Tuning an Irish whistle

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 09 Jan 05 - 11:53 PM

... or just turn the whole whistle 180 degrees around and then wrap your hands around it... certainly makes people stop and look! Takes a little practice though... :-)

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: Leadfingers
Date: 09 Jan 05 - 10:29 PM

The problem with 'Cheap' whistles (and a few pricey ones) is the cost of decent Quality Control . This results in a lot of totally unplayable whistles on the market !

And IF you have a whisle with a movable mouthpiece and you HAVE to play outdoors in a wind , just move the mouthpiece through 180 degrees to minimise wind effect !

Subject: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Jan 05 - 04:46 PM

Is it possible to have a penny whistle in tune with itself? I have several, and there are some nasty wolf tones on them all.

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 11:18 PM

G'day Foolesptroupe,

" ... I also have the Overton "Overtone" which is a Low G length whistle with no fingerholes - played by cupping the palm of one hand around the bottom end and waggling it about - reminds me of a Theremin!!! I think this is harder to play than the "backwards whistle" mentioned above... :-) "

Hmmm ... That's something I noticed when I made my first low "G" whistle in 1965. Before I had drilled any finger holes, I was just tuning its length against a Hohner low "G" I had bought in Melbourne (not a good idea, as I later discovered: the Hohners were all tuned about "Old High Pitch" / "Kneller Hall Pitch" ... A = 454 Hz!) and I discovered the whistle would play a full harmonic series ... unfortunately, I never tried modifying the output with my cupped palm! (But I might try it, with masking tape over all the finger holes of one of my low "G"s ... sometime.)

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 07:42 PM

Pied Piper

so there must be a market for these then? :-)

Robin

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: Pied Piper
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 03:27 PM

Absolutely Foolestroupe; I find 3 holes on the top MUCH easyer to play than the trad arrangement.
TTFN
PP

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: GUEST,Richard H
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 10:10 AM

Just to bring this full circle:
I never got the mpc off the Walton. Someone gave me another Walton which is in good pitch. I now have "whistles coming out the wazoo" according to one daughter.
I played recorder most of the night. The Hohner was in fine fettle.
Made an ass of myself as usual on the hornpipes which always get too fast for my fingers.
Fields of Athenry was the most requested song but the Walton's medley of Galway Piper/Tell me ma/Mairi's wedding received favourable yowling.
It bad enough trying to find time to breathe in a hornpipe; when a young lady is puffing clouds of smoke right next to you, it's murder.
1st and 2nd place in the limerick contest went to Brits. A guy from Ottawa was third with: "There was an old hermit named Dave, who kept a dead whore in his cave. He said,'I admit, I'm a bit of a twit, but think of the money I save.'"

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 08:46 AM

Actually, Blackcatter, I have seen some Brisbane Irish Players drill a hole on the back, between the top two holes, for the thumb to get that flattened 7th... :-)

Btw, I have a Generation (same length as a normal D) Tabor Pipe with the traditional two finger holes in the front and one behind for the thumb, but I find this intensely difficult to play, probably due to my minor MMD - I find that I if I just tape over the top 3 holes of a normal whistle I can easily get a Tabor Pipe that way - it's just overblows! Incidentally, I find that with some whistles, it's just as easy to play the whole second and third octaves "Tabor Pipe" fashion - keep the top 3 fingers in place and just do the overblows.

I also have the Overton "Overtone" which is a Low G length whistle with no fingerholes - played by cupping the palm of one hand around the bottom end and waggling it about - reminds me of a Theremin!!! I think this is harder to play than the "backwards whistle" mentioned above... :-)

Robin

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: Blackcatter
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 02:11 AM

Yea Gods Robin - the reason I play whistle is that it's a simple instrument!

Next you're going to say that you've experimented with drilling a couple extra holes - one on the opposite side, just above the top hole, and one just below the bottom hole and a little to the left (if you're looking at the whistle).

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 17 Mar 04 - 07:16 PM

Actually, I can play a whistle upside down - no - not from the bottom you fools - although THAT's a thought.... no, and not from MY bottom...

You hold the whistle in one hand, then roll it around so that the holes face your chest with your fingers still covering the holes, then apply the other hand so it wraps around to where the fingers go... your wrist have to tuck under... and your elbows stick out in front like a crazy chicken...

I didn't say it was easy..

Robin

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: Pied Piper
Date: 17 Mar 04 - 11:10 AM

More completely turn the Fipple away from the wind direction.
TTFN
PP

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: Blackcatter
Date: 17 Mar 04 - 10:12 AM

I've never tried that as well Vixen. Sounds interesting though.

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: Vixen
Date: 17 Mar 04 - 08:49 AM

Whoa!

What's that about turning the mouthpiece upside down when playing outdoors???? Please tell me more! It seems like a logical idea, placing the blade and window in a more sheltered location by your chin, but doesn't it change the embouchure, tonguing, and breath flow? And it must "feel" strange...

Reynaud and I play outdoors (weddings, ren fairs, etc.) and I have all but given up on the pw and recorder when it's breezy, because sometimes I get note when I blow, and sometimes it's the the right one (though usually not) but mostly I get sudden silences and odd shrill and swooping notes. (I don't think it's my playing, because I don't have these problems indoors, or when the air is calm!)

I'm at work now, without a whistle to try it out on, and now I can't wait to get home and see if this really works...

V

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 17 Mar 04 - 07:31 AM

Blackcatter

you may be right. The few times I have done it, I merely ran some warmish water (not boiling) from the hot water tap thru the mouthpiece fipple hole. Then I took some ice on the barrel, and using a tea towel, twisted. The parts disassociated. I found it useful to wrap a small amount of that white plumbers teflon thread sealing tape around the barrel - it stops things from sliding around too much.

Robin

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: Blackcatter
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 03:30 PM

Hey Foolestroupe,

You're basically right, but the process of using hot water is meant to melt the glue - the glue is basically that kind of "hot melt glue" that craftpeople use in the little glue guns. Reheating it melts it and makes it easy to remove.

Usually the potential problem is that the water is too hot and may melt parts of the plastic mouthpiece (such as the thin edge that actually makes the sound). This may ruin the sound of the whistle.


It's also possible to return wistles that are considered out of tune. I have done this with Generations, which have a reputation for being hit or miss in quality. But I play Generations for two reasons - the good ones are wonderful, and they are about the only inexpensive brand to make a whole bunch of different keys. You can get a set of 6 different keys for around $25. I had to return 2, but got back good ones the first time.

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: InOBU
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 02:03 PM

I will give a demo of tuning a tin whistle at....SORCHA DORCHA will be at the HALF KING restaurant and pub, this Wends. Saint Patrick's Day on 23rd street between 10th and 11th Ave. from 7 pm to 10 ... As expected Lorcan Otway on vocals uilleann pipes flute whistle bodhran and the great Jane Kelton on flute whistle and key board, Seanin An Fear on Mandolin, Joe Charupakorn on guitar... the joint is already rumbling, so stay from Give us a drink of water to An Phis Fluich, all yer ol' favs...
Cheers, Is mise, le meas, Lorcan Otway

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 08:56 AM

The point about hot water, cold sprays, etc, is to remember the basic physics. The metal tube will expand and contract more than the plastic mouthpiece, which is OUTSIDE it. So with the hot water, the trick is to get more of it on the plastic - which conducts heat slowly, and if using cold, to get more of it on the metal, which conducts heat rapidly. If you put too much heat on the metal, you may crack the plastic mouthpiece.

If you warm the mouthpiece end up, then rub an ice cube on the metal near the plastic, you get the best of both. The idea is to crack the seal between the glue and the metal - the glue will let go of the metal if enough stress is put on it.

If you look up very old 'recorders' in museums, you find that the older ones look almost identical to 'whistles' - the number of holes is idential - they are both 'flute-a-bec' - as distinct from 'flauto-traverso' which grew into the moderm flute when Mr Boehm had finished with it.

Why do schoolkids playing those cheap plastic recorders always sound shrill? They are overblowing, which raises the pitch.

Robin

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 15 Mar 04 - 02:36 PM

Well, THAT's your most pompous post yet, Blackcatter. "I simply do not bother! ... don't notice ... being out of tune"
You must have been unusually lucky in your whistle acquisition for each and every one to be perfectly in tune or (as I suspect to be the more likely) in common with your whistles you have a tin ear.

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: Blackcatter
Date: 14 Mar 04 - 09:04 AM

The application of Plumber's freezing spray might not work on whistles that have not already been adjusted, since it's a glue that holds the mouthpiece on, not just compression. Once the glue has been removed, adjustments should be easily made. The biggest problem is that the "wiggle-room" is so slight that it may not make any difference.

I simply do not bother. I typically do not notice a problem with my whistles being out of tune with the other instruments. I recently played several tunes with a tuba player and had no problem with being in tune. When it comes to guitars and other string instruments, in Florida the humidity and heat and A/C, etc. are always causing musicians to be rather flexible with their tuning issues. Some times, it's my whistle that someone will tune to, as they know that it never really varies.

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: Red and White Rabbit
Date: 14 Mar 04 - 02:21 AM

Just to go back a bit Brian Howard ( Howard whistles) also recomends you use blutak to tune your whistle and that you turn the mouthpiece upside down when playing outside and that if you are trying to get the head off insert the body of another whistle up the body of the whistle you want to play and gently push

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 13 Mar 04 - 06:59 PM

Recorder: Jacqui used to use raw, not boiled, linseed oil on her recorders or sometimes neatsfoot oil - rather to the horror of Brian Blood at Dolmetsch, but the slightly heavier oil did seem to give a slightly heavier sound.

Whistle: in theory (I have not tried it) it should be possible to shrink the metal tube out of the plastic block by using plumber's freezing spray on the metal tube. I have a friend who blutacks and he says it improves tone but has not mentioned pitch to me.

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 13 Mar 04 - 06:03 PM

G'day again,

RichardH: I'm afraid Clarkes have shown bad fit since the family sold out. Fortunately, being tin-plate much of the fit can be adjusted with little more than sturdy thumb pressure (squeezing sides into better fit). A thin metal 'slip' (or just a thin penknife blade) can act as a former for flattening the excessive 'arch' of the top of the mouthpiece.

A good friend was playing one of the new ones in Sydney ... said she liked it, but it had too much 'wind noise' ("chiff") ... and took so much air she was hyperventilating! I had a close look, applied thumb pressure on both sides and the top ... and she was astonished at the improvement. It's a pity the new makers can't get them right at the factory (although I have tended to 'nudge' a few surfaces to the optimum points for nearly 40 years!).

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: GUEST,Steve
Date: 13 Mar 04 - 08:11 AM

Blackcatter, the two extra holes in the recorder are there to make the instrument more readily fully chromatic rather than half-holeing all the time. I think the span of the recorder is the same as the whistle.

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: Blackcatter
Date: 13 Mar 04 - 12:17 AM

OK, here's a question I have a recorder - my mom's from the 50s. I play whistle and while I'm not exactly an expert, I'm never dissapointed with what I can make a whistle do. Why in the hell are their 2 extra holes on a recorder? Does it give you more range, or what?

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: Blackcatter
Date: 13 Mar 04 - 12:13 AM

Put the Clarke in the recorder

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: GUEST,Richard H
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 10:22 PM

This thread continues to be a revelation. My old Rosetti wooden recorder which used to sing in the 60s had gone completely dumb and unplayable. But after an oiling as recommended (used lemon oil which happened to be handy - didn't really expect any change), she's found her voice again and is rivalling the plastic Yamahas and a one-piece German Hohner.

Got a new Clarke C whistle today which should be okay after a little tweaking. Bit disappointed in the workmanship - one side of the wooden block fits flush with the metal while the other projects almost a sixteenth inch.

Trouble is now I can't decide what to play.

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: Blackcatter
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 12:01 PM

Feadog is also a brand of whistles.

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: breezy
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 10:34 AM

www. Kerrywhistles.com and ask Phil

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: GUEST,sorefingers
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 07:24 AM

The folks that used the word to 'me' wouldn't know one from the next, to them it is 'feadog'. Anyway the concerted effort in the post Cheiftains era to globalise Irish stuff to the extent that there is almost nothing left which the locals could claim without starting university deters most from commenting.

I OTOH could not care less, what I know I say, and to hell with academia!

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 12:37 AM

G'day again sorefingers,

Strictly, if you want TW that's something like feadog stain (I'm no Irish/Gealic speaker) ...

That "feadog" is cognate with most of the other Europeam words that give us "fife" in English - the "d" in feadog being more of a 'thorn' ... the old Germanic Runic / "th" consonant (mis)represented today by the "Y" in "Ye Olde ..." (Stain" (~ spelling?) is "tin" (cognate with Late Latin stannum). Whistles have been made from oat stalks, reeds, willow bark tubes, hollow bones ... or anything else that could be used as a cylinder that can be modified by a sinple knife blade.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: GUEST,sorefingers
Date: 11 Mar 04 - 08:42 PM

The Gaelic for TW is Feadog. As I recall it was originally just an oat stalk whittled with a sharp knife and played until it broke.

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 11 Mar 04 - 12:01 AM

G'day sorefingers,

Obviously you reap the benefit of a larger market pool ... I wandered unattended into a Canberra music store last week ... and came out with 2 tinwhistles and a cheap "Swannee-whistle" ... Aust$36 lighter in the money pocket.

(OK - Half the money went to a fancy hammertone green paint-job "D" Clarke 'Meg' posing as their "Celtic" tin whistle - plus a Generation high "G" before they disappear from the shelves ... and a "Swannee-whistle" that Trophy may be proud of!)

Regard(les)s,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: GUEST,sorefingers
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 05:54 PM

If you want the tubing in the US then any Hobbylobby would have it, they sell it in short sticks, some variety in diameter, about two foot long.

But I would not bother since I can buy a plastic TW at Dollar General for a buck, very nice and soft sounding as well. Funny thing, the other night I heard a sessioneer here playing a highdollar US made TW which was not as nice.

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 05:36 PM

G'day aagin,

leeneia: I wasn't making any absolute points about any of the forms of whistle - the mention of the background to the English name "recorder" was just an interesting sidelight on the past uses of the instrument. (I was once given a facsimile reproduction of an ancient manual for teaching tunes to songbirds ... by a much keener recorder-player!) One point I wanted to make was that there are endless variations of the whistle in folk history ... whatever the music textbooks say.

Wyllow: I would reckon that any old wooden recorder should be given a good oiling before forming any idea of its performance. Good 'blockflute oil' ... or high quality almond oil ... liberally applies to inner surfaces, allowed to soak in, then mopped fairly dry. Standard care kits should be available at music shops (although a .45" calibre pistol cleaning mop works well!).

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: GUEST,Wyllow
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 04:07 PM

Leeneia,
thanks for the recorder advice. I'm probably blowing the recorder like, well, a pennywhistle! which of course doesn't take much breath at all to overblow into the next octave. I'll try the Hohner with more concentrated breath.

yes, it probably needs oiling as well. couldn't hurt. I live in the desert where the average humidity hovers around 10 percent or so.

it came with care instructions which I will check for more advice.

I'm learning a few medieval tunes on it which are really fun (and appropriate!)

But I still love my pennywhistles! Yea!

Wyllow :)

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: Blackcatter
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 11:39 AM

"And do you want to do it without having to worry that your instrument will let you down? Do you have limited practice time? If so, then you should probably not rely on   the whistle."

I would disagree. The only thing that has let me down with a whistle on stage is my own mistakes. Neither I nor any of the people I play with have ever commented on my whistles being out of tune with the other instruments.

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 09:59 AM

You're right about the "thousands of years", Bob. I once read a book called "Secrets of the Ice Age" that showed a simple whistle from a Neanderthal occupation layer in a cave.

As for the name recorder meaning an instrument to teach birds, that's misleading. The recorder is called a blockflute in German and a flute a bec in French. It was widely played.

As for Blackcatter's question, "Was a recorder a "people's" instrument? Would it be something played around the hearth in the average Irish home?" The answer is, probably not. But for music history purposes, we should be asking what musicians played, whether professional or amateur.

We should also investigate whether the instruments were made better in the days of yore.

Meanwhile, I have another question - do want to play the gig and bring joy to the listeners or not? And do you want to do it without having to worry that your instrument will let you down? Do you have limited practice time? If so, then you should probably not rely on   the whistle.

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 07:41 AM

G'day Blackcatter,

The question is where you split "recorder" and "whistle". Some sort of wood / reed / cane / bone whistle has been made for thousands of years ... the Dolmetsch (1919)-revived recorder represents the most developed (contrived ... ?) form of that. Lots of simpler instruments were played by "ordinary" people ... but note that "recorder" meant (~) teaching / training (aid) ... and refered to the use of recorders to teach tunes to whistling birds! (Maybe not by the Irish hearthside - unless the family made a livong on the side selling whistling birds!)

Pied Piper: The various schemes to fill the undercut of the platic moulded fiples are common ... lots mentioned in Chiff & Fipple site's "Tweaking Whistles" pages.

Regards,

Bob (turned of music for half a decade of early life but school year 5 recorder lessons!)

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: Pied Piper
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 05:28 AM

Hi Richard.
Good advice above.
I now make my own Whistle bodies to go with Generation Heads.
I use the Polystyrene tube readily available in UK Model shops.
Evergreen 1/2 inch Tube No 236
This fits a Generation D or Eb top.
I'm the guy that uses bluetac to fill in the space behind the fipple to sharpen the top octave relative to the bottom.
TTFN
PP

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: Blackcatter
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 12:49 AM

Was a recorder a "people's" instrument? Would it be something played around the hearth in the average Irish home?

And of course speaking of "traditional" Irish instruments - what about the guitar? How long has that been part of Irish music - less than 100 years? I first picked up the whistle to play because all the idiots who know only 4 chords on their guitars thought little of me just because "all" I could contribute was being able to sing over 150 songs, play the spoons, bodhran, and jews harp.

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 12:36 AM

G'day Wyllow / leeneia,

Since the affordable ('pennywhistle'/tin whistle) only appeared in 1843 - although all sorts of home-made and traditional whistle lived all over the civilised world - whereas the recorder, after a few centuries dominance was fast disappearing about the same time (OK - it was revived by Dolmetsch in the early 20th century) I would have thought that the recorder would then have been the favoured, 'traditional' instrument - and the newfangled tin whistle would have been about as 'traditional' as an electric guitar in 1950.

It's all a matter of perception ... and prejudice ... and what you can get away with!

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 09 Mar 04 - 08:54 PM

Wyllow: are you blowing into the Hohner recorder as if it were a pea shooter? That's what you want to do. You want a concentrated jet of air going through.

I have a Hohner that someone picked up at a garage sale. It is husky, but plays in tune. I think of it as my harmonica-recorder.

Has your recorder been oiled? Maybe it needs oil. You can get bore oil and a swab at a music store.

Re: Is a St.Patrick's Day pub any place for a genteel recorder?" I'm sure that recorders were played in Ireland at the same time that they were being played in Europe to the east and America to the west. They are an affordable, accessible instrument.

For three years now I have played soprano recorder at a St Patrick's Day fish fry. It and the bodhran are the only instruments that can be heard over the clatter of trays and loud conversations.

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: GUEST,sorefingers
Date: 09 Mar 04 - 06:56 PM

Gee this is a hot topic !

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: Blackcatter
Date: 09 Mar 04 - 06:24 PM

Richard - not to be picky but how in the hell do you pee?

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: GUEST,Wyllow
Date: 09 Mar 04 - 03:31 PM

unfortunately, there are no stores in my area that carry the type of pennywhistle I like (Generation in nickel silver with the blue plastic mouthpiece). There is a store that has the brass ones but not the nickel ones. Therefore I have ordered all mine from Elderly Instruments in Michigan, which means that I just have to take a chance that I will get a good one; I can't try them out beforehand. Luckily, most of the ones they've sent me are pretty good; if they sent me a real clinker I would just have to return it and try another one.

Slightly off topic question...

I recently acquired a wooden Hohner recorder on Ebay...the intonation is not good. Do all wooden recorders need to be "blown" in tune, or did I just get a dud? I'm a beginner on recorder.

thanks,
Wyllow :)

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: Folkiedave
Date: 09 Mar 04 - 02:59 PM

Can I also recommend Howard Whistles.

Brian Howard is great bloke and makes low whistles, bodhrans and uillean pipes.

His website is at http://www.howardmusic.co.uk/Frameset%20howardmusic.htm

but is not working very well.

Regards,

Dave
www.collectorsfolk.co.uk

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: GUEST,Richard H
Date: 09 Mar 04 - 01:57 PM

Jeeneia, I've tried lipping down the Walton without any success. The notes are so sharp that the electronic tuner often can't decide if a note is say, a sharp A or a flat Bb. I suspect a big, burly guy at Walton's got ditched by his girl and came to work peeved next day, rammed on the mouthpiece and soaked it in superglue.

Unfortunately it has a full, rich low D and E to die for.

I have used the recorder before but am not sure it's appropriate in an Irish pub. According to Noirchatticus Grammaticus: "Ye 6-hole whistle imitates fervently the male body - two ear-holes, two nose, one mouth and one other. Ye recorder carries an extra hole in deference to the female of the species."

I don't know. Is a St.Patrick's Day pub any place for a genteel recorder?

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: Leadfingers
Date: 09 Mar 04 - 01:45 PM

Regarding the comment about someone doing a workshop playing a $150 whistle, I have done a few workshops at Festivals in UK, and though I have a set of Chieftens as well as a set of Shaws and a set of Tony Dixons I use a Generation for the workshops. I also carry a few Generation D whistles for sale for any one who turns up either with a Duff whistle or No Whistle at all. I have a mate who runs a mail order
accessory business who lets me have em at cost so I can sell em cheaper than the Music Stalls at the Festival ( I dont see why people who WANT to learn need to be ripped off) Some Generations work well -its just a case of selscting ones that work and rejecting the rest.

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: GUEST,Wyllow
Date: 09 Mar 04 - 01:11 PM

I've tuned all my pennywhistles (Generation) in the following manner:
First, heat up some water in a ceramic mug in the microwave, like you were making tea. It should be really hot but NOT boiling.
Then, submerge the entire plastic mouthpiece of the whistle in the mug. Let it
sit for a minute. Then try pulling the mouthpiece off. If it doesn't come off, heat up the water for a few more seconds in the microwave. Just make sure it isn't starting to boil. Soak mouthpiece some more.
When the mouthpiece comes off, wipe off as much of the glue residue as you can. Then coat the metal end with petroleum jelly. This makes the mouthpiece easier to slide around. Put the mouthpiece on and tune it up. The petroleum jelly seals it up pretty well when you've found the optimum spot for the mouthpiece.
As other posters have noted, not all inexpensive whistles are in tune with themselves. Some always have a note or two that are slightly "out".

I've never melted a plastic mouthpiece using this method. Good luck!   

Wyllow :)

Subject: RE: Tuning an Irish whistle
From: Peter T.
Date: 09 Mar 04 - 10:40 AM

I have a slightly pricy wood whistle (given to me as a present), which always "splits" the sound when it goes up into the higher register. Is this normal? Someone suggested that I could get it rebored from the manufacturer if I sent it back -- is this feasible?

yours,

Peter T.