I just received my Burke Low D EZ yesterday (On my birthday! What a great day!) But it really makes my hands hurt to try to reach the holes, especially the D hole. My hands really aren’t that small so I was surprised that it was such a stretch.
Is there anything that makes it easier, or will it just get better with practice and time?
Thanks!
On 2002-12-24 12:39, whatzitt wrote:
I just received my Burke Low D EZ yesterday (On my birthday! What a great day!) But it really makes my hands hurt to try to reach the holes, especially the D hole. My hands really aren’t that small so I was surprised that it was such a stretch.
Is there anything that makes it easier, or will it just get better with practice and time?
Thanks!
It’s something that should get better with time. Your fingers aren’t probably used to getting splayed that much.
Pipers grip… not that I’ve managed to master it myself, but… 
Here’s a link:
http://www.chiffandfipple.com/pipers.html
Andrea ~*~
Try soaking your hands in medium hot water for a short period just before practice. Use hand lotion if your skin is dry, this will help seal the tone holes better. Relax… I said RELAX. Remember you’re playing a musicial instrument and not holding a pipe wrench. If your hands cramp, take a break.
Playing my new low D makes my hands hurt - Any tips?
Tip 1 - Drive to your nearest Office Max or Office Depot
Tip 2 - Purchase a 30" heavy-duty mailing tube and some bubble wrap.
Tip 3 - Carefully wrap the whistle in bubble wrap and insert it into the tube.
Tip 4 - Seal the mailing tube.
Tip 5 - Mail the tube to me
John (who can barely play his low-F anyway)
Patience and piper’s grip.
Also one can put one’s thumb
and forefingers of one hand
between the fingers on the other
and gently stretch them apart.
Your problem is common,
but it’ll come…
As others have suggested, most of us can’t play the low D with our finger tips or pads as we would a standard D. A piper’s grip is probably the single best change you can make.
On 2002-12-24 18:19, Chuck_Clark wrote:
As others have suggested, most of us can’t play the low D with our finger tips or pads as we would a standard D. A piper’s grip is probably the single best change you can make.
Even for those of us who can play with fingertips, your hands will be sore after practicing. Just keep at it, and things will improve. Your hands will still be sore, but only because you practice longer. 
One other thing that affects this is the weight of the whistle. I can play my Dixon Low-D for hours straight. With my Chieftain Gold, I have to put it down every now and again to give my hands a rest.
I’ve had my low D for about six months I had the same problem, I used pipers grip, which took a bit to get used to at first but I’m starting to plug away at a few tunes. Your hands just get accustomed to it with practice
I remember feeling that I couldn’t
play the low D at all. Now I can play
it nearly as fast as a high D.
You’ll see.
Piper’s grip becomes second
nature, by the way.
It took me about two weeks to feel comfortable with mine. Now I can’t even imaging that it ever was uncomfortable. For me it was the angle of the hands relative to the forearm that made it ache.
All of you have been so encouraging. Thank you. I’m working on my piper’s grip and plan to try all of your suggestions. It’s just good to know that this problem isn’t unique to just me.
Thanks again!
when i got my burke lowd d ez, i looked for a firm grip, wish was wrong, neither can you stretch your fingers on a whistle. don’t try to hold your whistle in an angle to the right, that will build tension on your shoulders and your breathing will go wrong.
the key is to keep your shoulders down and let your upperarms rest on your chest, the possition of your low d will become almost horizontal.also don’t use pressure on your whistle.stretch your hands without the whistle,this is the quickest way.