Most Common Whistle Keys

[RPereira]

Which are the Most Common Whistle Keys for which Music Style and Other Instruments?

Regarding the Music Style:
Irish/Celtic, Jazz, Classic, Pop, Renascence, Christian/Worship, Others…

Regarding Musical Instruments:
Piano, Guitar, Whistles, Harp, Others…

Please tell me what your opinions are!

I’m interested to buy a Low whistle below the Low D.
Could be a Low C, a Low B, Low Bb or a Low A whistle.

But I do not know which to go[/b] because I don’t
have a permanent music style. Today I can play an
Irish tune, but tomorrow I could be playing something like Jazz.

Please make some kind of discretization like:

Pianos – Bb
Guitars – E
Irish – D, G
Jazz - ...
and so on…

Thank you all!

[walrii]

D and G (both can be easily played on a D whistle) are probably the most common keys in Irish music. In my limited experience, most other music involves the keys Eb, Bb, F, C, G, D and A. Unless you are really good at half-holing, there probably isn't one whistle that will cover all those keys, so two thoughts:
1. Look at the music you play now and see what keys you presently use. Then get the whistle that will cover the most tunes.
2. Consider getting a recorder instead. You get a fipple flute sound (Whistle Police: I said "fipple flute sound" NOT "whistle sound"!) and you can play in any key.

Other will have their opinions and they are probably right.

[crookedtune]

Based on your post, I'm inclined to discourage your choice of instrument. I'd look for something chromatic.

[StefD]

It is just a question about what YOU personal like, I think.
Of course the most common keys in ITM are D and G.

It is interesting how a tune can change its character if you
play it on a D whistle or on an F.

I discovered that many musicians say that F is their favorite
key. It's the same with me and I often was wondering why...

[walrii]

I discovered that many musicians say that F is their favorite
key. It's the same with me and I often was wondering why...

Maybe it's because, in the key of F, Bb is that mysterious-sounding 4th :

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/uni ... sound.html

[StefD]

Maybe it's because, in the key of F, Bb is that mysterious-sounding 4th :
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/uni ... sound.html

I've never seen it from that point of view.........w..o..w.....
That is a little bit frightend, isn't it?
*DerElligh is watching his Goldie Alto F with big eyes *

[RPereira]

Please, anyone have more opinions?

[highland-piper]

I have a friend who plays Scottish style harp (Clarsach) and he was telling me he really likes Bb and F.

I don't think he has many tunes in those keys, but he really likes them.

Highland pipes play in they key signature of Eb, plus a little.

Jazz, particularly with brass, tends to be in flat keys -- 1 to three flats.

String musicians tend to like to play in keys with sharps. 1 to 5.

Guitar players don't care if they're playing by ear.

Piano players tend to like C the least (easier to play things if you use the black keys).

[R Small]

The D whistle (which is pitched in C as with flute or violin) is the best whistle for most folk music, Irish traditional, fiddle tunes, etc. The C whistle (which is pitched in Bb as with soprano or tenor sax) is good for jazz. The F whistle (Eb as with alto sax) is also good for jazz.

[talasiga]

I discovered that many musicians say that F is their favorite
key. It's the same with me and I often was wondering why...

Maybe it's because, in the key of F, Bb is that mysterious-sounding 4th :
..........

walrii, methinks that you will find that the Bb on any F whistle and any other instrument is only one step from the C
unlike the claim made in this article which is indeed musically mysterious:-

.....
In musical terminology, this B flat is 1-1/2 steps from middle C.

[hans]

Well there are different Bb out there...
I think the Germans got it right
Bb is B. If we all adapt that, then we got the answer to the ultimate question: To BE.

Anyway, F and Bb and G minor etc are gorgeous.
Don't know why they're called flat keys, they are not flat in character, but rather in equilibrium (together with C).

[MTGuru]

unlike the claim made in this article which is indeed musically mysterious:-

Which proves that music theory is not rocket science. Music theory is harder.

[talasiga]

It is certain that Neil Armstrong's first step on the moon was not a BC half step. ......

[walrii]

.....
In musical terminology, this B flat is 1-1/2 steps from middle C.

Thanks for pointing that out. That's what happens when you leave stuff to the gummint.

[RPereira]

There are very useful, interesting and ‘cosmical’ responses here. But don’t go far from the topic please…