Maybe I’m still getting used to it but…my right thumb gets wicked sore after 15 mins or so on my Overton Low D. Of course, I don’t stop…I just prop it up on my knee. I’ve thought about rigging a thumbrest but, I can’t pull off the reach without keeping a grip on the whistle. Anyone else have this problem? Any suggestions?
Oh, yeah! I regularly play a Chieftain low D (old style). I made a thumbrest out of a 90-degree PVC elbow. Helps a lot.
Mark
I just fought through it on my Chieftain. I think it messes up the tone to put on on my knee so I just endured the sore thumbs for a while.
I’ve used a Susato thumbrest on my Burke low D for a couple of years; no right thumb problems as a result. Pain is usually there to tell us to stop doing whatever is causing it.
I got soreness in my right thumb from playing the high whistle. I feel it was caused by tension. I think you absolutely must solve this problem. Whatever works, do it. A sore finger can turn into a serious problem. Be sure you are not pressing down on the holes when you cover them. You can end up squeezing the whistle and I think this can cause tension in the thumb. Just lay your finger on a hole very gently, just to cover and seal it. If it doesn’t seal, don’t press harder. Re-position your finger. It takes constant vigilance to relax, it is not easy. Constantly be checking for tension in your shoulders and neck, keep aware of it in all parts of your body. Also, take breaks and find some finger and hand relaxation exercises to do. There are quite a few out there. The page I usually recommend no longer exists unfortunately.
Ditto on the Susato thumb rest. Anything that makes playing an instrument comfortable and takes the stress off hand muscles. Someone got it right with sax straps - can’t really play sax much without one.
Well I get that on my left hand, however I play right hand on top, or closer to the fipple end. I used to get it while playing the soprano whistles, back when I was first starting the whistle, but that was just because I was learning the thing, and my fingers just seemed to like having a death grip on it untill I finally learned to relax later on. I still think there’s a permanent dent, or thin spot on my left thumb from having squeezed the damn thing so much for so long.
However with my Chieftain low D, the bloomin’ E hole is so huge, and my fingers are so skinny… I just about have to press hard, or squeeze the body in order to completely seal the hole. And yes, that’s with the proper piper’s grip. I just have skinny fingers and small hands. I’d say the fingers are long enough, just not fat enough… Anyways, I love playing the low D, as it’s reminicient of the Irish flute. But everytime I play it seriously for a good while, my left thumb on the bottom end starts aching like hell, and I have to quit. Permanent damage to my hands isn’t worth playing any instrument. And this is all playing relaxed as I can with the low whistle. If I go anymore relaxed, my middle finger won’t cover that huge E hole on the Chieftain. And it’s only that hole. I can reach the holes just fine, and cover all… but the E hole. Guess I’ll have to learn the flute embouchure! 
Thanks for the replies y’all. I probably do need to get used to it…and it probably wouldn’t hurt to focus on relaxing. It probably doesn’t help that being a line cook requires me to use my right hand extensively for flipping burgers and slinging fry baskets(I’ve been doing that for a decade and I still have a sore index finger and elbow on busy days). But regardless, I love playing(and buying) whistles too much to ever give up on it.
Are you using piper’s grip? If not, give it a try. It’ll take a bit of getting used to but will give you a much less cramped grip.
I use the piper grip on my Thin Weasel A, Susato Bb, and Overton Low D…of course, I’ve only been at the low whistles for about 5 months. I’ve been playing soprano whistles for about 15 years so yeah, I’m still adjusting.
That’s my problem with the Chieftain low D too. I have long fingers, but they’re skinny and they just can’t cover the hole properly. I got a Shaw low D and it’s been so much easier to play a low whistle since!
~Crysania
I put a length of double sided tape to the back of the whistle. It’s not carpet tape. It’s the kind used for sticking items to the wall or cabinets, in the kitchen for instance. The sponginess of the tape helps cushion things. The stickiness allows me to hold the whistle more loosely and still maintain full control. Eventually the stickiness leaves, but you can re-apply.
Of course Cynth is right. A problem like a sore thumb can turn into a major problem, tension in one part of the body can spread and before you are aware of it you can be plagued with pain - which is why I haven’t touched an instrument in weeks 
Ya, sorness is not a thing to igrore, my thumb started feeling sore, from the clairnet, and now even sometimes with the whistle, that turned into tenditus in my wrist and thumb, so dont ignore it. other wise playing will be in pain
Anyone know offhand what size Susato thumbrest supports a Low D, particularly a Burke Viper? My thumbs are killing me. Susato lists different sizes, but are not key specific.
It sounds like your “death grip” is living up to its name, and killing your thumb. You’ve got to practice easing up on the tension. Let your left hand do a lot of the work of keeping the whistle airborne, and as an exercise, practice deliberately releasing your whole right hand from contact with the whistle when your playing G, A or B. Practice using just your B3 finger to stabilize for C, C#, B rolls, etc. If your hands tend to be dry, blow some warm, moist breath on your thumbs and fingertips (say “hah”) just before playing to help prevent sliding, or use some hand creme or lotion a few minutes before.
If you overcome the psychological problem of thinking your whistle is going to drop, the physical problem should take care of itself.
As a physical aid, try a thumbrest. Or try one of these:
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=56767
The strap works really well, and is easy to make. It doesn’t even have to be so fancy. Wrap some electrical tape around any hook to prevent scratching, and use any kind of comfortable, thick cord or string. Another Chiffer (pancelticpiper) has adapted a long saxophone neck strap for the same purpose, and reports good results. You can grip as tight as you want when you need to, and loosen up as often as you can.
Good luck!
You’d probably want one of the larger ones, size #5 or #6. Order a few if you get them, because the ABS plastic is fairly brittle, and is easy to break and snap when manipulating it. I speak from experience. Despite the name (Snappy), you really have to slide them up from the bottom, not snap them on, or else … crack.
All my #5’s and #6’s seem to be, er, gone at this point. But here are the inside diameters of the others, if that helps:
#0 14 mm
#1 15 mm
#2 17 mm
#3 20 mm
#4 21 mm
I second MTGuru’s suggestion on the tumb strap. I don’t play the low whistle but I put a thumb strap on my tenor recorder after getting tired of breaking thumbrests and I like the strap better. The weight is carried closer to your hand so your thumb doesn’t have as much stress on it.
I was just watching one of the McGoldrick clips from the Kerrywhistles site, and was amazed at seeing MM repeatedly reach up to wipe his brow or scratch his nose with his left (bottom) hand, playing all the while and never missing a beat.
I work a tight O-ring onto a low D as a thumb rest. Probably not as good as the real thing, but it does help and it’s easy to pack the whistle away without taking it off.