It seems to be a common sentiment around here that having to use piper’s grip on a whistle makes the whistle less attractive (ie makes the whistle less appealing to get). With the few pipes lessons I got a while back I was told from my teacher that they use the grip they do not only because of the stretch, but because they could play quicker with less movement. I have found this to be the case when I try playing my kerry low d (yes I know the span is huge and the holes are massive and this may sway my opinion), if I play with my finger tips I can’t play as quickly and my hands get tired quicker. I am sure it doesn’t matter too much because most Low whistles are played on slow pieces like airs or maybe carolans. I can play about any tune at about any speed using piper’s grip. Maybe we play these slow pieces on the low whistle because we can’t move our fingers as quickly to play a fast jig. This may be a hasty generalization (damn fallacies), but what do you guys think?
Is the whistle less attractive if one has to use piper’s grip? Why is this; because we have to learn to play another way? Ahh the mystery of the whistle.
I don’t know that the “piper’s grip is bad” sentiment is common here at all; in fact, I’d wager that a large percentage, and possibly the majority, of good whistle players use the grip on their low whistles.
I find the piper’s grip much more comfortable, and can play low whistles much faster using it. I can’t see covering the holes on some whistles with your fingertips, both due to their size and to the distance between them. It takes very little time (IME) to get used to the grip, and once you’ve got it, you can play your jigs and reels at full speed on a low whistle, too.
i have never heard anything negative about the piper’s grip. to me it is essential part of playing the whistle. i could never play my low d without it. as far as making the whistle less attractive, i am not worried about how i look or how the whistle looks, i am concerned with how i sound. and it’s a good thing too, because people tell me i make these funny faces and sway my head and i do this strange dance when i play.
Looks are subjective anyway… The “Low Whistle Book”, admittedly the best resource for learning the low whistle, absolutely recommends the piper’s grip. It is actually the very first thing you learn in the book. As far as aesthetics are concerned, none of the many pictures of players in the book look awkward.
It only makes a whistle less appealing to people with small hands (a legitimate reason, I’m not picking on you guys) or those who can’t let go of the fingers-arched approach (I AM picking on you guys! ).
Who cares about looks? You should play the way that works best for you, personally.
I planned to use piper’s grip with my Dixon Low D Duo - I just found that the finger hole size and spacing was such that I can play better using something closer to my standard tinwhistle grip (I do a slightly modified piper’s grip for R1, but R2 and R3 are standard fingerpad grip). However I have fairly broad palms, so for me standard whistle grip on the Dixon feels comfortable.
But I still try to practice with piper’s grip too - I know I’ll need it if I ever get something like a Howard. Heck, you almost need to use piper’s grip to reach the R3 hole on a Sweetone or Meg C!
I agree with Pat about the hand size but I would add more specially the length of the little finger.
I bought a Goldie D/C whistle a while back and in order to play in C you have to cover the bottom 7th hole with your little finger. The only way I could do that was with a pipers grip. It was fairly easy so I tried the grip on regular High Ds and it really was easier to play faster that way.
Now, breaking the habit to play with your finger tips is another struggle…
I think the most common context I’ve heard piper’s grip on the board is to beginners (i.e., “I have small hands and can still get by on such-and-such-a-low-d without piper’s grip”). In retrospect, that could be seen as being anti-piper’s grip – although I think it’s been meant more as a way for newbies to experience the low d w/o learning a new style of fingering.
Anyway, I hope that helps. And I agree with you on the utility of piper’s grip. I have a Kerry low d as well. Piper’s grip is easier, keeps my fingers from cramping, and I don’t think it looks bad.
In fact, I was mesmerized the first time I saw Davy Spillane playing on Riverdance. Uh-oh! I mentioned him! Must be why I don’t get invited to the chat room. Darn.
I ONLY use piper’s grip. On everything, high D , low D, whatever I’ve got in between. Of course, I must say, I was piping before I was whistling so I guess that’s why. I don’t think I COULD play with fingertips, it seems harder to me…
The whole point of using pipers grip is that you can play at any speed with ease.I find it easier to play a speed on a low whistle with PG than with fingertips on a soprano whistle.My students say that it looks effortless,and so it is.Take the time to learn,it feels much more comfortable once you are used to it.The low whistle is a fabulous instrumaent and definatly NOT only for slow music.
Phil
you don´t happen to be involved in the speaker brand QRS???
Anyway, pipers grip is a given thing for me on Low D and IRISH FLUTE.
Playing my Abell A I use the tips for the first hand and pipers grip on the remote hand.
High D I use the tip of my fingers, but I actually started out with straight fingers/pipers grip on the high D, and switched to tips after a month or so.
Hiro, I might be mistaken but, are you after a keyed low-D “whistle”? There’s a guy who makes the system… The whistle he makes looks like Terminator-looking flute with whistle’s fipple on. Perhaps too much sci-fi like but I like the appearance.
I’ve been trying hard to remember what his name is…David Steph…no, David S–something–son. I’m really sorry, but I’m seriously bad with people’s names. I wish it came up with a snap of finger. I can’t remember his last name, but I’m sure his first name is David, whose family name starting with the letter ‘S’ (I think…I guess)
I don’t really have much choice when it come to grip. I couldn’t play a high D whistle with a piper grip if I wanted to. I couldn’t play a low d without a piper’s grip.
For me this thread raises two interesting questions. The first is the question of the point where one first benefits from introducing the piper grip. For me this would be low G, usually. I often play low Gs with high whstle fingering with my left hand and piper grip with my right.
The second question is the question of which grip best facilitates slurs and half holing when both are possible. I think, for me, this is a note by note matter and that it varies from whistle to whistle. But, off hand, I couldn’t say which notes go best with which grip. I do know that, when I’m playing, I adjust my grip to help the slurs and half holing.
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