I have never resolved a piper’s grip problem, mainly on my right hand. If my hands lie relaxed, the index finger falls over the B1 hole at the second joint rather than the second pad. Most of the time I don’t have problems sealing the hole but ocaasionally I do. To get the second pad to cover the hole I need to bend the index fingers slightly to drawn them back. It this right, the normal way . . . to play with slightly arched index fingers?
Hi MTB
Have a look on the Becker Whistle OP and click on the Becker website. There is a picture of the right hand (Piper’s Grip) on a low D.
Ian
Mike, it is very difficult to make an intelligent comment, without seeing a picture of your right hand position. Piper’s grip will be a little different for each individual, because of the anatomical differences in our hands. I have seen pictures of individuals with a finger joint or two covering the tone holes, rather than the pad of their fingers. These pictures were contained in instruction books.
I know that I have different parts of my fingers covering different tone holes on different low whistles. i begin using piper’s grip on all whistles from mezzo soprano A, down to baritone C. My grip on a baritone D changes when playing a baritone C. I know that for me, tilting the lower instrument to the right makes a significant positive difference in my comfort level.
One of the big reasons to use the piper’s grip is to relieve stress in both hands as much as is possible. If you are experiencing stress, change your hand position.
Best to you.
Byll
Thanks for the replies. Byll, I’m not experiencing stress in my current hand position but if I tried to bring the second pad of my first fingers over holes T1 & B1 then I would experience stress. It comforts me to know that an experienced player like yourself has “different parts of your fingers covering different tone holes on different low whistles.” So maybe there isn’t a right and wrong way, just what works.
Interesting that the picture on Becker’s website does show the second joint over the B1 hole just as I do it . . . rather than the second pad.
So maybe there isn’t a right and wrong way, just what works.
If it works it is right!
Unless some other way works better - in which case I guess it is still right just not as right…
Oh and if it does not work, or it causes pain it is ‘wrong’.
What is left to say?
What is left to say?
Right!
No disrespect intended to others who are trying to help but there actually may be more to say. Byll suggested some ideas that are more expansive on this issue. There are issues such as wrist and hand angle that can be modified to accommodate pain and discomfort. There is also something to be said about using muscles that are not accustomed to being used which will often result in temporary discomfort from cramping or stretching until they achieve some level of strength/and or flexibility. So all “pain” is not necessarily bad as long as it is temporary. I’d suggest, if you haven’t yet done so, to read through this thread on Super Duper EZ Grip which discusses in good detail how to modify your holding positions for pipers grip.
https://forums.chiffandfipple.com/t/pipers-grip-step-by-step/63881/1
ecohawk
I second the stretching. It is just like guitar or other instruments where it can be an uncomfortable stretch at first, but it does get easier and better.
Thanks for the comments. I need to review that thread but I’ve never had discomfort or pain associated with playing a low D whistle . . . nor have I needed to “stretch,” as such. My only concern has been the part of my index fingers that has fallen over the 1st & 4th holes.