The Shush Pro High D...the quietest tin whistle in the world?

I’m very excited to be trying out the Shush PRO high D whistle which was kindly given to me by Big Whistle!

I was really excited to play this one because, as the name suggests, it is meant to be quiet and soft sounding, and these are some unusual and very useful qualities to find in a whistle!

I went out into the forest and played 'Zelda’s Lullaby' on the Shush Pro…

First impressions - I really love the sound of this whistle! It almost sounds a little like an ocarina because of the soft and muted tone, which was perfect for playing this melody from Zelda! (If you want to learn to play this tune the tab is available on my Patreon channel )

Appearance -

I really love the look of the Shush PRO, it has a black satin finish over a brass body, and I love the way the brass shines through from the interior and on the inscribed logo and sound-absorption blade which sits inside the tone hole - it looks very sleek and professional.

The whistle has a weighty feel to it - the brass feels thick and sturdy and the mouthpiece is also comfortable to play.

Shush Instruments also have a range of different whistle keys and designs.

Sound and tone -

Even though I was expecting this whistle to be quiet, I was really surprised when I first played it - it really lives up to its name!

But being quiet, it doesn’t lose anything in terms of tonal quality. The timbre is very pleasing, soft and pure across both octaves - no harsh frequencies.

I love that the volume doesn’t change significantly when you play into the second octave, it really feels comfortable to glide across all the notes, knowing that you will not get any shrill or loud sounds.

The sound-absorption technology of the Shush blade which sits in the tone hole below the mouthpiece gives it a

quietness and mellowness of tone that I have not experienced from any other high D whistle so far.

Because the sound is so smooth and free from harsh frequencies, and the volume is quite consistent between octaves, it makes this whistle great for recording with.

Of course, with more expensive and handcrafted whistles you can get a more nuanced and dynamic performance, but this whistle has its own unique qualities which make it useful for specific circumstances.

This is now one of my go-to whistles for daily practice, as often when I’m practicing I want a quiet and comfortable whistle to play, and this fits the bill perfectly.

Playability -

This whistle is very comfortable to play, it doesn't require much air-pressure to reach the high notes which is really beneficial, especially for playing fast tunes. It has a weight to it, so it’s heavier than cheaper tin whistles which I personally like - I find the balance good when playing. It’s also very responsive which is perfect for playing fast tunes.

I feel that this whistle (or the Shush classic) would also be very good for a beginner player, or if you’re looking to upgrade from a beginner whistle - especially if you want to play quietly which I feel most learners do!

It takes away that fear of being shrill or ear-piercing when going for high notes, and the ease of playing means you can worry less about whether you’re going to reach those notes and makes playing more relaxing.

I would add that because of the quiet nature of this whistle, it wouldn't necessarily be ideal for certain situations where you might need more volume such as playing live with other musicians as the sound wouldn't be heard above the louder instruments, or for example if you are playing in jam sessions - in those cases you might want a whistle with a louder and less muted tone so that you can be heard. However there are many circumstances where having a quiet whistle is very useful, so it is well worth adding one of these to your collection!

This is such a unique little whistle and I highly recommend it!

You can find the Shush Pro as well as the Shush classic on their official store here - https://shushinstruments.com/?ref=Leyna

Sone of the links included in my blog are affiliate links, which means if you click on one and go on to purchase a whistle, I will earn a small commission and you will also be supporting me! I only endorse instruments that I play and love ☺️