New High D Wild Irish Whistle First Impressions. This is a great high D whistle from McNeela Music.

[@melissaboulanger5542]

Great review. We really enjoyed.

[@LowDWhistle]

Thank you. I enjoy checking out different instruments

[@deniscardinaux1347]

Thank's for the review. I own Killarney brass D (Kb) and Wild Irish Whistle (WIW), and love them both (same range, both wonderful, easy to play, good balanced between 2 octaves, few air, responsive, pleasant soft sound) but In my humble opinion: 1- WIW is just splendid! The black coating is very well done ans durable. Kb will oxidise, which has also a great charm. 2- WIW is more comfortable and stable in my hands: larger size of the tube, confortable coating which make it heavier. Less dampness on the fingers when played for a long time. Kb gives a more fragile feel. I prefer WIW very much. 3- The sound of WIW is rather traditional, something more breathy and soft. Kb is lighter and more delicate and allows for slightly more precision. Slightly sweeter high notes on the Kb (that’s the strength of Kb). WIW has more character, consistency, control and stability. Matter of preference. Playing long time, I Prefer WIW… 4- The charming Kb has a clogging tendency. No clogging on the WIW because of the wider opening of the mouthpiece. Just perfect ! As for the rest, I've fallen in love with Wild Irish Whistle, and own the full set (A, B flat, C, D, E flat). I really love them all. But the B Flat and C are my best ever tried Whistles. Just incomparable. I hope I've been able to help with my humble experience. All the best

[@LowDWhistle]

Denis, thank you for the excellent comments. I appreciate the detail and the combination of similarities, differences, as well as your own preferences. This is such great help to all our friends, and me.

[@blevinsmusic]

I love both of my Wild Irish Whistles (D and C)

[@LowDWhistle]

I need to get the C, especially as I like the high D so much

[@blevinsmusic]

@@LowDWhistle That is exactly why I got my C LOL

[@markc1234golf]

They're gorgeous whistles 👍professional players play it here. The backpressure is fantastic. It allows vibrato like none of the others the Lir is similarly soft to play just doesn't have the traditional sound. They almost sound like flutes They're also gorgeous to play. You're going to fall in love with the traditional instrument.

[@LowDWhistle]

That's all wonderful to hear. I read and watched many reviews, and this one seemed the perfect one for me. I've played it some and it is a delight!

[@markc1234golf]

​@@LowDWhistleEnjoy . You know years ago i had a saxophone over summer holidays when I was a teacher, always wanted to play one again whistle is next best thing though 😊

[@antonvf9619]

by back oressure do you mean th air resistance of bounce back i the mouth piece or in the holes? i am getting to feel the air in the holes as a mean to know what i am doing for a slide

[@markc1234golf]

When you are blowing into the instrument you get a certain amount of resistance, some whistles have a very wide bore for eg and it takes more air to press through so a vibrato is hardly achievable. I have a low F for eg that takes so little air pressure that it's almost like you have to whisper into it, but you lose the ability to put different air pressure through . It's like blowing into a balloon at the start it's really hard isn't it but the more you pump it up the easier it gets. So if you get resistance from the whistle you can easier play with that by fluctuating what breath comes through when there is no resistance it all just goes through and you have to exaggerate and fake a real vibrato. It's really difficult to explain you have to experience it with different whistles but you know instantly when one gives you that. It's also easier in the higher keys compared to the lower one's due to the bore size etc. I have the wild whistle in Eb and it's soooo sweet and the vibrato almost falls into your lap. I would say a lot is the metal also there is a reason why they made most blow instruments from "brass" they knew what they were doing . 😉😉hope that helps somewhat ask again if not

[@antonvf9619]

@@markc1234golf many thanks this answers my question! a related question: the air i fell coming out of the holes when i have my fingers near them (either because lifting or lowering the finger) seem like they could be used to help finger positioning or some other thing i've not yet experienced. is there such a thing? is there a name for that air escaping through a hoke and what do advance players can do with it? (u less im just totally dreaming at the very least it could be a help for finger vibrato) many thanks!!!

[@BB-pn2qv]

Very good sound on that whistle. Quite clear on the high notes.

[@LowDWhistle]

It does have a great tone, and note shrill as many are.

[@petterfuhre17]

It's great to see such enthusiasm, and I feel it every time I unpack a whistle arriving in the post. I don't own a Wild high D, but since I'm afflicted with WAS (whistle acquisition syndrome), I suppose it might happen. Would be cool to compare it to my go-to high D, the Killarney brass. But I do own a Wild alto A, which I absolutely love. I expressed my wish for an alto G, and was told they're considering it. And yeah, I second your praise of McNeela.

[@LowDWhistle]

I like how you said that. I completely understand WAS as you describe it. Yes, I would love to own many and play around comparing them all.But my wallet would not permit such a thing. From all the reviews I read and watched the Killarney and Wild Irish are similar, but also different enough. Thanks for sharing the thoughts, and love for whistles.

[@stevecollier21]

Thanks for the review. The Sióg whistles are identical apart from the logo. I wonder where they are actually made.

[@LowDWhistle]

That’s very Interesting. Yes, I would now like to know. I know a number of instruments are duplicated (stenciled). These may be copies of another, or of each other.

[@antonvf9619]

latest from the lab: I can finally play the second octave B and the third octave D! second octave C# puzzles me: is it all fingers off like the low octave one? it feels odd

[@LowDWhistle]

The basic fingering of no holes covered is the primary way. You may need to experiment with breath pressure. Try covering the bottom or the bottom two holes. That may help with stability, but less likely to help with tone.

[@antonvf9619]

a question for the teacher you are: i do cuts and taps and slides far better on the high whistle than on the low where i still have hole coverage and breath control problem though I'm doing great i think in term of progression. Considering ornaments are reflex mouvements triggered by an idea, muscle memory must be complete: i think "i feel like adding a cut here" and my finger moves without le even commanding it. to gain this muscle memory would it help to work on ornement on high whistle only ir on high and on low at the same time? i imagine perfecting the gesture on the instrument where it's mist easy would help on the other one. What is your experience or opinion on this? (btw i play the flute 5minutes a day and I'm learning a lot just blowing a c#, I'm learning how air works in a tube!)

[@markc1234golf]

it's definitely easier to achieve on a high whistle. try listening to the tune and other players playing it and copy where they tap and cut etc it really helps to just mimic at the beginning. i practise for enjoyment and play several tunes every day until i feel i get it then maybe work on single phrases for a while that are difficult. for me it's not a chore or sth i set time apart i just may feel like a play and sit down and play one or two tunes and later i may sit for 2 hours . it has to be fun. and yes it becomes muscle memory also you get a feel for a tune and add these "twiddles" as i like to call them where they seem to want to fall quite naturally

[@LowDWhistle]

Great thoughts and question. @marck1234golf makes some good points. I agree most ornaments are easier on the high D. Now that I have a high D I find I will play a tune in my low D and then try it on my high D to see what ornaments I want to try. From the teacher standpoint, you are best doing what works for you. If you find playing the high D messes with your low D fingering, then try and keep them separate. If it doesn’t then do what is fun and helps you experiment. Playing the flute could impact you similarly, meaning some people could have trouble learning both at the same time. My guess is that you are perfectly fine playing all at the same time, since you are an experienced musician

[@markc1234golf]

i found a nice playlist Scott with lot's of european songs i'll share in my next comment maybe check in your spam to find it giving me a few nice traditional tunes that i can't find other places @@LowDWhistle

[@markc1234golf]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6LJf5WoaZmejNU&ab_channel=PassionTinWhistles-Fl%C3%BBteIrlandaise@@LowDWhistle

[@LowDWhistle]

Got it. Thanks

[@stulzer]

✅

[@BB-pn2qv]

Somewhat related to the video, but do you have any videos, or techniques, on hitting the highest notes of a low d whistle? Struggling against the impossible with a song that hits the second C on a D whistle.

[@LowDWhistle]

I know you’ve been practicing, and I applaud you for working on a tune that requires you to hit the high C. Some of he key to the higher notes is time and practice. I still have days where I do not play the higher notes with ease. One technique I like to practice hose high notes is: play a lower octave, increase your breath pressure slowly until you break into the second octave of the same note. A second exercise is to play from the lower octave and play as high as you can as quickly as you can. It is sometimes easier to move to the higher notes if you work up to them quickly. Finding the right air pressure for your whistle in the second octave is key. That is why I like the first exercise so much. I hope that helps. I do have a video focused on the second octave from June 15. Let me know if this helps.

[@BB-pn2qv]

@@LowDWhistle thank you so much, I’ll give that a shot!

[@petterfuhre17]

I've played low whistles for a few years and noticed a couple of things. The high C nat requires different fingering than the low C nat, which is OXXOOO (or OXXXOO, depending on the whistle). But for the high C nat, what works absolutely best for me is OXXXXO. Another thing, with the higher notes, 2nd octave A, B, etc. I feel it helps to squeeze my lips to create a narrower windway. This means a faster airflow into the fipple, easing hitting those high notes without having to blow harder. A bonus is that volume stays bearable. (My wife affirms this message.)

[@LowDWhistle]

Excellent, and thank you (and your wife) for the comment. This helps all of us play better!

[@antonvf9619]

it's a wonderful whistle - I find playing it and beginning to play the flute (which is as difficult as the first days on low d) is giving le a much better feel for breath control. also for super fast reels (drowsy maggie at session speed!) I'm sure a high d is easier than a low d. like you my center is the low D, the high D and the flute are experiments to better understand - have a beer and a bag of chips! :)

[@LowDWhistle]

Agreed. The high D seems easier, although mastering it is another story. This challenges me all the more to do better with the low D.

[@antonvf9619]

@@LowDWhistle mastering any instrument us difficult but lots if fun and well worth ut. all whistle, flute pipes go together and influence each other so looking at one helps understand the others. i wonder if I'll be able to play cranns without trying a practice chanter (i would find myself single quickly so I'll refrain!)

[@LowDWhistle]

😂😂

[@Whatzzzz999]

Need a better embouchure for a high whistle. Tighten up a bit. Better more accurate tuning. It's a demanding instrument.

[@LowDWhistle]

I’ve learned that more since recording this. It is so fun learning how to best play each note cleanly on each whistle.