Moved from a Bb to F

Whistle
1

I just got a call for a session in two days’ time where they want a tune in Bb, but I’m familiar with the tune (quite a sneaky little number) in Eb on a Bb whistle. I’ve successfully moved the tune to Bb on an F whistle which I acquired yesterday (so similar fingerings for the tune on the F whistle).

Two things are giving me a bit of uphill.

  1. switching to pipers grip. I’ve kept my top three fingers on pads and switched to piper’s grip on the bottom three. This is a style I haven’t played before, but it seems to be working out - I’m practicing the tune a lot like this to get familiar. I moved from an Impempe Mezzo Bb to a Chieftain alto F, so the instrument is much larger.

  2. flat 7th cheat. I had a quick run up and down which requires the flat 7th in the second octave (Ab on the Bb whistle / Eb on the F whistle). On the Impempe Bb whistle, I could play that note fine with one finger on the second hole in the second octave (like this: oxo ooo - x = a covered hole). On the chieftain, that fingering gives me a loud braying sound and I have to voice the note like this to get Eb: oxo xxx.

Is there a different (easier) cheat position for that quick Eb? (even if the intonation isn’t quite as good). Something that would make it easy to voice as part of a ;legato run?

Incidentally I’m also looking to see if anyone has a cheat to scoop the note to the tonic in the second octave. i.e. is there a way to scoop / slide to F in the second octave on an Whistle? …or Bb on a Bb whistle, D on a D whistle, etc. (this position: xxx xxx) I know how to do it in the third octave.

Any advice appreciated

2

Second C (in d terms) depends on the whistle. I have whistles that likes 0xxxx0 or some like 0x0xx0 or 0xoxxx.
Try 0xx000 for the third d.

3

Your oxxxxo is an interesting option. It’s quite a few cents sharp of the target note, but could work at speed. Thanks!

4

Here’s my home recording of the track. It took me about 50 shots at goal to play that Eb in the second bar (varying breath dynamics / half holes, etc.). I need another solution for live. https://soundcloud.com/andy-innes/special-lo/s-Jf2Ud

5

Yes I would generally half hole but in some situations it works fine. Especially since many fiddlers are unsure of hitting that note anyway so it comes out sharp or flat.
I was just playing a whistle (old feadan) where C is almost spot on with 0xoxxo
I don’t play many tunes where the note would be sustained so in something like Trim the Velvet the fingerings I mention work.
It’s also nice to slide up to it via half holing, hit the crossfingering and getting then back to the B.
If I had to play a sustained note I would half hole.

Edit (I should note the fingerings I use are from flute playing where one has much more control over the pitch but they have crossed over to whistles just fine even if not spot on equal temperament tuning)