I got a Low D not too long ago, and i have gotten used to the reach for my fingers…
but the problem is that they are litterally too small to cover the hole properly. is there any way to say.. make the holes slightly smaller without loosing sound?
anything would help,
thanks in advance,
Ash
Hi Ash,
what is the make of your Low D? I on;y have one (Dixon) but the rest of the board can probably suggest a make with smaller holes.
Are you using the pipers grip? Mora about this elsewhere on C&F, but this might ease your problem with your current Low D.
best of luck, Martin
Hi
My partner has small hands as well and had the same problem. Her solution was to buy a whistle from Ronaldo Reyburn - see Dale’s low whistle manufacturer list for Ronaldo’s website. The holes are offset and follow a sort of ‘S’ pattern down the whistle. The result of this is she doesn’t have to stretch to reach the holes and she can also use the pads of the first joint of her fingers - as opposed to piper fingering. She does have to use her little finger for the lowest hole but tells me that it’s an easy adjustment to make.
Ronaldo’s whistles also sound great and look fantastic. They aren’t maybe as well known as say Overtons or Copelands but I’m sure there a few afficianados of them on the board.
Hope this helps.
Gerry
Oh no!!!
I checked out Ronaldo’s website.
I never thought that I’d want a Low D.
I could not bear sinking the $$$ into something that I would have difficulty in playing. But now… oh no!!!
And He has a 30 day return policy!
I have a susato Low Eb it is a stretch for me. My hands are stiff and sore when I am done playing it.
I would also like to know what other whistlers prefer in a low D.
Laura
[ This Message was edited by: hillfolk22 on 2002-01-16 14:18 ]
On 2002-01-15 19:25, Ashicka wrote:
is there any way to say.. make the holes slightly smaller without loosing sound?
Instead of making holes smaller, one can make their fingers larger! Just stick pieces of rubber pads on the fingers and Voila! you have enlarged surface area to play your low D! 
Okay that was just nonsense. I agree with Martin to check on your piper fingering. Its very important to see if you have gotten it right because that is essential in getting a proper grip that covers all the holes, especially if you have smaller hands.
Once you’ve crossed out your grip as the source of your problems, I think you might like try another whistle. Tell your next whistle-maker that you have small hands and ask them to modify the whistle accordingly. I don’t think making the holes smaller on your present whistle by cosmetic means will serve you long term - if that is a viable option at all. Plus I had the impression that changing hole size might affect intonation.
[ This Message was edited by: Eldarion on 2002-01-16 20:00 ]
I was under the impression that saller hole size will decrease the overall volue, and the bore of the whistle must also be corrected to compensate.
Most of the smaller holed whistles I’ve played also have a slightly greater stretch, but this could be due to the overall diameters too, which tended to be fairly narrow.
I’ve not found a narrow bore low whistle I really like, but can tell you to avoid Susato!