B Natural

raindog1970 · Post by **raindog1970** » Fri Jul 20, 2001 8:16 pm

I am curious as to why B natural whistles are such a rarity.
Everybody makes a Bb, but not a B natural.
If you want to play in the key of E, there's nothing better than a B natural if you don't have the finger stretch for a low E.
I know the E scale can be played on an A, but it's much easier on a B natural.
I have a Susato Kildare B natural, which is the only mass produced one I'm aware of.
Why aren't they more common?

Whistlepeg · Post by **Whistlepeg** » Fri Jul 20, 2001 9:01 pm

I personally, have never had reason to play Irish music in the key of E, or B for that matter. (If I play "classical" I use a recorder) Any singer I play with who likes to sing close to E, can sing in E flat or F just as easily (Bb or C whistles work well for that) and none of the friends I play with play in E. 99% of all the tunes I play at sessions fit on my D whistle. I'm curious, do you use your B whistle often, and when? Maybe I have led a sheltered life when it comes to whistle keys!
Sue
Sue

Wandering_Whistler · Post by **Wandering_Whistler** » Fri Jul 20, 2001 9:54 pm

Everybody makes a Bb, but not a B natural.
...
I have a Susato Kildare B natural, which is the only mass produced one I'm aware of.

I would guess that most whistle manufacturers focus on the "bread and butter" of the market, which would be D and low D. Anything beyond that is a tiny niche in an already small market base. However, Chieftain makes a B and low B, which can be considered a 'mass produced'. You can get Thin Weasels in B, though I don't think I'd consider these 'mass produced'

raindog1970 · Post by **raindog1970** » Fri Jul 20, 2001 9:56 pm

I only use my B natural whistle on two songs at the present time.
One is "The Fields Of Athenry" as recorded by The Dubliners, and the other is "My Heart Will Go On" as recorded by Celine Dion.
Both of these songs are in the key of E, so I need my B natural to play along with the CD.
I've got to give my poor fingers a rest with a couple of moody ballads every now and then.

boyd · Post by **boyd** » Sat Jul 21, 2001 1:02 pm

i suppose a B nat whistle could be played along with a set of Uilleann pipes pitched in B.....though some might ask why bother with the whistle in that case.

NicoMoreno · Post by **NicoMoreno** » Sun Jul 22, 2001 5:04 pm

The people that I play with at church are really quite funny. They like to play things in E because it is "so much easier" on a guitar. I have started getting them to do a few songs in D (not really there are just some that they do in D) but for many songs it would really help to have a B-nat whistle
Luckily I am working on a design for one!

Nico

talasiga · Post by **talasiga** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 4:03 am

B for beautiful
D for dull

dfernandez77 · Post by **dfernandez77** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 9:28 am

My friend brought a bamboo flute back from Saigon for me. It's really very nice, especially for the US$6 cost, and plays in B Major. Which left me wondering, "now where would I ever need a B natural simple system flute?"

Screeeech!!! · Post by **Screeeech!!!** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 10:10 am

talasiga wrote:B for beautiful
D for dull

D for Delicious
B for Bland

Bill Reeder · Post by **Bill Reeder** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 11:01 am

dfernandez77 wrote:My friend brought a bamboo flute back from Saigon for me. It's really very nice, especially for the US$6 cost, and plays in B Major. Which left me wondering, "now where would I ever need a B natural simple system flute?"

It'll come in handy if you ever stumble across an Uilleann pipe B session. Pipes pitched in B are becoming popular. Flat sets such as these are usually quite mellow and fairly quiet compared to the concert sets pitched in D, so you stand a really good chance of hearing yourself and being heard by others as well. Otherwise, you can use it for tunes and songs in the Key of E.

picardy third · Post by **picardy third** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 3:05 pm

I love my B natural that you made me, Gary! I use it quite a bit but I play a large variety of music types. Have never used it in a traditional setting. Only in orchestral settings or contemporary "rock" band settings.

You're right! When playing in E major, it is the whistle I go to (or my Overton tenor E). I suggest to anyone ordering a B-flat from Gary, spend the extra (what, $20?) and get the B natural tube! You'll be ready for that opportunity to play in E or B.

P3

picardy third · Post by **picardy third** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 3:08 pm

raindog1970 wrote:I am curious as to why B natural whistles are such a rarity.
Everybody makes a Bb, but not a B natural.

Yet another reason to go with Gary Humphrey's whistles!

You da man!

raindog1970 · Post by **raindog1970** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 3:37 pm

picardy third wrote:I love my B natural that you made me, Gary!

Glad you're still enjoying it, Nathan.
I think yours was the last pre-Stealth Bb/B set I made.
And has anyone noticed that this thread is five years old?
Leave it to Talasiga to resurrect something this ancient... I didn't even make whistles back then!

preacher · Post by **preacher** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 9:09 pm

I have an awesome B whistle in PVC made by Mack Hoover. It has a beautiful, almost wood sound with lots of volume available so it can keep up with amplified instruments. They are very reasonably priced. As to why the key of E - well many songwriters just happen to be guitar players. E, A and D are their favorite keys as it gives them more open strings and easisest fingerings. They will also do G and C but start asking them to play in Bb or Eb - there are few who can oblige without resorting to a capo and a less experienced player may not even know what you're talking about. Whistle players don't need no stinking capos - just more whistles in more keys!

RonKiley · Post by **RonKiley** » Mon Jun 19, 2006 6:51 am

I was at the Potomac Celtic Festival yesterday and played a Susato B at the House of Musical Traditions booth. It was a lovely whistle. I almost bought it. I may go down to the store and get it yet. I played a few others some very nice and some disappointing. I played a Shaw low F that sounded very nice. I told the guy at the booth that it was a color changing whistle. After a few minutes playing it I turn blue.

BTW I took my Humphreys D and my Alba Q1 with me.

Ron