I am waiting for the delivery of my MK Low D Whistle (took me a while to save) and this is Very Useful & Helpful. "Thank-you" Hence the saying "Clean as a whistle" :O)
Looking forward to picking up another whistle or two and using these techniques. Thank you. I would love to hear your rendition of "The Lonesome Boatman".
I am absolutely loving your videos. Thank you! Especially liked the tin whistle comparison. I got a Walton's D then after watching your vids ordered both the Clarke 200th edition C and D whistles because I LOVE the softer sound of it. Can't wait! I'm obsessed with your "Concerning Hobbits" vids right now too. Thank you again!
It's a very addictive hobby 🤣 just remember to do whatever makes it must fun! Best of luck. If you ever have questions, please don't hesitate to ask. I'm on Twitter, Insta, Facebook and TikTok too! x
Thank you thank you thank you! My waltons whistle came with no care instructions and has been sounding bad. Thanks to you I now know haw to take care of it and it sounds good as new. Also, I was worried about germs scince you put your mouth on it. Now I know how to clean it. I would like to give you a 1 time payment as a thank you for all your help to me and my mom but I only see how to sign up for a monthly subscription.
Thank you so much for your kindness! I'm so glad the video was helpful. I hope you enjoy playing tin whistle. You can support me on Ko-Fi as a one off if you wish :) ko-fi.com/cutiepiepiper
My MK whistle end had a spot of black off so I took just a tiny dab of rustolum flat black paint and dab it on with a q-tip now its a goods as new and it is holding up well. Also one coat is just fine.
I like using a rifle cleaning kit. The rods come with different size ends to attach cloth pieces that can be cut to fit. Keep your rifles and whistles clean folks.
@@CutiepieTinWhistle Thanks, I just ordered two more Killarney whistles. I also noticed they added etching labels so you can now give them the perfect 10 score. They must have heard your plea.
You should have seen my Kerry Busker when it arrived last week - full of what appeared to be aluminium dust, so much so that it sounded buzzy. Took about an hour and a half to clean, mostly the airway. Just as well I blow rather than suck spit as it was grey Alzheimer's-inducing paste. Soapy water didn't work so I had to resort to scrubbing it out with alcohol. It's still not spotless so I'm going to have another go with a bottle brush. Pity, because it's a nice enough if somewhat raucous whistle, perfect for Eradicating Bagginses.
You do a great job of helping all of us out with your teaching. Also my email starts with qtpie that I have had for 25 plus years so from one qtpie to another keep blowing up a storm!!
I've been watching your videos for a while and I must say they really are helpful!!! Is there any way you can make a tutorial for Alestorm -Nancy the Tavern Wench?
Kathy O'Shaughnessy I'd avoid getting the wood block too wet as it'll eventually warp out of shape. Though it's likely to get wetter with long periods of playing than when you clean it. You can use a bowl of soapy water and keep the mouthpiece out for the main part though. Think of it like a wooden chopping board. Splashing and rinsing is fine, soaking is a no! And make sure it's thoroughly dry before storing so it doesn't get moldy :-)
THANK YOU, I just ordered my mk Pro from europe and want to clean it when i get it. You should try out the learn irish tunes app. For 2 bucks it's really nice!
This video is fantastic! I have been looking for ways to clean the mouthpiece of my Clarke Original. The wooden block collects a lot of moisture when playing, so I need to find a way to clean it effectively and prevent it from harboring germs. Any suggestions on how to clean the wooden mouthpiece? P.S. I always get a thrill when seeing a fellow Clarke Original whistler. My absolute favorite whistle.
Hello fellow Clarker!! :) Glad you like the video. Clarke have some whistle specific advice on their website: clarketinwhistle.com/maintain-tin-whistles/ and also sell a cleaning brush (though I don't have one): clarketinwhistle.com/shop/the-clarke-tinwhistle-cleaning-brush/ I'd recommend spraying a cotton bud or q-tip with a little alcohol spray and seeing how much of the wood block you can clean - but be sure to use another clean dry one to remove the excess! My wood block is covered in lipstick, haha, the whistle still sounds lovely though - have a listen: ua-cam.com/video/UIQOY-QKe-Y/v-deo.html I make sure to leave the Clarke out to dry thoroughly - as with all my whistles - any left over moisture has chance to evaporate then. I hope that helps. Happy Playing! :) x
Thank you so much for the links! Great advice. I have the whistle brush, which works really good for cleaning inside the whistle. I have never worn lipstick while playing. LoL. I have worn lip balm, but I find it makes the mouthpiece a bit slippery. I started playing one year ago, and I confess I am also a whistle addict. LoL. I practice for at least an hour or 2 daily, and I play with a group every week at pub sessions. I find playing along with other musicians to be really effective when learning. You play beautifully and I look forward to your future videos. Thanks again!
Hello cutiepie, I’ve got a Clarke Tin Whistle in D. And I can smell that I need to clean it. But I don’t know if I can get the top and the body separated, I don’t want to break my flute if I’m not sure. Can I still put it in water or is there another way to clean it? Thanks already, I really love your channel by the way!
Shearwater make very cheap whistles, and they're not bad. I have a low D and a bass Bb. About £40 for a low D. Dixon aren't too pricey either. Check out the Shearwater low D here: ua-cam.com/video/uRFswjamGjo/v-deo.html Check out the bass here: ua-cam.com/video/dsksQQrscUM/v-deo.html
Greybeard Hiking If you see a Susato at a good price, they have a nice clear sound. I really like them though they're a little more difficult to play. Good luck, I'm sure you'll love whatever you go for.
Hello. Is there something more common/economical you would recommend to grease the sliding portion of a whistle? I'm actually looking at acquiring that tune-able Dixon whistle I've seen in one of your other videos. Thank you for your time!
Music and Games All whistles can be if you don't look after them properly. I've not really had any problems with mine though. The most important thing is to dry your whistle after playing and leave it out to air dry completely before storing. When it starts to look or sound dirty, wash it 😄
I have a high D tin whistle. I keep it in the case it came in. (leather?) I have had it for a couple of years, and I play in on occasion. (I have others too) Recently, I took the tin whistle out of its case and noticed a metal smell to it. It is worse when i play it. (I can also taste it....yuck!) Will cleaning my whistle clear this up, or has it gone rusty/moldy and need a new one? I looked inside it and do not notice any mold, but it is hard to see inside of it directly. Thanks in advance. :^)
@@CutiepieTinWhistle It is not a name brand. I bought it from an Irish dance group that visited my city. It was only $10, so it is a cheap, tin whistle with a plastic fipple. (the body of it is made of metal) Can I use a vinegar and water solution, or just dish soap and water? Also, I do have a Clark Original that has a piece of wood in the fipple. How do I clean that one without ruining the wood? Thanks again :)
Dear Cutie Pie! Can you please tell how to clean a WOODEN whistle? (traditional flute?) I've been goggle-ing but there are things like "you have to oil it" but I don't know how (with what?). And also that I must not use it more than 10 minutes/day the first week and 15 the second etc. So I'm puzzled... I've been using it for an hour the first time and it has a smell of damp wood when I try to use it again :((( Did I ruined it already? :((
I don't know unfortunately, I've never played a wooden instrument. Sarah at Team Recorder has some great advice for recorders though, and that would apply for whistles too - I'm not sure about knocking the wooden block out of the mouthpiece though, you'd have to ask the whistle maker about that. They should have care and cleaning instructions on their website: ua-cam.com/video/FFZnSDieYkI/v-deo.html
It's pretty much the same process. As long as you don't soak the fipple you'll be fine. It's best not to clean them too often if you're worried about damage, but the wood block gets wet every time you play, so wetting it isn't a problem. Just rinse it over with warm soapy water then rinse again with clean water. Do everything the same with the bore and just be sure to leave it to dry out fully before you store it (ideally standing upright with the wood block at the top). Clarke original whistles have wooden block fipples too, I've never had any problems with mine.
I am very new ...i have a sweettone D whistle i am trying out and i did happen to leave it in my car for a day or so and now when i blow into it no matter how well the holes are covered every key sounds the same . Did i mess it up? Or did moisture get in it and causing problems?
If it was warm in the car the whistle may have warped out of shape. It doesn't take much to damage the blade that makes the clean note on plastic or wooden mouthpieces. I have a trouble-shooting video that might help otherwise.
I smoke on pipe and there are cleaners for the moisture and dirty. They are cheap and don´t leave any fiber. They are soft and flexible. I use them for de tin whistle too. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipe_cleaner
I have major problem with a tin whistles, all the advice given just does not work. People say the longer you play it in a session the less likely it will clog up. Rubbish, for me the more i play it the more it clogs up. The whistle i have starts off great, - the Clarke original -but the longer i play it the more it deteriorates till i cannot play it no more. People who are experienced whistle players expect people like me to reinvent the wheel. Blowing or warming up does not help, using washing up liquid does not help nor flossing tape etc. Effectively the whistle as we have now it is a poorly designed instrument. If you leave it even for a minute or two, the whistle becomes unplayable. I spend most of my time in practise not playing the damn thing but trying to unclog it. It is coming to the point that i am ready to dump the instrument as a piece of junk.
@@Mulberry2000 how long are you trying to play for? The tin whistle is a simple instrument, and lots of wind instruments get clogged when played, it's sort of the nature of blowing through a small narrow tube. The Clarke original is the oldest and first design of tin whistle, so perhaps a different whistle might be more suitable. A more modern design of mouthpiece will have windways designed to help reduce clogging. You can cover the blade and blow hard through the mouthpiece to dislodge any built up condensation, you can do a sharp 'suck back' on the whistle to achieve the same, and you can shake the whistle sharply (holding the bottom and making sharp downward flicks) to fling out built up moisture too. In-between tunes, you'll likely need to do all three of these things (sometimes even during tunes if you have a break in the melody). The amount of spit you personally generate as a player, and the temperature/humidity of the setting you're playing in will also make things worse sometimes. Clarke original whistles have a wooden block. Wood swells as it gets wet, so it's not a whistle that's going to be all that wonderful if you're trying to play for hours on end. I think if you want to be able to play for a long time, you'll need to invest in a more professional instrument, or pick up a few more Clarke whistles so you can alternate throughout your session.
@@CutiepieTinWhistle The whistle clogs up very fast after a few minutes of playing, it is a constant battle to get it to play properly. I have a trumpet and a flute, they do not clog up at all. Yes for the Trumpet there is a drain valve and you can use that, but no clogging. i have a flute and it never clogs up not ever. The Trumpet can have a valve problem, that is down to not cleaning and oiling them regularly. No problems with the flute. As you have said the whistle can clog up even during playing that shows how badly designed it is. To have confidence to play in public you must have confidence in the instrument. I have no confidence if one has to worry about the whistle going nuts in mid flight, that is a bad design problem. Yes i worked out to stop the Clarke or any whistle from freezing up you need another one, but again that takes time as you have to "warm" it up, and then you are back to square one. I prefer the original mouth piece to the modern one, as they make the whistle sound like a dying cat. I can hold a tune for the whistle but like I have said it deteriorates after few minutes - a horrible instrument. A more expensive instrument is not the answer as the design is the same with that comes the same problems. I have a lir whistle in D, the cheap ones like the generation et al are just horrible to play, they sound very bad. I wish i did not have this opinion about the Whistle but i do, no one talks about the problems of playing it, it just glossed over by so called professionals. I think they do that because they do not want to put people off and say buy loads of them, which kind of defeats the point of a whistle, cheap, easy and cheerful. If that is the case they are not cheap esp. if they will not last one practise session say an 1 hour per time. The more you use it the more it deteriorates, and that in turn puts off playing and practising the whistle. Also if you need two are three to get through a practise session, why not spend that money on a more expensive one. But oh wait that many not work as well. I have watched many videos and read many books on the whistle, not one does it say there is a problem with clogging and you need two or three whistles to get you through a session. I have the Clarke book and it mentions nothing about the problem of the wood block expanding, if it did it would save a lot of problems for people. Tip on your videos on how to play the whistle you could put in it you need a couple of whistles to get through a session esp. if your a beginner, it would help a lot. You see your videos and playing is of a high quality people think the Whistle is an easy instrument, the problem it is not and its one of the hardest out there to get started on. Thanks for the reply, I appreciate it.
As long as your careful not to get your recorder cleaning Rod stuck up her deep cleaned 'low D whistle', you should be fine... However Id go along with her suggested use of a lubricant of some description... Perhaps a flavoured lube would be appropriate since the whistle will be Blown. If your lucky that is... 😍😛🤐🎶🎵
Why don’t you buy a saxophone cleaner they do different sizes and you can wash them after cleaning your whistle , detergent will make your metal whistle deteriorate over time.
Is that what you kids are calling IT these days... ew err.... I've heard many euphemisms over the years, but 'low D Whistle' is a new one on me... I've always preferred calling it a 'hoo hoo' myself...
I've been playing a couple of months but hadn't thought about cleaning my whistle. Great information clearly delivered. Thanks much
Jack of all trades, master of none, but better than a master of one!
Great tips! Thanks a lot for the video! :)
From Paul,
I keep a small bag of silica gel in my whistle case, to help dry it after a gig if I haven't time to completely dry it.
I am waiting for the delivery of my MK Low D Whistle (took me a while to save) and this is Very Useful & Helpful. "Thank-you" Hence the saying "Clean as a whistle" :O)
I'll take note, and i also would love to see you playing farewell to Ireland with its respective tutorial.
Cheers! 🍀
Sheamus O'Flanahan Thank you :) It's not a song I know but I'll find it and see what I can do! x
CutiePie great! In the meantime i'll be awaiting
Very helpful video! I have a bunch of penny whistles that need cleaning. Thank you!
A good size feather is great for cleaning the mouth piece and windway it can be washed and dried for the next time
Looking forward to picking up another whistle or two and using these techniques. Thank you. I would love to hear your rendition of "The Lonesome Boatman".
I am absolutely loving your videos. Thank you! Especially liked the tin whistle comparison. I got a Walton's D then after watching your vids ordered both the Clarke 200th edition C and D whistles because I LOVE the softer sound of it. Can't wait! I'm obsessed with your "Concerning Hobbits" vids right now too. Thank you again!
It's a very addictive hobby 🤣 just remember to do whatever makes it must fun! Best of luck. If you ever have questions, please don't hesitate to ask. I'm on Twitter, Insta, Facebook and TikTok too! x
Such a beautiful Teacher, with an Equally Beautiful Voice.
Thank you thank you thank you! My waltons whistle came with no care instructions and has been sounding bad. Thanks to you I now know haw to take care of it and it sounds good as new. Also, I was worried about germs scince you put your mouth on it. Now I know how to clean it. I would like to give you a 1 time payment as a thank you for all your help to me and my mom but I only see how to sign up for a monthly subscription.
Thank you so much for your kindness! I'm so glad the video was helpful. I hope you enjoy playing tin whistle. You can support me on Ko-Fi as a one off if you wish :) ko-fi.com/cutiepiepiper
My MK whistle end had a spot of black off so I took just a tiny dab of rustolum flat black paint and dab it on with a q-tip now its a goods as new and it is holding up well. Also one coat is just fine.
john mcnamara great advice 😄
I like using a rifle cleaning kit. The rods come with different size ends to attach cloth pieces that can be cut to fit. Keep your rifles and whistles clean folks.
Great idea!
@@CutiepieTinWhistle Thanks, I just ordered two more Killarney whistles. I also noticed they added etching labels so you can now give them the perfect 10 score. They must have heard your plea.
im totally hooked on my new instrument thanks to you :)
You should have seen my Kerry Busker when it arrived last week - full of what appeared to be aluminium dust, so much so that it sounded buzzy. Took about an hour and a half to clean, mostly the airway. Just as well I blow rather than suck spit as it was grey Alzheimer's-inducing paste. Soapy water didn't work so I had to resort to scrubbing it out with alcohol. It's still not spotless so I'm going to have another go with a bottle brush. Pity, because it's a nice enough if somewhat raucous whistle, perfect for Eradicating Bagginses.
Go on amazon, by a flute cleaning stick/rod, it's a long stick with a thin whole at the top and you pop a rag in it and you're good to go
You do a great job of helping all of us out with your teaching. Also my email starts with qtpie that I have had for 25 plus years so from one qtpie to another keep blowing up a storm!!
I've been watching your videos for a while and I must say they really are helpful!!! Is there any way you can make a tutorial for Alestorm -Nancy the Tavern Wench?
Nevermind i saved the website thank you. Hey where can you get wooded ones? Id like a wood one
Thanks for the video, very helpful information :)
Thank you :) so glad you like the video!
Thanks for the video. Do I have to worry about getting the wooden block in the mouthpiece too wet when washing it up?
Kathy O'Shaughnessy I'd avoid getting the wood block too wet as it'll eventually warp out of shape. Though it's likely to get wetter with long periods of playing than when you clean it. You can use a bowl of soapy water and keep the mouthpiece out for the main part though. Think of it like a wooden chopping board. Splashing and rinsing is fine, soaking is a no! And make sure it's thoroughly dry before storing so it doesn't get moldy :-)
CutiePie Thank you!
Thank you for this information
I have an unused gun cleaning kit that is perfect for cleaning all sizes of flutes and whistles. Michael
I am learning British Grenadiers on my Walton's D whistle any tips please
THANK YOU, I just ordered my mk Pro from europe and want to clean it when i get it.
You should try out the learn irish tunes app. For 2 bucks it's really nice!
Can you use a cotton cloth to clean a penny whistle? I usually push a strip of it through with my smallest paint brush.
Pam H yes, I've done the same. As long as you're absorbing water and not leaving visible fabric fibers in the whistle and cloth will do really 😄
Do you have a vidio on traditional bamboo whistle, if not please make one.
Thanks again.
This video is fantastic! I have been looking for ways to clean the mouthpiece of my Clarke Original. The wooden block collects a lot of moisture when playing, so I need to find a way to clean it effectively and prevent it from harboring germs. Any suggestions on how to clean the wooden mouthpiece? P.S. I always get a thrill when seeing a fellow Clarke Original whistler. My absolute favorite whistle.
Hello fellow Clarker!! :) Glad you like the video.
Clarke have some whistle specific advice on their website:
clarketinwhistle.com/maintain-tin-whistles/
and also sell a cleaning brush (though I don't have one):
clarketinwhistle.com/shop/the-clarke-tinwhistle-cleaning-brush/
I'd recommend spraying a cotton bud or q-tip with a little alcohol spray and seeing how much of the wood block you can clean - but be sure to use another clean dry one to remove the excess! My wood block is covered in lipstick, haha, the whistle still sounds lovely though - have a listen:
ua-cam.com/video/UIQOY-QKe-Y/v-deo.html
I make sure to leave the Clarke out to dry thoroughly - as with all my whistles - any left over moisture has chance to evaporate then. I hope that helps.
Happy Playing! :) x
Thank you so much for the links! Great advice. I have the whistle brush, which works really good for cleaning inside the whistle. I have never worn lipstick while playing. LoL. I have worn lip balm, but I find it makes the mouthpiece a bit slippery. I started playing one year ago, and I confess I am also a whistle addict. LoL. I practice for at least an hour or 2 daily, and I play with a group every week at pub sessions. I find playing along with other musicians to be really effective when learning. You play beautifully and I look forward to your future videos. Thanks again!
You'll be a pro in no time with that much practice! Keep up the great work! xx
Hello cutiepie, I’ve got a Clarke Tin Whistle in D. And I can smell that I need to clean it. But I don’t know if I can get the top and the body separated, I don’t want to break my flute if I’m not sure. Can I still put it in water or is there another way to clean it? Thanks already, I really love your channel by the way!
Clarke mouthpieces don't come off, but you can still wash it. Just get a thin stick (wood or plastic) or a soft pipe cleaner and dry from the bottom.
Where did you buy your whistle? I have cork grease. My sax cleaner wouldn't work i don't think.
Cotton bud for the wholes , I’m used to cleaning a £4000 sax and I would never use soapy water
I have a penny whistle in D. However it's starting to sound a bit off. Have you got any hints or tips ?
Do you have a economical low d whistle you like? Thanks for all your help. I am a beginner and can't justify the cost of a MK.
Shearwater make very cheap whistles, and they're not bad. I have a low D and a bass Bb. About £40 for a low D. Dixon aren't too pricey either.
Check out the Shearwater low D here:
ua-cam.com/video/uRFswjamGjo/v-deo.html
Check out the bass here:
ua-cam.com/video/dsksQQrscUM/v-deo.html
Thank you for replying I am looking at the Dixon tunable they are more readily available here in the states. Wish me luck.
Greybeard Hiking If you see a Susato at a good price, they have a nice clear sound. I really like them though they're a little more difficult to play. Good luck, I'm sure you'll love whatever you go for.
Hello. Is there something more common/economical you would recommend to grease the sliding portion of a whistle? I'm actually looking at acquiring that tune-able Dixon whistle I've seen in one of your other videos. Thank you for your time!
Vaseline, Chapstick, Vegetable oil? Not tried or tested but might do the trick...
@@CutiepieTinWhistle Alrighty, thank you for the recommendations/quick response.
Merci pour cette vidéo 👍
Are nickel-plated whistles easy to corrode?
Music and Games All whistles can be if you don't look after them properly. I've not really had any problems with mine though. The most important thing is to dry your whistle after playing and leave it out to air dry completely before storing. When it starts to look or sound dirty, wash it 😄
Thanks.
I have a high D tin whistle. I keep it in the case it came in. (leather?) I have had it for a couple of years, and I play in on occasion. (I have others too) Recently, I took the tin whistle out of its case and noticed a metal smell to it. It is worse when i play it. (I can also taste it....yuck!) Will cleaning my whistle clear this up, or has it gone rusty/moldy and need a new one? I looked inside it and do not notice any mold, but it is hard to see inside of it directly. Thanks in advance. :^)
Spiritual Goddess I'd recommend cleaning it, definitely! What whistle is it?
@@CutiepieTinWhistle
It is not a name brand. I bought it from an Irish dance group that visited my city. It was only $10, so it is a cheap, tin whistle with a plastic fipple. (the body of it is made of metal) Can I use a vinegar and water solution, or just dish soap and water? Also, I do have a Clark Original that has a piece of wood in the fipple. How do I clean that one without ruining the wood? Thanks again :)
use a drier on a low setting?
Dear Cutie Pie! Can you please tell how to clean a WOODEN whistle? (traditional flute?) I've been goggle-ing but there are things like "you have to oil it" but I don't know how (with what?). And also that I must not use it more than 10 minutes/day the first week and 15 the second etc. So I'm puzzled... I've been using it for an hour the first time and it has a smell of damp wood when I try to use it again :((( Did I ruined it already? :((
I don't know unfortunately, I've never played a wooden instrument. Sarah at Team Recorder has some great advice for recorders though, and that would apply for whistles too - I'm not sure about knocking the wooden block out of the mouthpiece though, you'd have to ask the whistle maker about that. They should have care and cleaning instructions on their website: ua-cam.com/video/FFZnSDieYkI/v-deo.html
My whistle is one whole piece. How should I clean it？
Is there a way to clean/care a Shaw whistle since it has a wooden block in the fipple.
It's pretty much the same process. As long as you don't soak the fipple you'll be fine. It's best not to clean them too often if you're worried about damage, but the wood block gets wet every time you play, so wetting it isn't a problem. Just rinse it over with warm soapy water then rinse again with clean water. Do everything the same with the bore and just be sure to leave it to dry out fully before you store it (ideally standing upright with the wood block at the top). Clarke original whistles have wooden block fipples too, I've never had any problems with mine.
@@CutiepieTinWhistle thank you very much for your time and help. Stephanie
I am very new ...i have a sweettone D whistle i am trying out and i did happen to leave it in my car for a day or so and now when i blow into it no matter how well the holes are covered every key sounds the same . Did i mess it up? Or did moisture get in it and causing problems?
If it was warm in the car the whistle may have warped out of shape. It doesn't take much to damage the blade that makes the clean note on plastic or wooden mouthpieces.
I have a trouble-shooting video that might help otherwise.
Ok thank you . I will clean it and see. If not i will get a new one and try again lol
can I wash my tin whistle many times?
Nice face, nice voice, nice way of doing. I clean my whistles in the same way, but ... thank you you :-) :-) :-)
I smoke on pipe and there are cleaners for the moisture and dirty. They are cheap and don´t leave any fiber. They are soft and flexible. I use them for de tin whistle too. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipe_cleaner
Stephanie circus skills channel when???🤨
When people get fed up of me playing whistle 🤣😆
I have major problem with a tin whistles, all the advice given just does not work. People say the longer you play it in a session the less likely it will clog up. Rubbish, for me the more i play it the more it clogs up. The whistle i have starts off great, - the Clarke original -but the longer i play it the more it deteriorates till i cannot play it no more. People who are experienced whistle players expect people like me to reinvent the wheel. Blowing or warming up does not help, using washing up liquid does not help nor flossing tape etc. Effectively the whistle as we have now it is a poorly designed instrument. If you leave it even for a minute or two, the whistle becomes unplayable. I spend most of my time in practise not playing the damn thing but trying to unclog it. It is coming to the point that i am ready to dump the instrument as a piece of junk.
@@Mulberry2000 how long are you trying to play for?
The tin whistle is a simple instrument, and lots of wind instruments get clogged when played, it's sort of the nature of blowing through a small narrow tube. The Clarke original is the oldest and first design of tin whistle, so perhaps a different whistle might be more suitable. A more modern design of mouthpiece will have windways designed to help reduce clogging.
You can cover the blade and blow hard through the mouthpiece to dislodge any built up condensation, you can do a sharp 'suck back' on the whistle to achieve the same, and you can shake the whistle sharply (holding the bottom and making sharp downward flicks) to fling out built up moisture too.
In-between tunes, you'll likely need to do all three of these things (sometimes even during tunes if you have a break in the melody).
The amount of spit you personally generate as a player, and the temperature/humidity of the setting you're playing in will also make things worse sometimes.
Clarke original whistles have a wooden block. Wood swells as it gets wet, so it's not a whistle that's going to be all that wonderful if you're trying to play for hours on end.
I think if you want to be able to play for a long time, you'll need to invest in a more professional instrument, or pick up a few more Clarke whistles so you can alternate throughout your session.
@@CutiepieTinWhistle The whistle clogs up very fast after a few minutes of playing, it is a constant battle to get it to play properly. I have a trumpet and a flute, they do not clog up at all. Yes for the Trumpet there is a drain valve and you can use that, but no clogging. i have a flute and it never clogs up not ever. The Trumpet can have a valve problem, that is down to not cleaning and oiling them regularly. No problems with the flute. As you have said the whistle can clog up even during playing that shows how badly designed it is. To have confidence to play in public you must have confidence in the instrument. I have no confidence if one has to worry about the whistle going nuts in mid flight, that is a bad design problem.
Yes i worked out to stop the Clarke or any whistle from freezing up you need another one, but again that takes time as you have to "warm" it up, and then you are back to square one. I prefer the original mouth piece to the modern one, as they make the whistle sound like a dying cat. I can hold a tune for the whistle but like I have said it deteriorates after few minutes - a horrible instrument. A more expensive instrument is not the answer as the design is the same with that comes the same problems. I have a lir whistle in D, the cheap ones like the generation et al are just horrible to play, they sound very bad.
I wish i did not have this opinion about the Whistle but i do, no one talks about the problems of playing it, it just glossed over by so called professionals. I think they do that because they do not want to put people off and say buy loads of them, which kind of defeats the point of a whistle, cheap, easy and cheerful. If that is the case they are not cheap esp. if they will not last one practise session say an 1 hour per time. The more you use it the more it deteriorates, and that in turn puts off playing and practising the whistle. Also if you need two are three to get through a practise session, why not spend that money on a more expensive one. But oh wait that many not work as well.
I have watched many videos and read many books on the whistle, not one does it say there is a problem with clogging and you need two or three whistles to get you through a session. I have the Clarke book and it mentions nothing about the problem of the wood block expanding, if it did it would save a lot of problems for people.
Tip on your videos on how to play the whistle you could put in it you need a couple of whistles to get through a session esp. if your a beginner, it would help a lot. You see your videos and playing is of a high quality people think the Whistle is an easy instrument, the problem it is not and its one of the hardest out there to get started on. Thanks for the reply, I appreciate it.
so my recorder cleaning Rod can double to clean my Whistle.
As long as your careful not to get your recorder cleaning Rod stuck up her deep cleaned 'low D whistle', you should be fine... However Id go along with her suggested use of a lubricant of some description... Perhaps a flavoured lube would be appropriate since the whistle will be Blown. If your lucky that is... 😍😛🤐🎶🎵
Why don’t you buy a saxophone cleaner they do different sizes and you can wash them after cleaning your whistle , detergent will make your metal whistle deteriorate over time.
my new tin whistle oxidised around the finger holes within the first week :( Can I put something on it to prevent rusting?
thank you.. you are so beautyfull
desperate
Pozdrawiam
Musical, the way you talk....
My Cork Grease looks like a tube of Chapstick.
Moonbeam 87 same it’s painful when you use it as chapstick too 😂😂
i keep getting pieces of poop in it..
That's why it is important to clean your D on regular intervals
@@ryansabin9098 o
Is that what you kids are calling IT these days... ew err.... I've heard many euphemisms over the years, but 'low D Whistle' is a new one on me... I've always preferred calling it a 'hoo hoo' myself...
You are beauty. I love you.lol!
I love the fife.
He he😉😋