Is the tin whistle annoying?

Hello, I love the tin whistle. That being said earlier today I was playing it, when my little cousin walked in who’s like 4 or 5 and asked me to stop because it hurts her ears. This one situation reminded me of the many other times I was told to stop playing because it’s to loud or high pitched and how it gives people headaches and just acts as an annoyance. I’m just worried because the last thing I want to do is annoy people, but I love the tin whistle. Does anyone else get annoyed by the tin whistle? Like I said I love to play it, but if my choice of instrument is annoying people rather than making them happy, then why play it?I should make it clear that I don’t think I’ll ever quit playing, but are my fears justified? Will other musicians get annoyed because of my choice of instrument? I guess this is just another one of my rambles. Just another thought that I can’t shake.
Does anyone else feel this way?

Thanks! 🙂

Yes, it can be very annoying, especially to people who don’t like trad music. I am a whistle player, so I know a lot about the annoyances it can cause. So, for family, it was a nuisance, but for other musicians, it can be great. As long as you have some chops and can play along, you will be welcomed. Plus, to kids, ITM is lame, unlike their Lady Gaga and Kanye West, which I find extremely annoying.

Also, practice is different than playing. Practice on any instrument is annoying sounded, even from an accomplished player.

All in all, my family hated the whistle and flute at home, but they love coming and watching the sessions and listening to the music.

Don’t be disheartened by it at all. It is natural for anyone who is around the practice for long periods of time to want a break from the playing.

Also, children’s ears can be more sensitive than those of older people.

“Is” is not the correct word. A better phrase might be “can…(be)…” No it isn’t but yes it can be. I want to scream when a whistle player just reaches back into the dark space and over blows the high notes. Cuts through everything like fingernails on a chalkboard. On the other hand, a well played whistle can be a nice addition to the tune. I suppose it’s like everything else…practice…and not just practicing the order of the notes. But then I like banjo, so take my opinion for what it’s worth.

Not sure how long you’ve been playing, but you may be playing in the second and third octave a little too much - most trad music stays below (or at) the second octave “B”. The second octave A and B can be annoying on some whistles as well, so it may be your whistle itself that is the “problem”. You might try one of Mack Hoover’s whistles that have a “silencer” built-in. Conversely, you can put a little blob of blu-tack (putty) over part of the window to reduce the volume. What type of whistle are you playing?

Well I usually stick to my Burke and Killarney whistles. Sometimes I play my Generation B flat because I like the sound of it.

Look out for a B flat whistle. This produces a lower sound and seems a bit quieter. Handy for practicing Another tip is to let those around you know that you will be playing for the next 20 mins. or however long you want, giving them time to leave you in peace. Eventually you and your playing will become part and parcel of your household.

Let me put it this way, I steer clear of the flute in the third octave (your second) because it can be very penetrating. I used to play whistle, but only sparingly for the same reason. On stage, in sessions and in recordings, it is fine, but in close quarters, it’s not for me.

I just started playing the Uilleann pipes. Wanna talk about friends and family complaining?

Listen to Donncha O’Brian and Mary Birgin. And Davy Spillane on the low whistle. Tom McHaile, Miko Russell. The simple answer is no. The question needs a bit of working on!

If it’s a decent whistler sitting across the circle from me at a session, it can be a fine thing. I’m a bit more sensitive to a whistler sitting right next to me.

A good starting point is making sure your whistle is actually in tune, with whatever adjustments you need in the whistle or the way you play it. I often hear whistles that are tuned too sharp, and that puts an extra edge on the timbre that doesn’t help if you’re trying to avoid a shrill sound.

Proper breath control is needed to produce a good time on any wind instrument. A good teacher can help.

No … well played, no !!

Playing high pitched wind instruments in isolation for prolonged periods can be annoying to those around you in close proximity. Changing down to a Bb or low D. whistle, and playing some slow soothing airs can calm the nerves of those nearest and dearest. You will most likely enjoy it too.

The reason “Whistler’s Mother” is in profile is because she was trying to save her good ear.

Whistler’s mother? who’s that?

I don’t have a low D whistle what would you recommend?

Any instrument can be annoying i. if badly played (…and we already know you don’t play it badly) or ii. if the listener doesn’t understand the music. Perhaps, being high-pitched, the whistle has a greater tendency to annoy than some instruments. But it is also a question of context - a well-played whistle would, I imagine, be welcome in any session. But at home, where others are just going about their daily business, not looking for music of any kind, I can see how it might not be appreciated so much - especially if you are *practising* rather than playing.

I have never played a Burke whistle, but some whistles can be very loud - I once had a go on a Copeland high D and I found it too loud even for me as the player. Using your Bb Generation for practising sounds a good idea when there are people in the house with sensitive ears.

# Kellie

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistler’s_Mother

Let’s be real. For someone who is not into ITM, any playing can be annoying, even if it is the best player in the world. I could hear the best djembe player in the world, and that would probably be annoying to me after a few minutes.

Even if it is Mary Bergin, people will still not like/respect the playing if they don’t like the music. It doesn’t matter the key, tuning, or tone of the whistle, although those help a lot. It matters to the listener. You will get a lot of people not liking the whistle, and that is okay.

My wife is annoyed with my practicing, but she isn’t as into music as I am. The B flat whistle isn’t as piercing I guess, but she sometimes complains even then. I try on my lower G whistle I can’t play as fast, but its much gentler on the ears.

EDIT: If you wanted a low D cheap, Becker makes some. Too big for my hands but maybe not for yours.

Kellie i just pm’ed you.

Practicing any instrument can be annoying. Yet practice you must to become a good player. Go for quiet whistles or mute them as recommended when your family is in the same room and get some me-time just for yourself to really play as loud as you want to (send them to the shops or whatever). With regards to sessions there is no annoying instrument, a whistle usually adds flavour to the mix. Some musicians can be annoying for various reasons regardless of their instruments (bad tuning, timing, self-centred, and so on). Keep on doing what you enjoy, don’t let others get in the way of your passion!

Listen to and try playing as many low D. whistles as you can before making a purchase. Personally, I like the sound of Burke’s Pro Viper low D. whistle, but again try before you buy.

Anything in excess can be annoying! ;)

It is difficult to practise any instrument in an ordinary house without annoying someone. To learn a tune or an ornament you have to keep repeating it and this is maddening for others.

This problem is made worse by the politics you find in every house. When I was a child my parents believed I ought to be a painter and I was wasting my time playing instruments because I had no talent. Any instrument I got my hands on was confiscated. I would play an old mandolin in my bedroom with a cardboard pick and I would drape my quilt over me to muffle the sound and keep me warm. When my son was a teenager I used to have to do that again because he could play heavy metal music and expect to be tolerated but if he heard the tiniest cheap from my mandolin he was straight in to complain! That’s what I mean by politics.

Playing music is something some people need to do and it sounds as if you are one of those people - one of us. It sharpens our minds, soothes our feelings and keeps us company. To solve the problem that it annoys other people we play in the most distant rooms. I sing or I play the recorder at the bottom of the garden in the summer or I put it in my pocket and go out up a hill. If you do an online search you will find discussions about making a whistle quieter. For instance, you can put blue tack at the lower end of the hole at the front where the sound comes out or you can blow the mouthpiece from a distance.

The other trick is to get people to join in. See if your cousin fancies playing a buscuit tin drum! It’ll sound terrible and the rest of the family will all complain then - but that’s life as a musician!

sure, whistle can be extremely annoying. high pitch in an enclosed space - yikes! Folks have covered the main reasons above, so I’ll just add another personal experience.

My high whistles, even the quietest of them, Killarney and the Hoover narrow bore, go right through my wife’s head unless I play on a different floor of the house.
And it’s not just my playing. If I’ve left a cd of Mary Bergin on in the car, she’ll shut it down when she drives - the pitch and relentlessness = instant headache for her.
She’s enjoyed many ITM concerts with me and likes pipes and whistles in big halls, and she’s happily listened to a few sessions, but house or car make it genuinely painful to her.
She’s a musician and loves piano, choral works, low brass, voice, etc., but ITM on whistle in small spaces just doesn’t work for her.
She knows how much I love to play, so she encourages it for my sake, and I try to be considerate and practice away from her.
In the meantime my kids think it’s the dorkiest thing ever but aren’t bothered by the noise itself in the least. I think people’s physical experience of noise varies hugely, even before you add in factors like personality and musical taste or familiarity.

Only if it’s a Susato

Why are you so against Susato whistles?

Probably because they are very loud, and in my own experience, only the worst players tend to play them in sessions. Am I right, Dan ?

See if you can record the whistle. It doesn’t have to be a good recording. Nearly any laptop will do it. If you can detect a noticeably shrill sound then it could be that particular whistle.

When you play a wind instrument you get most of the sound through your bones - same as when you speak - and it sounds a lot lower pitched. Also your brain treats it the way it treats your own voice and cuts the volume. I remember my horror when I first heard a recording of my own voice because it was so much louder and higher pitched than I thought it was. It quite put me off speaking.

Susato are loud, loud and dominating, if your gonna be loud, be good, or go home .
That’s why out of all the instruments I like to tune to the whistle, it’s doesn’t cHange pitch so much, is one of the top lead instruments in a session.
The whistle is the alpha and omega of trad everything else is in between. 🙂

I play a Bouchard C and a Burke low G mainly as they are both more mellow .id like a decent Bb and I do have a couple of low Ds but they are hard work and as they are lesser quality instruments just don’t get played much.
The better quality the instrument the more I’m drawn to playing it as the fun feedback factor is high.
Especially with woodwind! The balance between playability, tuning and tone is all in the makers hand .
I played about on faedog and the occasional susato for 20+ yrs in D and I still have a couple of high D whistles but they only really get played in sessions occasionally. I’d rather play everything on the C or G whistle .
the G whistle is good for fiddlers who can just play everything a string over .

Highly doubtful that most of the sound goes through the bone. I perceive no major difference between my playing and my teacher sitting 3 feet away playing.

With the lips cushioning any vibrations to teeth/bone I fail to see how any strong vibrations can reach bone. Maybe an instrument like sax or clarinet where the teeth directly touch the mouthpiece, but not whistle.

No it isn’t annoying. What is annoying is the guitar and piano played over irish music. They sound terribly out of place and just drown out the other instruments with their uncomplementary sound.

“guitars…. sound terribly out of place and just drown out the other instruments with their uncomplementary sound….”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yYPZ1XfhAI

play video

Ah surely! not

I think that some people’s hearing is sensitive to a high pitched instrument like the whistle; we had a church band and our director would put her hands over her ears and ask me to stop when I first tried playing it with the band. And she was playing piano at the time!

and that’s exactly why you should play the flute instead… just kidding

“Why are you so against Susato whistles?”

To their credit, Susato whistles are i. cheap and ii. very loud. But I, for one, have never succeded in getting a musical sound out of one. Admittedly, I am, at best, a mediocre whistle player, but there are few instances where I have heard (and seen) anyone play a Susato and not wished they were playing some other kind of whistle. Some whistles can take slight overblowing or underblowing of notes without it adversely affecting the overall musicality - it just adds a bit of an ‘edge’, ‘character’ or something like that, to the playing. Susato whistles, however, are very unforgiving in this respect - if you don’t hit the note cleanly, they shriek in ugly, grating, plastic tones (Have you ever heard a frog being pursued by a cat? I recommend lookng it up on YouTube - just once.) So, with *impeccable* technique, it is possible for a Susato to produce good music, but with anything less than that, I think it would be better off left in the case (…although it might be useful for beath-control training, if you can find somewhere very isolated to practise).

To go back to the original question, it depends, among other things, on
1) Who is playing it
2) How well s/he can play
3) Where it is being played
4) When it is being played
If it’s 7am in a shared flat/house then it’s pretty likely to be annoying even if you play well.

Hi Kellie,

To answer your question, a few anecdotes:

When my kids were from 2-7 yrs old they could fall asleep with my playing. They would always ask me to play for them at bedtime. And while I’m not a great player I can manage. But I remember thinking “My poor children” listening to my many mistakes and the shrill high notes on my trusty generation. But it never failed to put them to sleep.

They are 9 and 11 now. They still occasionally ask me to play for them at bedtime, but perhaps they have outgrown a parent helping them to fall asleep.

Just the other night I asked a few of my trusted session players to give me the straight scoop on if they preferred my tone on the whistle or the flute better. They all agreed they preferred the whistle. And to be fair I am still in that stage on flute where I can occasionally get that beautiful resonant tone and sometimes I just fall short. But they like the whistle and I too am playing a Michael Burke, which I think has a sweet sound.

Of course in the hands of a pro the whistle is just beautiful.

So I say no, the tin whistle is not annoying and keep playing and practicing as beautifully as you can.

“the tin whistle is not annoying and keep playing and practicing as beautifully as you can.”

Totally agree, and you may even end up like this gem:

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kathleenconneely/from/dleger

The left hand second octave is usually pretty awful - loud, shrieking, out of tune. I don’t even like hearing *myself* playing those notes.

When I was your cousin’s age I couldn’t stand most of the classical music my mother played on her violin, and she was a good player too…it had to be something quiet, slow, happy, or pretty, or any combination that came close. Anything else made me cry with my hands over my ears pleading with her to stop. And her nearly crying in frustration too I think. Even when we both agreed it was the same music I didn’t mind hearing on the record player. I just couldn’t help it. I tried to just let her play in peace, but it was something like physical pain. I’d have to go outside and sit in the chicken house. I’ve felt guilty about it ever since, and of course I love violins now. Children are just different from adults. Anyway, you’ll be sounding less annoying than me on your whistle.

I really do hope I end up like her IrishFiddleCT, such talent. 🙂

It’s why I tend to like Low Whistles better, and with High Whistles I like the quieter sort with very sweet high notes, like my old Feadog.

I’ve told the story of the great session I attended many years ago that I tape-recorded (on an actual TAPE recorder, it was that long ago) which included a whistle-player who didn’t appear to know any of the tunes, but sort of noodled along.

In person the whistle was quiet and didn’t disturb the sound of the session much. I could easily hear the great fiddle-playing going on, the whistle was in the background so to speak.

Later when I listened to the tape, all I could hear was the whistle! I couldn’t even tell what tunes the session was playing.

But no, I can’t remember anyone complaining about my whistle-playing.

The most annoying whistle noise I ever heard was a beginning whistle workshop with 20 people blasting out the high notes.

I have noticed that Low D Whistles tend to have a large volume differential between the low notes in the 1st octave and the high notes in the 2nd octave. At a session with me on Low D Whistle and four flutes, my low notes were inaudible, my high notes (esp high A and B) shouting out louder than all four flutes put together. Different makers vary in their ability to even the octaves out, but they’re never as even as flutes, seems to me.

My most recent whistle acquisition is a Bass A (yes a 30" monster) which has an amazing soft deep tone which couldn’t bother anybody.

Poorly made whistles can be annoying. High end whistles can be fun and sweet, but anything can be overdone. One must know when to take a break.
Sitars and many Asian stringed instruments are annoying.

Our daughter from infancy to about age 10 could not take a tin whistle or loud noise or music. She’s fine now. Also I have a friend who is a professional flutist who is also very sensitive to loud music or sounds. How about getting a lower pitched whistle. I love my low D.