How do YOU half-hole C-nat?

Whistle
1

I am trying to learn to half-hole C-nat and I can’t decide which is the best way.

  1. Straightening the finger slightly, lifting the tip-end off.
  2. Bending the finger slightly, lifting the joint-end off.
  3. Rolling the finger one way or the other.
2

Depending on the tune I will usually roll the finger either side to side, or on one tune toward and away from me. But normally I cross finger, unless if there are lots of B’s near the cnat. Due to the laughing I tend to cross finger OXXXOX and I have several whistles that will support that or the more ‘standard’ OXXOOO.

3

The best way is the way that works best for you. I find it easier for me to play Cnat 0XX 0XX. With that fingering you can easily play the D. But that fingering can be out of tune on some whistles. So for those whistles I do it by 0XX X00, and on a few, 0XX 000 works. But the way I do it by half-holing, is by the first way you said in your post.

Happy half-holing,
JP

4

If I half hole, its always rolling the finger toward my mouth.

5

I do it like your alternative 1, if
I don´t cross finger.

/Pan

6

I straighten my finger and roll the whistle slightly counter clockwise. You can slide through the note like you are tuning a radio dial. After a few tries, you know how far to go.

7

I use what I think is alternative 2… I bend the finger slightly, pulling the finger tip pad straight off half of the hole.

I think half-holing is likely a far superior technique to playing any accidental required. It’s fast once you get accustom to it, it works on any whistle (sample size restricted of course to those that I own), all accidentals are played the same way, and there is only one simple thing to remember. I like things that way…

8

I use AngeloMeola’s method to bend a B up to C. Otherwise, I cross-finger using OXXXOO (it works both on my Dixon and my Gens). I half-hole all other off-scale notes.

BTW, you can get a GREASY, almost guitar-like slide into the second octave D by starting out like this:

OOXXXX

and VERY SLOWLY replacing your left middle finger for OXXXXX.

9

Just this last weekend, I placed a piece of tape across hole #1 on one of my Little Black Feadogs to tune it to C. It worked like a charm. You position the tape and check it with a tuner. It nails a C natural every time.

Gary

10

Congratulations, Gary, you just invented the “D Mixolydian” whistle! :smiley: