Nicely done, Scott. That's solid advice. I really like how you talked about my way of doing things but gave alternate approaches. We each learn in our own ways, and a metronome is a great tool. to help. One can never become the John Coltrane of the Whistle without some dedicated and methodical practice.Thank. you, Scott.

I use a metronome for 15 minutes of every practice session to control my urges to rush. As to content creation there are not a lot of videos specific to tin whistle that elaborate upon the various rhythms and methods used.

I ordered one today.

Does liking a video benefit the channel or producer in any way?

It's a great jig! It would be interesting to see your entire whistle collection laid out on a table.

Last night I played my Kerry Low D! I must get out my Chieftain Custom next.

I can't really help with the history. I've found most discussions about such things to be fraught at best. What I will say, is that part B of this jig is so incredibly similar to part A of the Swallowtail jig that I had a brief moment of puzzlement!

Peter, Paul and Mary were the gateway to an entire generation and a highway to Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross. Both groups took emotion and articulation to its pinnacle.

I love Phil Hardy's whistles, the four I use are all from his workshop.

I play several instruments banjo, bagpipes, guitar, and mandolin. I agree 100% with at a mid range instrument for serious beginners. I have begun instruments on the cheap and quickly lost interest, and all because the instrument was inhibiting my enjoyment of learning because of tuning stability and difficulty playing. The bagpipes (Great highland) are unique because of the practice chanter and even there you must have a good to excellent quality chanter with certain characteristics that ease a beginner’s journey . Enjoying your videos. R H

I have never understood the attraction to this tune, at New Year's Day or any other time.

How to put together sets.

Nice tune and great practice suggestions--thank you!

I like the play along style of learning tunes. With other people, with recordings, with KZbinrs -- whatever is available. Nowadays the tunes can be slowed down without changing the pitch, which is a tool we never had in the 20th Century when I was first leaning tunes. I do really like your practice tips and order; I think your model is one of the very best ways to get a tune in one's head and under one's fingers. Thank you, Scott. P.S. Does the beginning of this tune remind you of the theme to the old Masterpiece Theatre on PBS?

The only two whistles you played that sound “clean” as I mean that word are the Goldfinch and the Howard with the Reed head. The rest to my ear vary from breathy/airy to fully raspy (which I suspect is at least part of the “chiff” spectrum). I have a strong preference for the clean tone, and if I bought another whistle you played in this video hoping to get that, I’d be seriously disappointed and send it/them back. But as you say at the beginning about how folks use the term “chiff,” all of our descriptors carry the baggage of our individual ears, tastes, and experiences. One man’s “clean” may be one woman’s “breathy,” eh? Probably also has to do with one’s whistle history. A player coming to low D whistles from a cheap toy-bin high D would probably be wowed by the “clean” tone of anything that didn’t screech, crack, and leak more air than it plays. And of course many makers aren’t trying for “clean.” The McNeela Wild Irish whistles are meant to sound “traditional” (what I call raspy) and LOUD. I have a Wild Irish A, and it’s both of those things. Indestructible, well-tuned, and, to my ear, harsh of voice. I rarely touch it, as I have no desire to “cut through a session” (or blow out my own hearing with the high notes). I should probably send it along to a new home where its forceful qualities would be better appreciated. Maybe that’s another video topic? How to sell onward whistles that no longer suit our musical tastes & goals?

Nice tune like the background story 😊 good "extro " 😉😊

😉 very good 👍 I like the session one 👌

I am more into low whistle, but I can’t deny the beauty of a high whistle sound. All of them are just incredible. Also, I would like to know what song you played ? Do you have the tune in your web page ? Cheers.

I love my Carbony whistles. I don’t envy your choice. Great vinformative video as usual.

I come from the ocarina and vibrato there is done controlling your breath, so I really find it harder now to not do vocal vibrato on the whistle than to do it. Shame on me I guess!

Much more distinction between models than might be imagined. Excellent, thank you.

Nice! I made that suggestion really late, and I'm glad you were able to pull it off. That sounds great, and it is sure a fun tune to play.

What about the use of a metronome for someone who doesn’t read music ?

Hi Scott. Thanks for the video. Since I’ve been playing low d whistle for less than a month, I don’t have much knowledge about the different type of sounds. When I picked my whistle, I watched a few videos over and over again and decided following what you and others had said before: “pick the one that gives you the sound you want”. That is why I ended with a Howard Low D Whistle, which sounds beautiful, it’s very easy to play and very good looking (black silk). Another advantage i have found is since you play it fairly often, I can understand the sound I should expect when practicing. Keep doing the good job. Cheers from “Down Under”.

Hi Scott. What a fantastic review.! Thank you. I bought a Carbony Session last year from Big Whistle UK. Yea.! Really loud. Clear and great in Sessions. Very, very pleased with it.! So easy to play, but had difficulty at first in getting use to this whistle having no back pressure, compared to the whistles ive previously played. There is no effort in getting what I want out it, if you know what I mean Scott. But this will come. But I do love this Session whistle. I also have the Highland whistle, and the High D Drone whistle I bought from a festival somevyears back. Well worth the money.! I lve em.!

WHEW, that MK Pro thumbrest is expensive! How well does it hold? I am finding a thumbrest could really help, but have yet to come up with any DIY Macgyvering way to make one or objects to use. Is a proprietary one the only reasonable way?

I really value being introduced to traditional Irish tunes. It's hard to predict when a tune will resonate deeply with me, but the more chances for this to happen, the better! Also I like the idea of exploring whistles keyed between low D and high D. I picked up a Wild Irish A whistle recently, on a whim, and it's become a favorite of mine--it brings together some of the mellow tone of a low whistle with the responsiveness and easier breath requirement of the high D. Just a couple of random thoughts. Thanks!

I saw a nice quote the other day online regarding developing the ability to play a tune very quickly and the need to practice slowly and build a muscle memory foundation. The quote "Slow = smooth. Smooth = fast.

It's a great feeling with two of the phrases finally stitch together.

Happy new year 🎉

I know a lot of people shy away from sheet music I think that's a great shame as being able to read sheet music really opens you up to a fast amount of tunes out there. And it's really not harder than learning tabs. It just looks scary. Maybe introduce folks to reading sheet music. I'm pondering myself as to how that could be done with this computer teck.

To the audience I'd like to see more thumbs up. It means Scott's videos will be pushed more by the algorithm. Also he puts a lot of effort into this and I'm always disappointed to not see more likes. Also leaving comments helps maybe just a little heart to show appreciation. 😉 to Scott add a little overlay reminding folks to click like I think youtube actually makes that easy. I think your videos are adorable and so enthusiastic.

What's the brightest sounding low whistles, both cheap a expensive?

That was the loveliest version of that tune I have ever heard of tin whistle, I used to think it was slightly boring. Now I’m gonna try it again. And I wish for you a happy new year also🎉

In my so far very modest time with the whistle, I've found that there's more nuance to breath than just air pressure. I've found that things like blowing from the lungs vs. blowing from the diaphragm, and how focused my air stream is all have an effect on tone, air efficiency and condensation. The subtleties still escape me though, and I would greatly value your insight on the subject. Otherwise, I'll happily say that all of your videos so far have been tremendously useful, so I'm happy to follow along!

I really like the focus on the Low D. It is a different instrument from the High D. I liken it to playing alto saxophone and baritone saxophone. While the fingering is the same, they aren't interchangeable. For your tunes list, I'd love to see "The Eighth of January" on or about January 8th, 2026.

I’d like more of the same please. Reviews of low and high Ds. I’m interested in the new whistle from the McNeela Thornton collaboration. More traditional tunes and context of where the whistle fits in jam sessions.

Happy New Year, and thanks for all the inspiration and support you have provided in 2024!

This is so useful!!! I am noticing I can play the low D notes much more easily after working to reach them on my high D for a month or two. I notice getting more winded with the low D. Playing a song does take more energy

I’d love to learn songs like this, I want to feel like I’m from the shire

Happy New Year from New Zealand! A million thanks for rekindling my love for the Low D whistle and for my skill improvemnet during 2024. I've still along way to go but look forward to your continued tutorage during 2025!

And a very happy new year to you and your family too.

The song is still sung to this day in the Irish language - the English version given here is not very representative of the original irish words!

Happy New Year to you And your family. Here’s to a great 2025!

Glè bhreatha!!!! Happy New year to you!!!!! Bliadhna Mhath Ùr!!! More challenges than normal.....You are blessed to have family. I am learning Gaelic, Welsh and the whistle!!!! Wish we could have a ceilidh!!! My Carbonny leading tone high D is in the mail....

Happy New Year to you and yours.

Great tips in your videos. Thank you.

I’ve been learning tin and low whistles for about a month and a half and I have found videos the most useful tool, because I can actually see and listen what the speaker is teaching. I also use a tuner to pick how the real note sounds on my whistles. I don’t think that any book will put me where I’m sitting right now. Hope this helps.

Regarding the cleaning, I have two questions: 1). Is there any risk of touching the blade of a Howard low D whistle with the little brush ? 2). Do you rinse it after, to avoid the soap to start building up inside the mouth piece ? Thanks for the tips…

Having issues with my flute going up and down. Different mechanics, but still difficult.