Advise for buying 1st whistle

Subject: Advise for buying 1st whistle
From: Lancashire Lad
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 10:57 AM

Hi all
I'm looking for recommendations as to which whistle you would reccomend for someone wishing to begin playing the instrument. Additionally, which key is best for a beginner?

Thanks
LL

Subject: RE: Advise for buying 1st whistle
From: MudGuard
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 11:10 AM

I (as a beginner-level whistle player) say:
buy a cheap one in D
Most tunes are either in D or G which can both be played on a D whistle.
Cheap whistles come - in most cases - with beginner's instructions explaining which note requires which fingering.

A cheap one is good enough for the first steps - and if you decide it is not "your" instrument you didn't make a too big mis-investment.

Once you are sure you will go on whistling there is still time to look for more expensive alternatives.

Subject: RE: Advise for buying 1st whistle
From: radriano
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 11:19 AM

Mudguard's advice is solid. I would only add that it helps to be able to try a whistle before buying it only because some cheap whistles are notoriously out of tune with themselves. Do you know anyone that plays whistle who could come with you to buy one?

Subject: RE: Advise for buying 1st whistle
From: mindblaster
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 11:27 AM

Any Policeman, Train guard or amateur soccer referee will advise.

Subject: RE: Advise for buying 1st whistle
From: Lancashire Lad
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 11:42 AM

Thank you for your sage advice mindblaster!

No sadly I dont know any other whistle players. Someone warned me to stay away from the very cheap whistles as they have a tendancy to jump in pitch, as new players often over / under blow and consequently become discouraged. Sadly that person didnt recommend a good maker though

LL

Subject: RE: Advise for buying 1st whistle
From: MudGuard
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 11:49 AM

The whistle HAS TO jump in pitch when you overblow - that is the normal way to get at the higher notes.

Subject: RE: Advise for buying 1st whistle
From: Lancashire Lad
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 11:59 AM

sorry...I think I should have said "accidentally" jump in pitch. Thinking about it again, perhaps I should have said that for a beginner who hasnt yet mastered breath control, it is easy to jump in pitch accidentally with some budget prrice whistles.

Does that make more sense?

LL

Subject: RE: Advise for buying 1st whistle
From: Leadfingers
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 12:04 PM

A D Generation ought to work , though it IS advisable to determine that ALL the notes work , when blowing gently ! I have met whistles when doing workshops that only worked over half the available notes !
If you want to get some thing a bit better , try Tony Dixon - His
are either the best of the cheap or the cheapest of the good , whichever way you look at it !

Subject: RE: Advise for buying 1st whistle
From: Lancashire Lad
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 12:08 PM

Thanks for that Leadfingers. I'll look into it.

LL

Subject: RE: Advise for buying 1st whistle
From: mindblaster
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 12:11 PM

I have a "Guinness " whistle in D - black & Cream colour. They are really excellent. They were originally only about £2 but the last timr I saw one it was £8.50. A beautiful tone and not at all squeaky when you blow octaves.

Subject: RE: Advise for buying 1st whistle
From: MudGuard
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 12:24 PM

Guinness whistle last week in Belfast international airport: £6.99 in the "Irish" shop (before security check). In the shop after security check £5.50 ;-)

I had to work a bit on the mouthpiece - there were small "wings" of plastic (where the form in which they are cast opens) along the "blade" and along the end of the canal into which you blow
(sorry, I do not know the exact terms for these in English as I am not a native speaker)

Subject: RE: Advise for buying 1st whistle
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 12:24 PM

A whistle in D will allw you to play along with MOST of the Folk World, except for the awkward beegars who us things such as B/C melodeons.
As for WHICH "brand" of whistle, a lot depends on personal taste. There are the ones with the plastic end and "silver" or "brass" barrel include names such as Generation and Feadog. There are the ones with a tapered barel and a wooden wedge at the blowing end - Clark whistles are in key of C but Shaw? are in a variety of keys.
Some people like the "breathy" tone which the Clarke whistle produces. I personally prefer the crisper tone of the plastic mouthpiece. There are people who will fight the case for each type.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Advise for buying 1st whistle
From: GUEST,Blackcatter
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 12:37 PM

Be sure to check out: http://www.chiffandfipple.com

They have reviews of both cheap and expensive whistles to buy. They also have a lot of great advice.

Clarks are traditional with a wooden wedge and usually they all play just fine. I've played 30 or so in either C or D and enver found a bad one.

Generations with the plastic mouthpiece are good too, but they definately have some quality control problems. I bought a set of 6 in different keys last year and 2 of them are not nearly as good as the other four.

Subject: RE: Advise for buying 1st whistle
From: MudGuard
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 01:32 PM

Another tip:
some mouthpieces have a form with edges like this:

 _____ 
/     \
\_____/

and some are more rounded, more like ().

(sorry, not easy with just characters and some HTML/CSS to draw)

And some (like the Guinness one) have edges on top and are round on the bottom.

I don't like the kind with the edges - they are uncomfortable at the lips.

I took a piece of sandpaper and removed the edges from the Guinness whistle - that doesn't change the sound but is much more comfortable to play.

Subject: RE: Advise for buying 1st whistle
From: jimmyt
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 01:42 PM

I bought some Tony Dixons on Leadfingers'recommendation and I absolutely love them. They are well worth the money.

Subject: RE: Advise for buying 1st whistle
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 01:53 PM

The best are probably those made by Dave Shaw - but for a fraction of the proce you can get a range of great whistles from Clarke. I'd advise the Clarke Sweetone (I've only just now realised the word play in that name!)

Subject: RE: Advise for buying 1st whistle
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 02:29 PM

Buy a few they are cheaper than almost anything and always good fun

Subject: RE: Advise for buying 1st whistle
From: Leadfingers
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 02:33 PM

It all depends on wether you like the taper bore or the straight bore
Tapers are more 'breathy' to MY ear and the straight I find easier to blow , but like all these things its all personal preference !

Subject: RE: Advise for buying 1st whistle
From: Den
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 03:10 PM

I'd say Generation are as good as any of the relatively inexpensive ones to start with. As mentioned, probably the most versatile key to buy your whistle in would be D if you will be playing mostly Irish type stuff. Start playing with your left (or upper hand) closest to your nose and practise whenever/wherever you can. I knew of a guy once who drove a cab and used to practise between fares. This guy was so dedicated. One day he got robbed and the thieves locked him in his trunk/boot while they made their get-away. He actually practised till the police came and let him out. Passers-by heard the whistling coming from inside the trunk/boot of his cab. True story.

Subject: RE: Advise for buying 1st whistle
From: GUEST,Blackcatter
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 05:14 PM

He's lucky he practiced - I know some players who in such a situation would have had the cab rolled into the river.

Subject: RE: Advise for buying 1st whistle
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 05:33 PM

Well, there wouldn't be that many things you could get on with in that situation which would pass the time profitably, and be a way of calling for help at the same time.

I always carry one in the car, for when I have to wait for someone, or get stuck somewhere.

Subject: RE: Advise for buying 1st whistle
From: Ned Ludd
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 05:43 PM

Clarke do 'c' and 'd'. I prefer clarke and shaw, but I have a very expensive boxwood one by Neil Brooks which is great.( sounds more recordery....Bit pricey for a beginner though!)

Subject: RE: Advise for buying 1st whistle
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 05:57 PM

"... it helps to be able to try a whistle before buying it ..." - that's true enough, but it'd be very unusual to have the shop let you do that, for health and safety reasons. Sometimes they have little bellows for testing out mouth organs, so I suppose something like that might be possible. But I doubt if you could tell too much from that anyway.

Subject: RE: Advise for buying 1st whistle
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 02:34 AM

Whenever I get or recommend a whistle for a beginner-& I often have-I usually get a Feadog, the Guiness is just fine, the basic "Little Black Whistle" is good. They are usually under or about $10, & sound pretty much like the average whistle you might hear in an average Ceoli band. And, of course, I always get it in D if the person has no experience or no preference, as most likely the Whistle will blend in with the most oft used keys for Irish, Bluegrass & other folk Music.
    When I teach workshops/classes, I specify that they only bring a "Key of D" whistle. Then I have them listen to a good whistle player who plays in the Irish style! It really matters if that is the most likely Music they are wanting to play.
    I have also found that folks from many countries have an instrument which is nearly the same, & can sit down & play it quite easily. When I'm out & about Whistling, I most always have an extra D or 2 or 3 in case someone comes along who wants to "sit in" or just try it out. Of course, I am very beginner friendly, but not all Music sessions are.

Subject: RE: Advise for buying 1st whistle
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 02:52 AM

I started with a bamboo whistle, so cheap that I forgot the price in the run of the years.
Lack of breath control is not astonishing with beginners; here I can only repeat my old drill sergeant's 3 advices: 1. Practice, 2. practice, 3. practice.

Subject: RE: Advise for buying 1st whistle
From: Lancashire Lad
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 03:08 AM

Good morning all.
Thank you all for your advice and reccomendations. I will read and absorb then make a slightly more informed choice.
I'll give you a progress report, but spare you a CD of my first attempts :-)

Thank you all again

LL

Subject: RE: Advise for buying 1st whistle
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 12:07 PM

Susuato do whistles which are all moulded plastic. They have an excellent tone dut are more expensive than the "tin" whistles. Some are made in a single piece, but if they are not quite in tune you cannot do anyhing about it. Others are in two parts, which means you can fine tune your open note.
Quack!
GtD.