Low D

Whistle
1

Hi,
I’m a new contributor to this site and enjoying my brief acquaintance.
I have an Overton Low D and, though I have quite big hands, find it a stretch to reach the bottom hole with my ring finger. To get round this I cover that hole with my little finger (pinky) and always move the 2 together. Since I also play uillean pipes this action comes naturally. Is this common practice? (I’ve never observed it) How do people with small hands manage?
If this has all been discussed previously I apologise. I haven’t found a search facility yet.

2

I have very small hands (I can palm a volleyball, but that’s about it) but I manage to use the middle pad of my first finger, middle pad of my second finger and first pad of my third finger. I tried the pinky thing briefly, but I’m too used to playing the flute to make my pinky have any other use.

I know there are others here, though, that do use their pinkies.

Erik

3

Jez:
Covering with the pinkie is not the recommended method. Most folks here seem to agree that using piper style, & using the same fingers as on a regular whistle, is the way to go.

But, there is a significant minority of folks (myself included) who play with the pinkie on the lowest hole. Last time this topic came up, there were probably 10 to 12 of the active posters (just a rough guess fom memory) who said they used their pinkies.

There’s a much much smaller minority (myself included) who can play the low whisltle ‘fingertip style’ as with a regular D. I think myself and only one or two others have ever laid claim to playing this way.

Its also worth noting that several folks (again myself included–what am I, the black sheep of whistling?) play the whistle backward-handed (right on top, left on bottom).

Though there is definitely a ‘recognized’ way of playing the whistle and low whistle, there are plenty of examples of both regular and famous folk musicians playing their instruments backward, different, or in non-standard ways. If you find some way that you’re comfortable with, chances are that with enough practice, you can make it work for you. In theory, the ‘recognized’ methods only make it somewhat easier.

Greg