Hi--
If you haven't checked it out already, there's chiffandfipple dot com.

In my experience with a sweet, a copeland, a susato, a clarke and a feadog, the b above the second d is a matter of confidence, relaxation, and zen. When my head is in the right place, it doesn't matter which whistle, the note is there. If, however, any distraction--infinitesimal though it may seem--intrudes on my mindset, the note is impossibly shrill and "breaks".

That having been said, I am at best a rudimentary whistle player, and that b is the absolute top of my whistling range. I have heard tell of higher notes, but have never achieved any of them on any whistle. I suspect I need more confidence, relaxation and zen to produce them.

On the recorder, I'm a bit more adept and experienced and have been able to reach any note I've needed. I don't seem to need as much confidence, relaxation and zen for recorder, though the more I have on tap the better I think play.

I admit, however, that the longer I play the whistles and the recorders, the less I like the way I sound...

I recently heard an experienced actor tell an understudy "get yer back into it", and when I tried that imagery, I found playing seemed better.

good luck--my $0.02, fwiw!

V