Well after a while on the Sweetheart, I started to notice a distressing issue with my fingering of the 2nd D (d).
I’m starting to think it’s possible that I’ve been playing the whistle for the last 5 years all wrong, and can’t seem to change the habbit. Same goes for the flute which I’m playing for a few months now.
As known, d can be played covering all of the 6 holes or just 5 holes…
I play it covering all of the holes… easier no?
well the flute made me realize that covering only 5 holes will deffinately 100% give me a d, while covering all six holes gives me a tiny glimps of the D before going up to d. This is insane! ;/ going from A to d or from G to d introduces that kind of unclean transition which disturbs me to the levels of getting frustrated.
So what do I naturally do? Started trying to play the d using 5 holes. And GOD is that hard or what? going from d to B this way is simply a scandal I always hear a 3rd note between the two. Well yea sometimes I manage to get it right, but only in slow motion and only once in a while.
Makes me feel like a handicap or something Plus it makes me re-learn all the tunes I know like the palm of my hand.
Anyone has some input on this issue? Maybe I should just continue play the way I’m used to and that’s it ;/ A distress.
it is definitely not a scandal. i play all my d’s like that. no matter what. some people like the six finger d when they want to honk it, but i can honk it better on 5 finger.
also, if your six finger d (as you call it) does not work right away, then your embouchure needs a lot of work. you should be able to hit low D, middle d, then high a all on the same fingering, just by changing embouchure, and leaving the blowing pressure the same.
Of course it might be the embouchure, which I’m working everyday on. Thing is I tried this thing on my longtime played whistle, and noticed that covering all the 6 holes might sometimes give me that screaming aweful tone that is just between D going up to d… That artifact which we all try to avoid, which can never happen if I cover only 5 holes. Of course it depends on the whistle I use too, which is a Harper - and although it has a great tone, it is quite hard on the 2nd octave - for all notes.
you’ll get used to it. on concertina, i have two fingerings for D in the first octave, two for the second, and i’m not even sure if its one or two for the third. for A… well, let me tell you! i have two A’s in the low octave, 3 A’s in the middle octave, and 3 in the high (and i’m not even sure if there is one in the highest). it was overwhelming at first, but now i just reach for whichever one i want.
on the flute, i play c one of 5 different ways, depending on the flute i am playing. either like on a whistle, oxx-ooo, with my first finger down on a silver flute, with my first finger down and a pointer key on a keyed flute, oxo-xxx on my antique, or the new one i am working on for my new flute, oxx-xox.
now, if only i could play as well as i could switch fingering…
Trip, first up, don’t trip out!!
Changing your fingering for D will seem impossible at first, but you will get there. One thing though, do not lose the 6 fingered D, it is still a very useful way to play D, especially middle D when in quick transition.
I have no preference between 5 on or 6 on, I play whatever comes along at the time.
If you are playing slurred passages using equal breath pressure and you move from middle D to first octave B, then you will hear a quick C# in there no matter how crisp your fingering is.
Think about it, you play a middle D: oxxxxx, then b: xooooo, so obviuosly moving between those two notes leaves a split second where your fingers will be in transition giving you: oooooo.
It is only natural you will hear a ‘third note’ in there.
It is not a problem, only practice on your ‘new’ D will equal out the problem you see/hear with it.
I always hear a 3rd note between the two. Well yea sometimes I manage to get it right, but only in slow motion and only once in a while.
Plus it makes me re-learn all the tunes I know like the palm of my hand.
