small hands, thin fingers :)

Whistle
1

hi,

so i was wasting some more time on ebay, looking at whistles i can’t afford to feed my WHoA :slight_smile: and i saw that someone, already a whistle player, was selling their low whistle because they have small hands and are giving up.

i want to encourage them to just try a different low whistle, but i’m not sure what to recommend–i had that same experience myself: i bought a susato low d, which i can manage with a piper’s grip, and going up the scale is fine, but the problem (for me) is that the e hole is enormous, so when i reach for the d (going down the scale), which i can do, my fifth finger slips off the e hole a bit and i make that horrible screeching noise all whistle players dread. :slight_smile:

so it’s not just the spread, but also the size of the holes… if the e hole was smaller i think i wouldn’t have such a problem, or if the e was closer to the d then i think my finger wouldn’t shift off of the e.

so what to do… i’ve searched this forum for answers, most of the “small hands” posts are for flutes, but i found one pretty good one:

https://forums.chiffandfipple.com/t/easiest-playing-lowd/67384/6

the post by Mr McCullough was really good, but he says: “Don’t overlook the Susato.” so i’m a little suspicious of the whole review (in his defense, he was posting about the “easiest” whistle to play, which includes other factors such as tone, etc, not just finger spread/spacing).

so i’m wondering… the low d whistles that people seem to recommend: the Burke EZ, the Sweetheart, the Jubilee, does anyone know if they’re also easier to play for someone with thin fingers? ie do they have giant e holes, or maybe that doesn’t matter b/c the spacing is closer?

also, i haven’t heard anyone recommending (and in fact, have seen people recommending the contrary) offset holes. why/why not? the flute posts seem to recommend them… i think Reyburn, in particular offers a low d with offset the third finger holes for ease of playing. is there a downside to getting one of those whistles?

thanks in advance…

2

My first low D was a Susato. Kept it for one day and returned the next. I do have another one now, and I will be keeping it for some time.

My second low D was a Howard, and I think they have some of the largest holes I have seen on a whistle. I made it squeak, squeak, for several months, and called geese in for miles around.

I went up and down the scales, and tried to play tunes but squeaking and squawking persisted. Then on a whim I put on some corn huskers hand lotion, and the holes started to seal better. Then for a reason I don’t remember, I started playing only going down the scale. Muscle memory started taking over, and I was finely satisfied with playing it. The first octave b is very easy to play on most whistles. It will not matter how long it takes to learn something a person wants to do.

Start at b and play down, and don’t stop if a note is missed. Trust your finger muscle memory to find it next time.

I sold the Howard low D to buy an Overton low D. However, several years later I traded for another one.

Summery-self motivation, practice, hand lotion, play down the scale, and don’t sell whistles your going to miss. :thumbsup:

3

My Sweetheart Resonance low D is about the easiest that I’ve found. I’ve had several low D whistles over the years, and this is the only one my wife has been able to finger.

4

dear Mr. Busman,

do you have any photos? i don’t see anything about it on your website. :frowning:

what do you think about offsetting the holes?

5

Look here.
http://www.sweetheartflute.com/lowwhistle.html

The “resonance” low d is made by the Sweets.

I’ll add this response to your question as well. I make my own whistles, including some low whistles. I have run into players with long, slender fingers that were not able to cover the holes of my low G,F, and D whistles. Their fingers were just too slender for my hole layout. Smaller holes are the only solution in those cases. Small holes negatively impact the performance of the low D, IMHO. An exception to this would be on a low D design with a conical bore. The Sweetheart is one such low D. Another is the Dixon three piece polymer that is based on the Dixon three piece conical bore flute, model DX032. You can see one here: http://tiny.cc/oOqxZ

As for off-set holes, I do not personally like them. I frequently find that they are ergonomic for hands other than my own. In other words, “One size fits all - but me”. You might have better results than I have though. A better solution, IMO, is to permit holes to be rotated as in Mike Burke’s Viper design.

Feadoggie

6

As a smallish, leanish-handed guy, I’ve tried many Lows…and have kept a few, and had to let some wonderful ones go.
Hole size, and/or distance are brutally deciding factors, for the non-large/meaty-handed!

Though I loved 'em and gave 'em a long try…I’ve let Howard, Reyburn, Bernard Overton, and Chieftain V3 Low Ds go their merry way.

Ones I’ve kept, and regularly play, starting with the easiest…(1st three are close…)

  1. Mk Low D
  2. Carbony Low D
  3. Burke DLCP and Viper
  4. Copeland Low D

I Love/loved all makes, mentioned here. And, with bigger mitts would still have them all!

Good Luck!

7

thanks everybody. :slight_smile:

i really like the rotating finger hole suggestion… and really appreciate the list, i also love all makes and models… :slight_smile:

thanks again. :slight_smile:

8

I’m playing a Sweetheart Low D in Blackwood(bought used or no way could I have afforded that)- it is a wonderful Low D- and I can reach and cover the holes well (my hands and fingers are definitely on the small side). It did take awhile for my hands to adjust- it was still a bit of a stretch for my right hand- so I basically played it for 10 minutes or so at a time to allow my hands to get used to it but not do any damage. Now it feels totally fine- so would wholeheartedly recommend one of these- I’m sure his Rosewood one is great as well. And the sound is awesome…even with me playing it :slight_smile: I hardly play my high whistle anymore now- am addicted to playing the low one!

And if you get one, I suggest you use the little plastic thumb support thingie they supply, for your right hand- really helps. These are not light weight whistles…