I have a set of Daye pipes with only a high C key, and I would like to learn to consistently half-hole the other accidentals. As it is, I can get them maybe half the time by basically slurring/sliding/bending (whatever you call it) just halfway to the next note. Is this the way it is supposed to be done? Can I expect to be able to eventually play them reliably every time by practicing this way, or is there a better way to go about it?
Thanks.
Hello Ernildhir,
it’s better to half-cover than to slide. You should practice a method as to cover the relevant hole by putting your stiff finger in a certain angle inclined on top a hole or - worse, but works also - by covering half the hole with your finger tip from top down. These both methods I’ve seen very often.
There is only one cross-fingering that works on some chanters for the Bb-note by closing all holes expect the B-finger-hole and cover the same hole a bit.
I had a chanter (Rogge D) that would play a decent Bb with all fingers down and deploying the C key.