Alternative Fingering for High Notes

Whistle
1

Hey All, I was attempting to play from the Riverdance for pennywhistle book when I stumbled upon this alternative fingering for high note trick.

I found out that if one has trouble getting clear, consistent 3rd Octave high Ds using:

XXX XXX (with lots of breath pressure)

one can do it using:

XXX OOO (accepts a greater range of high breath pressures).

The problem with using XXX XXX for me, is sometimes I don’t blow hard enough and I end up with an 2nd Oct A. I never get this problem when I use XXX OOO though, and always get a well intonated 3rd Oct D as long as I tell myself to blow harder.

I also found that one can do a good 2rd Oct C# with XXX XOO too. People usually do a OOO OOO though.

If you have no problems with the high notes and use XXX OOO for a third Oct G and XXX XOO for F, then this tip is not applicable.

[ This Message was edited by: Eldarion on 2001-11-09 22:51 ]

2

My experence has been that the high D hits the best at 0XX000 (tweaked Clarke) or 0XXX000 (Burke), but I think it depends on the whistle used.

These things are fun to experiment with, aren’t they? What whistle are you using?

Jef
0XX000

3

I’ve been using a Sindt and a Generation. I tried OXX XOO on the Burke but it gives a flat D though. Before anyone tries these stuff it is recommended to put on earplugs I think. Thats what I do or my ears would be ringing to no end.