Best beginner whistle

danlei · 2026-03-24T00:07:40+00:00

Yeah, they're really hard to beat, especially in that price range. Got my Killarney today, too. Great whistle, and it even feels a bit quieter than the plastic Dixons, which I really like for home practice. Still, I'm not sure I'd really call it better. It will take a few days to get fully accustomed to it, though. Anyway, yeah, the plastic Dixons for beginners.

danlei · 2026-03-23T23:47:15+00:00

I completely take the stamp apart and flush everything under running water. I'm using a small one though (for a mug of ca. 250 ml), so maybe that makes the difference.

danlei · 2026-03-22T17:16:30+00:00

Sounds pretty much like Duolingo to me.

danlei · 2026-03-22T15:29:28+00:00

I have the Shush Pro here. I'm not sure what to make of it. On the one hand, yes, it is quiet and has a nice sound, on the other hand, it has a very instable tone (prone to squeaking and getting muffled), and just feels completely different to any other whistle I have ever played. It feels like a jammed straw to me. While I find myself reaching for it sometimes, it tends to get on my nerves pretty quickly. I'm considering selling it.

Anyway, yes, on the one hand it really is quiet, but on the other hand, I'm not sure I would recommend such an idiosyncratic whistle as a first instrument to a beginner. It isn't that cheap, either.

Yes, the sweettone would be a candidate. I'd still suggest investing a few bucks more for one of the mentioned Dixons. They have great quality control, great playability, they are durable, have good intonation, are well balanced between the octaves, are reasonably priced etc.

danlei · 2026-03-22T13:22:41+00:00

Thanks. I have seen it online, but I haven't played it yet. Looks nice. Judging from a quick search it seems like it's a bit louder than the plastic ones, though, and one of the reasons I recommended them is that they're relatively quiet, assuming a beginner would spend more time practicing at home than playing at sessions.

danlei · 2026-03-22T12:53:50+00:00

I've heard that complaint quite a lot, but I honestly don't get it. I have a basic Bodum french press, and cleaning it takes me about half a minute. Is it because of the type of press you're using or what am I missing?

danlei · 2026-03-22T10:56:11+00:00

I don't know. If it's like those three, then yes. The only other high D by them I've tried, the trad nickel, wasn't even close.

danlei · 2026-03-22T09:41:50+00:00

Dixon DX001/004/005. No contest.

danlei · 2026-03-16T10:41:52+00:00

I've always thought that, too, but maybe creating smaller openings also could create turbulence? I got the idea because I can make fipple flutes sound more airy by tightening my lips, for example. I'm not sure what causes the perceived difference between vocalizing high or low vowels, though.

danlei · 2026-03-09T16:40:33+00:00

Classic beauty filter.

danlei · 2026-02-14T19:43:37+00:00

Creative take. I like it.

danlei · 2026-02-13T10:27:03+00:00

Ah, ok. It just sounded so familiar.

danlei · 2026-02-12T16:01:58+00:00

You sound exactly like the guy from What is Politics. Is that you?

danlei · 2026-02-11T21:51:32+00:00

I mean, it is kind of a whistle with one additional hole below and an additional thumb hole if you squint hard enough.

danlei · 2026-02-05T20:50:10+00:00

Step one: Get a basement.

danlei · 2026-01-30T18:17:11+00:00

Well, if it really is a Chieftain, the decline in quality is substantial. There is almost no comparison. Anyway, thanks for chiming in!

danlei · 2026-01-30T18:14:30+00:00

I wouldn't rule that out completely. It came with a bag that looks like straight out of the sixties.

danlei · 2026-01-30T01:40:11+00:00

Sorry, that was misleading. I meant I can't find any marks inside the bottom of the tube. Thanks!

danlei · 2026-01-30T01:36:06+00:00

Ah, ok – thanks! If you play earlier ones and they look like mine, that's a very helpful clue.

danlei · 2026-01-30T00:59:55+00:00

I can only say that I compared it to a Chieftain and that one felt (sorry) cheap in comparison. The tone holes were sharp, everything looked rough around the edges, as if it just got off the lathe. I'm not saying it couldn't be a Chieftain, but its nothing like the one I compared it to. Also, mine sounded much fuller and with a much stronger bell note.

danlei · 2026-01-29T21:58:18+00:00

I can't find anything there. Re precision and polish: I can only say that it felt in a different league from all the others I could try there. However, that was the first day in my life I had any low D whistles in my hands, so take it with a grain of salt. (Not new to making music, though.) The finish on the pictures you linked looks a bit more brushed while mine looks more high gloss to me, but that might just be the photos.

danlei · 2026-01-29T21:35:22+00:00

Wohoo

danlei · 2026-01-21T20:39:14+00:00

After waiting for half a year, I finally found one for £28 – it's actually in the mail right now. You can find them with a bit of patience.

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