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Hi Sean, I'd say "I Buried My Wife And Danced On Her Grave" is my favourite tune, especially on the low D whistle. It has a good wide range and isn't a difficult tune. People also get a good kick out of the name too ☺.
I'm not here to enter the contest, just want to say how much I love this Dixon whistle. I've been playing this brand for the past 3 years. I bought it while recovering from pneumonia because this whistle requires very little air and is a breeze to play. I didn't think anything could ever tear me away from my beloved Clarke Original, but this Dixon whistle replaced it because it's more lung-friendly for me. I love that it's tunable because it's good to be in tune with the other whistlers at my session. Also, I find this whistle to be squeak-free and so easy to transition to 2nd octave. I really miss playing my Clarke, but I have to say the plastic Dixon is now my whistle of choice. Thanks for this review, Sean, and your generosity. So kind of you to find a good home for this whistle and to whoever that may be, they won't be disappointed! Favorite tunes- Quarry Cross, Cold Frosty Morning, Banish Misfortune, Spancil Hill.
The DX004 is my favourite 'go to' whistle and the one I recommend to those I am helping to learn. It is only a little more expensive than a really cheap whistle and, even at its price, is a very cheap instrument for anyone wishing to play something. I find a really cheap instrument can put people off through having flaws that only an experienced player can circumvent. Sometimes the same is true for a really high end instrument. The Dixon, however, sits nicely in the middle and is flexible enough to learn on, and play for many years, even when the player has more specialised whistles to play with.
I would love for you to do a comparison between your Gary Humphrey and the Tony Dixon DX006, which is Dixon's aluminum D whistle. Also, thanks for videos. I've learned Down by the Sally Gardens, Inisheer, Southwind, and taps, cuts, rolls, and slides by watching your videos. I know you're busy with The Sternwheelers band, but I hope you keep these videos coming. By the way, you and the Sternwheelers have some groovy songs.
Thanks for all the informative videos! I have really enjoyed them and learned from them. My favorite tune right now is Si Bheag Si Mhor. I've just recently retired and have picked up learning to play the tin whistle to enjoy during my retirement.
My teacher helped me pick this whistle out while we were at a Celtic festival, probably around 2005. I still play it today since I like that chiffy, raspy sound.
Have had a very cheap non-tunable D tin whistle on the shelf for many years, with retirement finally providing time to get started. Amazing Grace just now (along with lots of practice in covering the holes well and blowing consistently for the octaves), long list of others on deck to learn.
Just saw your video, and I like the honest comments and comparison. I am considering getting into playing a whistle, so honest info is what I need to help make a purchase. Thanks. I currently play bagpipes, so think a whistle is a natural expansion instrument to consider.
I keep circling back to these tunes at the moment. Calliope House, Kid on the Mountain, The Monaghan Jig, The Coleraine Jig, Apsley Cottage, Fair Haired Canavans (sp?), Teatotaler, Eileen Óg, Cliffs of Mother, Maid on the Green, Fig for a Kiss.
My favorite tune right now is The Mermaid. It’s one of my favorite songs that Trail West does, and I happened to run across the sheet music for the tune on a website and I’ve just gotten the hang of it and can actually keep up with with the Trail West version about half the time. Thankfully they recorded it in G so I can play along. It’s a fun bouncy song considering the ship sinks and everyone drowns! 🤣 I’m pretty tickled being able to play it considering that I’ve only been playing since March! It sounds pretty sweet on my Dixon DX006 aluminum whistle. My other favorite is Canan nan Gaidheal. It’s a hauntingly beautiful minor tune. I dug up the sheet music online and then transposed it so I could play it on my D whistle.
I just learned The Blarney Pilgrim. I really like the three parts, especially the third part. I'm also very fond of the Humours of Ballymanus which I've been playing after seeing the you tube of your session. For some reason, the middle part tricks me up frequently even though it seems simple enough. Thanks for the tunes and these comparison videos!
Love my Dixon Poly Pro with the brass slider. Have lots of other more expensive one but I always come back to the Dixon. Finbar Furey grabbed it from my hand and played it backstage a few years ago so I dare not sell it!
Thanks for the review, the whistle sounds nice. My favorite is The Parting Glass. I see you've done it with flute a few years back, but I'm not finding it on tin whistle. Would love to hear that. Thanks!
Current all-time favourite; The Plains of Boyle. That's just today mind! Still, I do tend to keep coming back to the hornpipes. Play us some more please!
I currently (mostly) play a Tony Dixon trad nickel and like it for the most part - responsive, light, in tune but find that the high B is finicky, requiring a frustrating level of concentration and a considerable tightening of embouchure so I've put a new whistle on my birthday list... Have you looked at the Goldfinch whistles or the Clover whistles (there was a draw for a Clover Big Baby recently but I sadly didn't win)? I think they are the two contenders for me. My current favourite tune right now is King of the Fairies but that may just be because I'm working on a lullabye collection for my new grand nephew and King of the Fairies gives me a nice quick, playful tune to switch off to when I get tired of lullabies. Thanks for the videos!
Thank you for the review, I’ve been thinking about getting a Dixon so I’ll definitely be looking more into it now. I’ve been leaning to play Celtic Hym (by Aural Axiom) , still working on it but been playing it non stop 😊
I've only really started playing the tin whistle this year, so my tune library is pretty basic, morrisons jig is a favorite to play at the moment. Thanks for inspiring me!
I like reels. I want to learn St. Anne's Reel. I would also love to hear what you think of the Killarney D whistle. I'm really enjoying your videos. Thanks so much!!
Right now I like the combination of "The Skye Boat Song" and "The Barren Rocks of Aden." I also am working on two I learned from your videos, "Jerry's Beaver Hat" and "The Kesh." Yea, I know, not one of your favorites, but your treatment made it cool. And it pairs well with "JBH."
Hi! I think if you are the whstle tutor, you should know about and should have compared Tony Dixon tunable high D Traditional brass or traditional brass-nickel coated (with polymer fipple). Those are in tune, and still are responsive, and cost about the same as the whole polymer Tony Dixon, and their price is much better as Humphrey's. This whistle is not in tune, as you heard the porblems between low and high G, A and B notes. What do you think?
For those who like the traditional chirpy chiff of the cheaper tin whistles but wants an instrument that is easier to maintain, Dixon is definitely a good investment.
Playing the DX-005 right now, myself. I like it for playing indoors. I've been on a Slip Jig roll lately, so I've been working on Humors of Ballymanus and Gort Na Mona. Probably spend equal time on Roaring Barmaid and Calliope House as well.
Picking my favorite tune feels like having to pick my favorite flower on a blooming cherry tree! Right now I'm leaning into a lot of A Polkas on the box - Bill Sullivan's is a current fave.
I think my current favorite tune to play on whistle is "Banish Misfortune" (which is also fun on mandolin); the one I'm currently working on is "The Maid Behind the Bar."
Humphrey sounds more assured and sweet overall. It could be due to it being brass but Humphrey and Dixon both are pretty chirpy and I am actually imporessed Dixon managed to achieve this with plastic.
Currently playing Fee Ra Huri by Omnia!! This song has really opened me to a whole new world of music. Next I wanna learn An Irish Pub Song by The Rumjacks.
Have you tried the Susato VSB (very small bore) whistles? I've had one for a couple of weeks or so, so I'm getting more used to it. The sound and how it feels t play are quite different to the more well known Susato small bore D. The octaves are far more balanced, it doesn't blow your ears out at the top of the range, and it sounds, well, like a tin whistle. Personally, my "go to" whistles are still my old Generations, but they don't have the volume (or wind resistance) for playing outside that a Susato has. This VSB whistle, though, is much, much less of a compromise for me than the standard Susato and I'm growing to quite like it.
Hello, I like both whistle sound but I think the humphrey sounds softer... Otherwise, I like Karuna from Faun, these days :) but i did not tried it yet on my whistle, I'm currently training with Bo mhin na Toitean, and the butterfly. Thank for your video, they're helping me a lot to progress!
I'm enjoying video game tunes such as Lion's Pride from World of Warcraft and the various Zelda songs. Next to learn is Concerning hobbits from Lord of the rings.
Hi Sean I am a beginner tin whistle player and looking for a tin whistle that I can tune. The one I’m learning on is a cheap knockoff, but after 50 years playing the Fife it is very similar
@@whistletutor thanks a ton. Looking for a better whistle because on my clarke celtic it cracks on the high b. Lookin for a good whistle around 30- 60$ I guess its between freeman,Humphrey, & dixon
I have a similar tunable, plastic Dixon so I’m not really interested in entering the contest, but wanted to comment anyway. For faster tunes, I enjoy playing “Haunted House” and “The Lilting Banshee,” and for slower ones “Hector the Hero,” “Carolan’s Dream” (not technically a Carolan tune but I’m blanking on the correct name - possibly Molly McAlpin?), and “Pulling Bracken.”
Been practicing the cliffs of moher jig for a while now on my sweetone. Its been the hardest song for me yet. Especially since I'm new to ornamentations (which your vids have been a big help, thanks!), and this song is heavy on the ornaments(ornamentations?). But I've been enjoying it. Still practicing the roll and tryna get it up to speed. Love the song a lot, its very beautiful and has a deep reflective mood to it thats a little hard to describe. Definitely wouldn't recommend it to beginners tho (as I am one) lol.
What were the comments about equal vs. just temperament? About all instruments use equal temperament these days. I am not a whistle expert, but I strongly doubt any whistle would use a version of just intonation (of which there are MANY), especially since fretted string instruments have to use equal temperament.
Favorite at the moment is Road to Lisdoonvarna!
Congratulations, your comment was randomly selected to win the whistle! When you have a minute please DM me through my channel, through IG (@Whistletutor), or by email (link in my website, whistletutor.com.) Cheers!!
whistletutor woohoo!! Messaged you on insta. Thanks!!
Hi Sean, I'd say "I Buried My Wife And Danced On Her Grave" is my favourite tune, especially on the low D whistle. It has a good wide range and isn't a difficult tune. People also get a good kick out of the name too ☺.
I’m pairing this tune with “Haunted House” 😋
I'm not here to enter the contest, just want to say how much I love this Dixon whistle. I've been playing this brand for the past 3 years. I bought it while recovering from pneumonia because this whistle requires very little air and is a breeze to play. I didn't think anything could ever tear me away from my beloved Clarke Original, but this Dixon whistle replaced it because it's more lung-friendly for me. I love that it's tunable because it's good to be in tune with the other whistlers at my session. Also, I find this whistle to be squeak-free and so easy to transition to 2nd octave. I really miss playing my Clarke, but I have to say the plastic Dixon is now my whistle of choice. Thanks for this review, Sean, and your generosity. So kind of you to find a good home for this whistle and to whoever that may be, they won't be disappointed! Favorite tunes- Quarry Cross, Cold Frosty Morning, Banish Misfortune, Spancil Hill.
The DX004 is my favourite 'go to' whistle and the one I recommend to those I am helping to learn. It is only a little more expensive than a really cheap whistle and, even at its price, is a very cheap instrument for anyone wishing to play something. I find a really cheap instrument can put people off through having flaws that only an experienced player can circumvent. Sometimes the same is true for a really high end instrument. The Dixon, however, sits nicely in the middle and is flexible enough to learn on, and play for many years, even when the player has more specialised whistles to play with.
I would love for you to do a comparison between your Gary Humphrey and the Tony Dixon DX006, which is Dixon's aluminum D whistle. Also, thanks for videos. I've learned Down by the Sally Gardens, Inisheer, Southwind, and taps, cuts, rolls, and slides by watching your videos. I know you're busy with The Sternwheelers band, but I hope you keep these videos coming. By the way, you and the Sternwheelers have some groovy songs.
Thanks for all the informative videos! I have really enjoyed them and learned from them. My favorite tune right now is Si Bheag Si Mhor. I've just recently retired and have picked up learning to play the tin whistle to enjoy during my retirement.
My teacher helped me pick this whistle out while we were at a Celtic festival, probably around 2005. I still play it today since I like that chiffy, raspy sound.
Thank you for the review. The Foggy Dew is one of my favorite songs to play.
King Of The Fairies and The Star Of The County Down are currently my favourites.
Been playing Inisheer recently but just starting wild mountain tyme. Thanks for all your vids.
Have had a very cheap non-tunable D tin whistle on the shelf for many years, with retirement finally providing time to get started. Amazing Grace just now (along with lots of practice in covering the holes well and blowing consistently for the octaves), long list of others on deck to learn.
A favorite tune... man that's tough. The wise maid is a blast, as is trip to herves. Favorite is probably Sally gardens reel or Launching the boats!
Hi, I'm currently playing "The Star of the county Down" and "Down by the Sally Gardens".
Another cool video.
I have has a Tony Dixon for now on 18 years and I love it.
Just saw your video, and I like the honest comments and comparison. I am considering getting into playing a whistle, so honest info is what I need to help make a purchase. Thanks.
I currently play bagpipes, so think a whistle is a natural expansion instrument to consider.
I keep circling back to these tunes at the moment. Calliope House, Kid on the Mountain, The Monaghan Jig, The Coleraine Jig, Apsley Cottage, Fair Haired Canavans (sp?), Teatotaler, Eileen Óg, Cliffs of Mother, Maid on the Green, Fig for a Kiss.
Woaw! You have just given a list of ace toons
@@mariapalmer5671 Hope you enjoy them. (Just realised autocorrect murdered 'The Cliffs of Moher')
My favorite tune right now is The Mermaid. It’s one of my favorite songs that Trail West does, and I happened to run across the sheet music for the tune on a website and I’ve just gotten the hang of it and can actually keep up with with the Trail West version about half the time. Thankfully they recorded it in G so I can play along. It’s a fun bouncy song considering the ship sinks and everyone drowns! 🤣 I’m pretty tickled being able to play it considering that I’ve only been playing since March! It sounds pretty sweet on my Dixon DX006 aluminum whistle. My other favorite is Canan nan Gaidheal. It’s a hauntingly beautiful minor tune. I dug up the sheet music online and then transposed it so I could play it on my D whistle.
I'd like to hear how "Drunken Sailor" spunds
I just learned The Blarney Pilgrim. I really like the three parts, especially the third part. I'm also very fond of the Humours of Ballymanus which I've been playing after seeing the you tube of your session. For some reason, the middle part tricks me up frequently even though it seems simple enough. Thanks for the tunes and these comparison videos!
Hey, my favorite tune right now that I'm playing is probably greensleves. I love that tune :D
Great review! My fav tune that can't stop playing now is the Killavil Jig
Cooley's reel has been my favourite since I've started
Just learned to play Trip to Pakistan this week and can't stop playing it. Works surprisingly well with Wind That Shakes The Barley.
I recently started working on a set starting with The Soup of Good Drink, great fun tune, from the O'Farrel's Pocket Companion.
Love my Dixon Poly Pro with the brass slider. Have lots of other more expensive one but I always come back to the Dixon. Finbar Furey grabbed it from my hand and played it backstage a few years ago so I dare not sell it!
Thanks for the review, the whistle sounds nice. My favorite is The Parting Glass. I see you've done it with flute a few years back, but I'm not finding it on tin whistle. Would love to hear that. Thanks!
Thanks for the review and giveaway. Ive been finding myself playing Health To The Ladies lately, so i gues its at least a temporary favorite.
Current all-time favourite; The Plains of Boyle. That's just today mind! Still, I do tend to keep coming back to the hornpipes. Play us some more please!
Monaghan jig. I quite like the way it sounds)
Thanks for the review! My favorite tune changes, but right now it's Far Away waltz
Hi! My current favorite tune to play is "Be Thou My Vision" on a Clarke Sweetone in D
I love playing "The Fox on the Town" on tin whistle, a great Richard Dwyer tune!
I currently (mostly) play a Tony Dixon trad nickel and like it for the most part - responsive, light, in tune but find that the high B is finicky, requiring a frustrating level of concentration and a considerable tightening of embouchure so I've put a new whistle on my birthday list... Have you looked at the Goldfinch whistles or the Clover whistles (there was a draw for a Clover Big Baby recently but I sadly didn't win)? I think they are the two contenders for me. My current favourite tune right now is King of the Fairies but that may just be because I'm working on a lullabye collection for my new grand nephew and King of the Fairies gives me a nice quick, playful tune to switch off to when I get tired of lullabies. Thanks for the videos!
My favourit tune has always been and still is amhran na labhair. And thanks a lot for your great videos! I always enjoy watching them:)
The Humours Of Tulla is one of my favourites.
I like hornpipes, the one I'm currently learning is Humours of Tullycrine.
I love may morning dew, & also the twisting of the hay rope.
Thank you for the review, I’ve been thinking about getting a Dixon so I’ll definitely be looking more into it now. I’ve been leaning to play Celtic Hym (by Aural Axiom) , still working on it but been playing it non stop 😊
I've only really started playing the tin whistle this year, so my tune library is pretty basic, morrisons jig is a favorite to play at the moment. Thanks for inspiring me!
I like reels. I want to learn St. Anne's Reel. I would also love to hear what you think of the Killarney D whistle. I'm really enjoying your videos. Thanks so much!!
I'm currently digging and learning The Golden Stud.
Thanks , my favorite tune is Celtic Hymn, love it.
My favourite at the moment would be "pretty girl milking" , at least I think that's what it's called! Just enough but not too much of a challenge 😄
I like Road to Lisdoonvarna, and Silver Spear.
Right now I like the combination of "The Skye Boat Song" and "The Barren Rocks of Aden." I also am working on two I learned from your videos, "Jerry's Beaver Hat" and "The Kesh." Yea, I know, not one of your favorites, but your treatment made it cool. And it pairs well with "JBH."
Have you tested the Tony Dixon DX005? I'm wondering how much of a difference there is between the two
I'm really enjoying playing The boys of bluehill at the moment, and the Kerry polka 😁
Nice review. Currently learning the Windmill reel after hearing Orlaith play it
Favorite is tough. I always love Sonny's Mazurka.
Hi Sean.
Working on Tripping Up the Stairs, so as to make an Ador-D-G jig set...
Rakes of K ... Tripping ... Out on Ocean... that's the goal.
Great video as always, Sean. My favorite time to play is James Kelly’s reel. Love Brian Finnegan’s version in Night Ride To Armagh.
Of course I meant “tune”, not time. Ya can’t play time.
Hi! I think if you are the whstle tutor, you should know about and should have compared Tony Dixon tunable high D Traditional brass or traditional brass-nickel coated (with polymer fipple). Those are in tune, and still are responsive, and cost about the same as the whole polymer Tony Dixon, and their price is much better as Humphrey's. This whistle is not in tune, as you heard the porblems between low and high G, A and B notes. What do you think?
Awesome review! I'm only at the point where my favorite is whatever I'm assigned to learn at the moment. Right now it's Jim Ward's Jig!
My favorite irish tune is the Morrison's Jig, which I play a lot. I also like the Wise Maid.
it's great how music heals the soul
For those who like the traditional chirpy chiff of the cheaper tin whistles but wants an instrument that is easier to maintain, Dixon is definitely a good investment.
My favourite tunes to play are rolling in the ryegrass and dunmore lassies
My current favorite is Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Thanks for video.Have a Dixon (Cupro nickel Trad). COOLIES and THE WISE MAID.
If I have to choose my favorite....it’s Red Haired Boy and High Reel!
My favourite tunes to play at the moment is Ashokan farewell, Scarborough fair, Men of Destiny (March)
Playing the DX-005 right now, myself. I like it for playing indoors. I've been on a Slip Jig roll lately, so I've been working on Humors of Ballymanus and Gort Na Mona. Probably spend equal time on Roaring Barmaid and Calliope House as well.
I'm liking a lot of metal music using whistles such as To Erebor and The Returning Race by Wind Rose. Also trying to get Morrissons Jig dialled.
Picking my favorite tune feels like having to pick my favorite flower on a blooming cherry tree! Right now I'm leaning into a lot of A Polkas on the box - Bill Sullivan's is a current fave.
I think my current favorite tune to play on whistle is "Banish Misfortune" (which is also fun on mandolin); the one I'm currently working on is "The Maid Behind the Bar."
my favourite is a northumbrian lullaby called bonny at morn
I learned that tune on the harp, but I bet it sounds lovely on a low whistle!
one of my favorites tune...Honesty bar and steps!
very good review! favorite tune is Celtic Hymn,
My current favorite is probably Inisheer.
Humphrey sounds more assured and sweet overall. It could be due to it being brass but Humphrey and Dixon both are pretty chirpy and I am actually imporessed Dixon managed to achieve this with plastic.
Ty! I enjoy The Auld Truangle
Currently playing Fee Ra Huri by Omnia!! This song has really opened me to a whole new world of music. Next I wanna learn An Irish Pub Song by The Rumjacks.
Have you tried the Susato VSB (very small bore) whistles? I've had one for a couple of weeks or so, so I'm getting more used to it.
The sound and how it feels t play are quite different to the more well known Susato small bore D. The octaves are far more balanced, it doesn't blow your ears out at the top of the range, and it sounds, well, like a tin whistle.
Personally, my "go to" whistles are still my old Generations, but they don't have the volume (or wind resistance) for playing outside that a Susato has. This VSB whistle, though, is much, much less of a compromise for me than the standard Susato and I'm growing to quite like it.
It seems to my ear, there is some problems with the accuracy of the tone on te Tony Dixon. Isn't it?
I'm trying to figure out how to play "Farewell to the creeks" right now, which at the moment is my favourite.
Well... currently I've just learned You raise me up and I really enjoy playing it but I think that my favourite at the moment is King of the fairies 😁
Sí Beag Sí Mór - waltz; Tam Bain’s Lum - march; Highland Cathedral - strathspey; Saint Anne’s - reel; The Swallowtail - jig.
Hello, I like both whistle sound but I think the humphrey sounds softer...
Otherwise, I like Karuna from Faun, these days :) but i did not tried it yet on my whistle, I'm currently training with Bo mhin na Toitean, and the butterfly.
Thank for your video, they're helping me a lot to progress!
I just can't believe the speed of your fingers.
I'm enjoying video game tunes such as Lion's Pride from World of Warcraft and the various Zelda songs. Next to learn is Concerning hobbits from Lord of the rings.
I like the tone of a recorder because they are clear and bright, some of them are a bit bland, but some do have character like the Aulos Haka.
Hi Sean I am a beginner tin whistle player and looking for a tin whistle that I can tune. The one I’m learning on is a cheap knockoff, but after 50 years playing the Fife it is very similar
Working on a tune written by piper friend called Celtic Flavor (as a remembrance), otherwise having fun with Ger the Rigger
What type of gary Humphrey whistle do you have? Stealth 3, journey man?
This one is the Stealth - I've got a few of his aluminum ones as well and they're all lovely!
@@whistletutor thanks a ton. Looking for a better whistle because on my clarke celtic it cracks on the high b. Lookin for a good whistle around 30- 60$ I guess its between freeman,Humphrey, & dixon
Hi, for the moment i'm working on "Morrison"s Jig"... a classical one !
I've been playing The Killavil a lot recently!
My current fave is Lucky Dozen by Matt Heaton
Trying to get to grips with James Browns March after listening to Michael McGoldrick’s Fused album
Whoa, the higher octaves are Really Loud.
Have you tried any of the Dixon alto whistles?
I haven't, this is the only Dixon I've played but others seem to have good things to say about the other models.
I have a similar tunable, plastic Dixon so I’m not really interested in entering the contest, but wanted to comment anyway. For faster tunes, I enjoy playing “Haunted House” and “The Lilting Banshee,” and for slower ones “Hector the Hero,” “Carolan’s Dream” (not technically a Carolan tune but I’m blanking on the correct name - possibly Molly McAlpin?), and “Pulling Bracken.”
Been practicing the cliffs of moher jig for a while now on my sweetone. Its been the hardest song for me yet. Especially since I'm new to ornamentations (which your vids have been a big help, thanks!), and this song is heavy on the ornaments(ornamentations?). But I've been enjoying it. Still practicing the roll and tryna get it up to speed. Love the song a lot, its very beautiful and has a deep reflective mood to it thats a little hard to describe. Definitely wouldn't recommend it to beginners tho (as I am one) lol.
Is this the only video on RUclips without a thumbs down?
Danny boy is my favourite!
Good vid information
Me I like playing the Kesh Jig
What were the comments about equal vs. just temperament? About all instruments use equal temperament these days. I am not a whistle expert, but I strongly doubt any whistle would use a version of just intonation (of which there are MANY), especially since fretted string instruments have to use equal temperament.
my favourite tune is King of the Fairies
I play one of these in low d...
Sorry for being so basic....I used to like, probably the first one that I learned after “Amazing Grace” was “Rowan Tree”.