic in the heads that took about one minute worth of effort clean they were good right out of the barrel.
Keep playing it.
I eventually understood why some people like them.
Hmmmm…
I agree Tommy!
Here’s my honest opinion/thoughts(the sarcasm has already been spoken for). I keep several whistles in several keys, including Bb, for the following reasons:
A) I play solo alot and I enjoy the different characters a given whistle can lend to a tune.
B) I can play along with other musicians who are more comfortable in other keys. For example, a guitar player knows a tune(let just throw out The Kesh) in Bb, I can play it on my Bb whistle without transposing…or making the poor guy use a capo.
That’s my reasons…other than pure obsession!
I love the sound of a Bb whistle. That’s reason enough.
One purpose (not yet mentioned) of Bb in general is to drive alligators mad :
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7442915
I’m not certain what this implies for Bb whistles.
Having given my smart-a** answer, I’ll give another, more reasonable one. I got a Generation Bb becaused it was lower and sounded more mellow and because I wanted to stretch my fingers. So, your reasons sound perfectly real to me!
As for the earlier sarcasm, that comes free of charge with membership in the forum - welcome to C&F, sb.
According to the link, black holes hum in Bb so there is yet another use for a Bb whistle.
I’m not certain what this implies for Bb whistles.
a. Don’t play your Bb whistle around uncaged alligators.
b. Do carry your Bb on your next interstellar voyage.
Wait! Whoa! Could the Ressikan Flute be tuned to the unplayably low Bb of the black holes? Maybe it is solid with no holes for a REASON!
At http://www.guitarnut.com/folktablature/ you will find wonderful versions of the Battle Hymn of the Republic and Silent Night in Bb. Reason enough to own one.
I keep a Bb around because I love the sound.
I also like to use one for practicing GHB tunes without a crummy sounding practicve chanter. I took a Gen. Bn in brass, cleaned off the laquer (or whatever they coat the darn things in), soldered on an extention, and drilled a hole for the low note blow the tonic. I also gave it a good tuning slide. Now, I can practice GHB tunes a bit quieter, play along with CDs (hence the tuning slide’s necessity, as there tends to be some varriation 
) and also with a GHB piper live , it makes for a really cool sound IMHO.
I guess there’s also some “flat set” mentality, and i also do mostly solo stuff, so I like doing airs and things on it. Works well in church too for softer background behind prayers, offering, etc. Tommy Reck recorded a nice version of “Alexander’s Hornpipe/O’Higgins” on a flat set that is a bit slower, and sounds nice on the Bb whistle.
oh, and while I was doing a demonstration of Irish music at my old middle school, I found out that their bells ring in Bb. At the local highschool, its a few cents sharp of C.
Geeze! You’re always so darned contrary and verbose.
I would have said “Playing in Bflat.”
mmm it can be that low is the sound but similar to low whistle. In addition it is in fashion, all use it. xD 
hi
I think the Bb and Eb whisltes (Generations especially) would have been intended to be played with brass and reed instruments - like the kwela players in S. Africa did.
In Scotland, we also have a large family of fiddle tunes in Bb and Gmin, for which I’ve found the Bb essential.
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