Forum Activity for @keith

We've had our 2 doses, & just coming up for a booster jab, so we have been able to get about a bit, but still need to wear them in confined spaces, like shops, ideally, but not everyone does, unfortunately.

On a brighter note, I am beginning to get out on my adult kick scooters, just that the legs need strengthening up more, before I can do any real distances, so won't really be doing much now until the Spring, it's cold & it's been wet too.

Guess I'll just have to get back to the whistles, flutes, & harmonicas.....

Ah, I like a bit of OMNIA too... 

Warming up the whistle by blowing breath through it before playing does seem to help with getting the high notes.

Cuts & rolls seem to be fairly important to the way Irish music is played, so if that is your choice, it will likely help practicing them too.

No, I find the regular scales quite taxing enough! 

Sorry, I haven't been getting notifications & only just seen this - I think it mainly depends on your end goals.

Personally, I just play a tune or two, I don't actually structure my practice time, I only play for my own pleasure, & it works for me.

Playing scales teaches where the notes are, but equally, you could just play from tab.

Here's a link to a search of C&F.

http://forums.chiffandfipple.com/search.php?keywords=goldfinch&sid=4e575ba290eb10579c21013c3dbcb415

Let us all know what you think of your Goldfinch, when you get them, I've heard mixed feelings about them on the Chiff & Fipple forum.

My most played are low 'F', low 'G', & 'A' - they just feel right in my hands, & have a nicer quality of sound than the higher ones, to my ears.

Most of mine are at the cheap end, just a few in the £80~100+ area, & those were mainly acquired pre used.

Howard low D & MK Kelpie low F were my main expenditure.

....& most of them are so affordable!

Hope everyone has made it through Covid OK - I know that I was in the doldrums for months, (being in lock down), but I seem to be getting back to doing things again now, so looking forwards to better times.

....coming back to this - I think my Howard low D, or my MK Kelpie low F are probably the best looking whistles in my collection, & they are both black, the Howard is brass, whilst the MK is aluminium.

.....an 'aquired taste'.....

I played recorders but wanted more volume, but something easy to play, (no keys), so tried a whistle.

Then, as is usual with me, I had to try different ones, so the collection grew.....

P.S. I now also have keyless flutes/piccolos/fifes to go with them.

Never heard of it...but found a video of one being played.

"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMxZ0n7jjmk"

I have Generation high G, high F, high Eb, both brass & nickel, & a (pre used) Susato high Eb.

I got them 'because' they were available.

They didn't cost much, & I spent a fair bit of practice time on the high F whistles, because they're 'cute', but the high G whistles are a bit cramped for my fingers, so not played so much - & the Susato is loud.

I'd suggest a one piece ABS Tony Dixon to start with, not too expensive, & plays quite well.

(You can often find them pre used cheaper, & they're easy to sanitize.)

Keyless flutes are easier, I find, almost as easy as whistle.

We're just about to go into full lock down again over here in the UK, (from what I've just been told); how long can we last like this?!

The Kickbike really is just a big (foot) scooter, bigger wheels make it easier on rough ground, I used to ride my bikes (pedal cycles) off road quite a lot, a few years back........well, 20 odd years ago I guess it was now, doesn't seem that long ago.......I must be getting old....

Flat? - nowhere around here is flat, it's either up or down, & they're big ups & downs!

I had to walk up the hills when I was riding my bikes around here, so pushing a scooter up them is a bit easier, & I can get up to a fair speed on the less bumpy bits.

Went for a quick walk last Friday, (about 6 miles), took just over the hour, & now I'm still recovering from it 2 days later....

I've been rather quiet lately, but I bought a bigger & better scooter with bigger wheels to handle the offroad side of my adventuring, (a Kickbike Cross Fix), but haven't really used it yet.

My whistling was on temporary hold, as I was trying to get my embouchure back on my flutes & piccolos; still somewhat hit & miss, unfortunately, so back to my low F, low G, & A whistles.

Still playing my harmonicas, (about as much as I was before).

Hope the trampolining is doing OK; I know it's getting hard to motivate oneself these days, with all the Covid restrictions, but hopefully, not for much longer.

Oh, how could I possibly pick just one.....

It has been really quiet around where I live - until a couple of weeks ago - kids are back out playing, & noisy car stereos again, unfortunately!

I've gained a new hobby whilst we were in lock down - I bought myself a 16" wheel kick scooter - it's really hard work at the moment on gravel fire road, but once I get used to it, I'm hoping to venture forth & put some miles in on it.

Unfortunately, my playing is somewhat curtailed, as we have thin walls, & I don't want to annoy the neighbours - we will all be getting a bit stressful, 3 weeks in on our lock down.

Stay in - stay safe.

I have several, Generation, Faedog, Tony Dixon, Waltons, Clarke, (told you you can't just have one).

Of these, my prefered high 'D' is a Tony Dixon tunable aluminium, but their cheaper one piece ABS comes a  close second.

Welcome aboard the whistle merry-go--round.

(You can't just have one.....)

Seasons Greetings.......& may Santa leave you a new little friend....

Fear not, the Bb is on the extreme of normal holding & playing, you may need to use 'the piper's grip' on it & other lower whistles. Check out online videos to see how to use it. Basically, you use the pads of your fingers instead of your finger tips, put the pad of your ring finger on the lower hole, & let your others go where they want to go, same with the top three holes. It just takes a little bit of practice, we all need to use it on the low whistles.

It's nice to get a new whistle now & again. I have found that high priced whistles don't necessarily play any better, but it's nice to have them. You may find the sound of brass works better for some tunes. Our tastes do change over time, enjoy them both.

That sounds like a plan, Norman, any idea what type you'll be looking to get?

Well.......just ordered my Xmas present.

Seydel Saxony orchestra tuned chromatic harmonica. Most of my harmonicas have ABS combs, but this one has an aluminium comb, so now I'm looking forward to seeing how different the tone will be.

I have a Gemeinhardt myself, but I don't really play it, I prefer keyless. Of those you list, the only other maker I know anything about is Selmer, they used to make good instruments.

If you have a music shop nearby, you may be able to get a refurbished flute, & advice into the bargain.

This forum is for the tin/penny whistle, so not many will have any knowledge of flutes, but you might like to try this other forum for better info - https://www.fluteland.com/board/

Most people start off with either a high D or high C, depending on the type of tunes you want to play.

A good book to help learn flute would be 'Flute for Dummies', (you could get a pre used copy quite cheaply from a second hand book store like Abe Books online).

If you haven't bought your flute yet, maybe consider a keyless 'simple system' flute, just has the 6 holes like a whistle.

P.S. Open or closed holes generally refers to Boehm flutes.

If the guitar isn't a pleasure any more, take a look at ukulele, lots of guitarists have taken to them.

Flutes are nice, but I've had difficulty in obtaining my embouchure, it comes & goes, but I keep trying. I now have a couple of nice keyless 'simple system' flutes (& piccolos) in my collection.

Hello, Gwen, I'm fairly new to whistles, my cleaning so far has been of pre used instruments, but I would think not very often, unless you are a wet blower.

None of mine have any indication of needing cleaning yet, nothing in the barrel or fipple. If you do see any build up, that would be the time to give them a clean.

I don't think small amounts of deposit would affect the quality of sound much, but it's nice to keep them looking good anyway.

Had a nice practice session yesterday, mainly my 'A', low 'G', & low 'F' whistles.

I'm beginning to get the 'feel' of my MK Kelpie low 'F' now, it has a lovely tone.

Seems to be a dearth of decent whistles on Ebay lately..........did I buy them all!

Still look...just in case...though I don't need any more.

Another, sometimes useful whistle forum.

Tin Whistle on Reddit

Oh, I think I'm fairly well covered for plastic whistles...... I do have the Susato 'B' & the Dixon ABS low 'G'.... plus my Susato high 'Eb', Dixon ABS high 'D' & low 'D'.... so I think that I might just manage.....

I do have 3x 'A' whistles, two of which I really like, & play often, (Dixon Trad brass & a Thunderbird aluminium), the other one, (Dixon tunable aluminium), has a bit of a quirk in that I seem to have to twist it slightly to get the second octave, so I really didn't need another - but I was tempted.

Hey......I resisted a Susato in 'A'.........my whistle aquisition syndrome seems to be curing itself...

Yep, it's definately a key of 'B', & quite a nice tone to it, after playing a couple of tunes on it.