I just recently aquired an Overton low d.
I love it and I have been diligently trying to get to know it.
Somewhere I recal a thread on piper’s grip and practice. I am trying to relax my hands as I play. Difficult to do. And I am finding my wrist hurting. You know how hard it is to put down a new toy? (not really a toy…you know what I meant)
I can only hope it will get better with time.
I play in front of a mirror… and keep telling myself to relax.
Any tips?
Laura
Look around http://www.chiffandfipple.com , you’ll find some pictures on the piper’s grip.
Also, keep a good posture.
Don’t give up! Try a bit every day, stop when you don’t feel like it anymore. That’s what I did with my Dixon Low D. Now the stretch and the piper’s grip is like, nothing to think about. (I liked the challenge, now it’s gone, heh)
With a wonder like the Overton, you’ll WANT to pick it up the next morning.
8 months more for mine … sigh, that shouldn’t be too long …
Do lots of wrist and finger stretching exercises - the kind taught to overcome RSI problems (Repetitive Strain Injury - check the web). Yoga also helps.
Nick
PS Your muscles will also get used to it in time
On 2002-10-04 08:37, nickt wrote:
Do lots of wrist and finger stretching exercises - the kind taught to overcome RSI problems (Repetitive Strain Injury - check the web). Yoga also helps.Nick
PS Your muscles will also get used to it in time
I have dabbled with yoga. Then changed over to Pilates. Which postures are you refering to when it comes to yoga?
Here are the pics at C&F, Laura:
http://www.chiffandfipple.com/pipers.html
I still struggle with piper’s grip on my Howard Low D…I think patience and practice are the keys, as with everything! 
HTH,
Andrea
When I first tried to play a low D, I almost gave up after five minutes. I was convinced my hands weren’t big enough. But over time it got easier and easier. Now, while I don’t claim to be a great low whistler, I can say the finger stretch is now effortless – no strain at all.
I notice that I now rotate my wrists in a bit, so my fingers point down somewhat. My guess is that over time, without consciously trying, I worked out the best position for my hands and fingers, and learned to relax.
My advice: 1) don’t give up too soon; 2) experiment with different hand positions; 3)take a break if your hands get tense or hurt.
Good luck,
–Jay
I guess I am just lucky, in that I learned to finger a practice chanter with piper grip before I ever tried to use the tips of my fingers for the whistle.
I suggest you just keep at it for a while, but take a couple of days off if you are getting serious wrist pains. The spread is really no more for most people than they spread their fingers to trace around the hand so you can draw a turkey. If you have kids you know what I’m talking about.
If you are keeping your wrists at a wierd angle, try using masking tape and popsicle sticks to put a “reminder brace” on the wrists then find a position to play in so that you are not bending the wrists funny. It can be done. Remember that position and every time you drop out of it, force yourself back into it. Eventually, you get used to holding your wrists straight.
-Patrick
Finger posture does take time to develop. A clue often given to pipers is that when you check your finger posture, make sure that your top-hand ring finger and bottom-hand index finger form an imaginary V (in the mirror it would look like > if you’re right handed). Keeping a relaxed grip is also key. Think of your whistle as being made of eggshell and that if you grip too hard you’ll shatter your whistle but if you grip too lightly you’ll drop and it will shatter.
Not to put you under any pressure or anything
Cheers,
Aaron
Thanks folks for all of your suggestions.
I will give it my best go.
Time to go practice 
Laura