Do you all think it is better, when people are taught the whistle as a first instrument, to teach them O XXX XXXX fingering rather than the O OXX XXXX they seem to get taught just incase they take up the pipes?
Is there any reason for whistle playing that the C# finger off is better?
Is there anyone these days still using that fingering on the UP other than occassionaly to get something in tune temporarily without messing with the reed?
Would it be a mistake to let a whistle player new to the UP to continue with O OXX XXXX ? Assuming the tuning was ok.
Is there anyone these days still using that fingering on the UP other than occassionaly to get something in tune temporarily without messing with the reed?
I nearly always play a two fingered d’. A lot of pipers do. And not because of what the whistle does, that’s really a different thing again.
IMO the “back” d on a whistle usually sounds clearer with the OXX XXX fingering.
For piping, in my style of playing the tight back d comes up very frequently, and having the C# finger off would get in the way of that. Also for dc#b or edc# descending triplets. Sound-wise it probably depends on the chanter, the back d can get very loud when you start venting more.
Basically, I’m of the opinion that when there is more than one way of doing something, you should try practicing at least several of the ways so that you can choose different fingerings on demand. It’s nice to have that as a source of variation sometimes.
Interesting, I didn’t realise that even tho I’ve seen you play.
My main thought on this topic is the best approach in teaching newcomers who already have the open c# finger on the back d due to playing the whistle. at the moment I tell them to change fingering, but just wondered what would happen if I didn’t get them to change.
Not much perhaps.
It’s really a matter of context, if you need a number of d’ in a row, say Add d2 in a jig you’d play the first two thumb only but vent the longer one and add a bit of vibrato (or general : colour).
It is perhaps better just to separate whistle and pipes fingerings as two different things.
At one point I had a right handed student who played the whistle left handed (for want of a better word). What to do there? (well, she went with the left handed pipes eventually).
After recently moving to the pipes after playing the whistle for years, this is how I’ve had to think about it. The closed fingering of the pipes is different enough from the whistle that some amount of relearning is required when moving from the whistle to pipes. F# closed fingering has been the most awkward transition for me.
Opening the top finger for the D on a whistle essentially forces the octave jump. Have a play around with it with different pressures versus closed fingers. e.g. light pressure all fingers closed then open top finger. As its been previously said, its cleaner.
I like my piping D’s with only the thumb open because I think it makes the back D triplets sound good.
I know of other pipers who open the top finger for the D because tonally that works better on their chanter/reed.
As said above, its context.
saved this by chance:
The “scueish” accent of “get tee worrrk” inidicates that it refers to GHBs, but it also works for us.
Back D is a fascinating note. Both brilliant and frustrating in equal measure.
As with so many things in piping, the answer to the question depends on the chanter, the reed, the weather, the tune, the desired sound and the personal taste of the musician in question.
I have several ways I play a back D, or ornament a back D, depending on the factors above. Like Mr Gumby, I most often play a two fingered back D. That said, the second finger is not always the C sharp finger. The choice again depends on the above, always with a priority on what seems to sound best in the phrase (or sound best to me on that night, which is where the personal taste comes in).
That said, for a beginner, a one fingered back D is more than enough!
I have just started retrospectively digitising my archive of negatives, a slow job for the winter. Anyhow, this one was in this afternoon’s batch, two fingered d’ with lower hand vibrato:
Well if you can’t beat em join em
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8ywFkO1eUA&feature=youtu.be
Nice piping!
Out of curiosity, what is all that wrapped around your main stock?
Micks got a fine head of hair.
RORY
Foam and tape. I’m just test driving the drones, they are for someone else. don’t want to scratch them with belt buckles, been there done it before.