Merlin Music Frequently Asked Questions 

How quickly will I receive my order?
Please see our Ordering Info page.

Do you have sound samples of all your whistles?
Not as yet, and in fact very few whistle sites do have sound samples. At the moment we just have samples of the "Black Knight Silver" Low D, which you can hear by going to our Merlin CDs page and downloading the mp3 files

I can play another instrument. Will I be able to play the whistle?
Well, all we can honestly say is that we don't know! However, if you have a facility with another instrument, and especially if you have a good ear for a tune, the chances are good. No guarantees, though!

I'm buying my first whistle. Which would be best?
We'd suggest a Soprano D from any of our ranges. Many "session" tunes are in the key of D, so these are the most commonly played whistles. Being small, they're also the easiest to voice and to finger. We'd advise against a Low D if you're an absolute beginner, as it takes experience to achieve a good sound and to cover the holes properly.

I don't know whether to choose a Black Knight or an Excalibur whistle. What's the difference?
We do our best to describe the differences on the Whistles page but, briefly, the "Black Knights" have a somewhat warmer sound, and the "Excaliburs" a somewhat brighter sound. Then there's appearance - and price - of course … Ultimately, the decision has to be yours!

I already have a Merlin whistle. Can I buy a separate body in a different key?
No. We are unable to supply separate bodies (or heads) because all our whistles are hand-made, and the bodies, tuning barrels and heads are individually fitted together to ensure a perfect fit. Check out the "Excalibur Gold" sets, with one head and four matched bodies, or one head and five matched bodies.

I don't want to disturb anyone when I'm practising. Can you make me a practice head for my whistle?
No, sorry, we can't.

When I play a scale on my Soprano D7 whistle it seems to go "out" somehow, and sounds very odd at the top end. What's the problem?
The most likely reason for this is that you're starting the scale with all fingers on, closing the bottom hole and running up from there. This doesn't give you a major scale, and does indeed sound odd! To play in the D major scale on a D7, leave the bottom hole open at all times, only covering the bottom hole when you want to play a low C natural for a particular tune.

I'm playing with other people and my whistle doesn't seem to be in tune with them. What's wrong?
First of all, check that you're playing in the same key as everyone else. If not, select a whistle in the correct key. If your whistle sounds nearly right, but not quite, you might be a little sharp or flat. Give it a tweak by easing the body out slightly to flatten the notes, or pushing the body in a little to sharpen them. Of course, it could be the other players who aren't in tune! A tuner is a good investment, so you can make sure your whistle's always spot on.

Can I return my whistle if I'm not happy with it, or if I've changed my mind?
Yes, if you return it to us within 14 days of receipt, undamaged and in its carrying case. When we receive it we'll check it over and, if it's in perfect condition, we'll give you a full refund. Please note that we cannot accept returns of CDs or books unless they're faulty in some way, as these could have been copied in the meantime.