Hi, everybody, It’s me with another newbie question. I want to start off by saying I really appreciate you all - what a great bunch to take us newbies under your collective wings and get us started off right
I started branching out with some additional keys. I bought a Generation B flat. Love the sound - but I can’t play the darn thing My fingers seem so stubby and short - I can cover all the holes with my right hand, but when I go to play it, I have trouble covering them back up again. I have played it about twice. Is this something that will get better with time and practise? At what point do I give up and say that my hands are simply too small? I had grand ideas about getting an alto G, now I am glad I didn’t jump into something that expensive. Any suggestions? I tried using my little finger, that doesn’t work. I also tried that modified chanter’s grip I have seen pictures of in learning how to play a low whistle. No luck with that either. Suggestions?
I use the piper’s grip with my right hand while playing my Bb Generation. It feels most comfortable. I just got a Copeland A, which i also do the same with, but I keep missing the holes, too. It’ll come.
Yes, keep practicing, a Bb whistle is nothing.. I think that even a child could reach it with piper’s grip!
When I first bought my Gen Bb (after playing only a high D whistle for a few months) I felt very uncomfortable too, I wasn’t able to play a tune without missing the bottom hole.
After a few weeks I was able to play it in the same way than my high D.
A C whistle is a very handy whistle to have, there are some session tunes that just don’t work well on a D whistle but that lie perfectly on the C…Julia Delaney, for instance.
I bought a used Howard low D, which I can’t play to save my life. But 5 minutes with it sets me up to play the rest of the pack with ease. It’s kind of like a baseball player swinging two bats before going to the plate. Buy yourself a really big whistle!!!
I find this stretch also awkward. Some whistles, even in D have a longer stretch than others.
I’m sure everyone is right by saying keep at it and you will get there, however i personally look for a whistle with hole positioning i feel comfortable with.
I have made a few whistles myself, and try to put the holes where my fingers want them. If you look at different hand made whistles they all vary with hole size and placement.
have a look at some whistle reviews and study the pictures. It could be easier to buy a whistle which works for you, instead of giving up with something that doesn’t
GOOD LUCK AND KEEP AT IT!
It will come with practice, I would think. I have short, stubby fingers. Your problem may be one of not being relaxed enough to feel the holes. If you squeeze too hard, you reduce or lose the sense of touch (some call this the “death grip”).
Now, I find my Generation Bb (with a Hoover Blacktop fipple) to be the most comfortable whistle to play that I have.
I use the first pads of my fingers on my whistles down to low G and the piper’s grip on the low F on down. The hole spacing on my low F is just about the same stretch as on my D chanter.
Thanks, everybody. Once again, I really appreciate all the help and support. Just how short are my fingers? I can stretch and reach an octave on a piano, but it isnt’ a comfortable reach at all. I also got a C whistle in the same batch; I can play it easily and really like the tone. I will keep trying and experimenting.
(I didn’t read the posts)
I have small stubby fingers too. C is the best I can manage. Bb is a serious stretch for me. Luckily, 99% of ITM can be played on a D, and the other 1% on a C.
Whatever grip you employ, play slowly and evenly and pay attention to your finger placement. A Bflat doesn’t usually present either a reach or large hole problem, so you’re probably just not covering the holes completely and/or lifting off too quickly, etc. Relax, stretch your fingers and wrists and forearms out if needed and also pay attention to breathing. Then it will come.
I might add that whatever “grip” you may use, make sure it’s one that doesn’t cause any un-neccessary and excessive pain in your hand (s), permanant damage to your hands makes whistle playing no good or fun… Or any fingered instrument for that matter. Like was said before, relax, start slowly, speed comes in time and don’t rush it, you only hurt yourself by death gripping the thing or in some other way straining your hand.
My fingers seem so stubby and short - I can cover all the holes with my right hand, but when I go to play it, I have trouble covering them back up again. I have played it about twice. Is this something that will get better with time and practise? At what point do I give up and say that my hands are simply too small? I had grand ideas about getting an alto G, now I am glad I didn’t jump into something that expensive. Any suggestions? I tried using my little finger, that doesn’t work. I also tried that modified chanter’s grip I have seen pictures of in learning how to play a low whistle. No luck with that either. Suggestions?