I’ve been playing a Low D for about a year . . . so that makes me still very much a beginner and reviewing my Piper’s Grip to find that when I’m relaxed and playing, I’m not sealing (or attempting to seal) the 1st and 4th holes with the second pad of my index fingers but with the joint between the second and third pad. Maybe due to my particular hands, trying to cover those holes with the second pad by drawing back the index fingers makes for an uncomfortable position, one that requires me to stick my elbows out a little and I’m still not comfortable then but maybe that’s a matter of practice.
So I want to hear from experienced low whistle players. Do many of you out there use the second joint of the index fingers to seal the holes 1 & 4? And second is it considered okay to do this or even taught as a possibility. I don’t sense it’s giving me problems but it may cause problems playing a low whistle with much bigger holes.
In pipers grip on a low-D whistle, I’m on the second pad on both index fingers. If you’re on the joint crease, you’re going to forever have problems getting a reliable seal.
In general I agree with Eskin. But we all have different hands and fingers. And we all play different makes and designs of low whistle. So what works for one player may or may not work for another.
I’ve put low whistles into the hands of a lot of players, young and old. Folks with big hands or long fingers may not need the Super Duper EZ grip. Others will. And generally I show them the standard method where the TH1 and BH1 holes are sealed with the fleshy part of the finger between the first and second joints. For some players with slim fingers that part of the finger is too slim to seal the holes properly. For players with larger diameter and more fleshy fingers they could seal the holes with most any part of the finger, including the joints. Hole size has a bearing on what method will work too.
So what I am spending too much ink saying is that what works for you, works for you. Do what works! Don’t do what doesn’t work! If you aren’t sealing the holes reliably, a change is in order.
As for the elbows, don’t worry about them. They should follow the hands and still be relaxed. Our arms and hands are marvelously flexible (Well, they once were if you are like me. Arthritis stinks!). The EZ grip should allow you to relax your fingers, wrists, elbows and shoulders to play with little or no tension. It works much better for me than playing a transverse flute does.
And while you see many players playing with absolutely flat fingers, there is no real need to keep them flat. They can fall in a relaxed arch - provided you can seal the holes. What works for you, works for you.
If the elbows held out is uncomfortable, get a whistle with a tuning jiont and a joint between the top and bottom hands. That will allow you rotate the hands right and left to keep the arms at your sides. Rotating TH3 and BH3 holes can also ease up your hand position too - but few makers make the whistle that way, preferring a “one size hopefully fits all” fixed hole position.
Right, Dennis (Feadoggie), I agree-do what works for you and your hands. My upper hand plays with the T1 hole very close to the joint, and bottom B1 is more on the 2nd pad, but near the joint also. If it works for you, then it just does. What is most important is that you be relaxed in your grip, and your holes are covered reliably.
Besides, even with whistles with larger holes, those large holes are usually the T2 and B2, or E and A as I call them. They can be a challenge too, but with time and practice, not much problem for most of us.
Go with your feelings and your hands. It will tell in time if it needs to be corrected. In the meantime, just enjoy playing!