How does one keep one’s low whistle from flying out of one’s hands when playing open notes? I find that as I’m playing a tune the whistle slips down a bit in my hands, thereby making my fingers miss the finger holes after just a few phrases. Any ideas that may help?
A former whistle teacher of mine would assist himself in holding onto the thing by clamping the mouthpiece in his teeth while playing, though he admitted it’s not the best solution - just his habit.
Thanks!
One way that lots of people suggest is putting your right ring finger down on the E hole as this will not affect pitch. I use my pinkie and never had a problem playing my old Low Whisltes (I didin’t really like to play, I prefer Flute so I sold 'em).
You know, that question is always of interest to me. Lord knows there are many things about playing the whistle that I don’t do right. Don’t get me started. But, I’ve never had a bit of trouble with that one. The whistle seems to stay put as a result of contact with my mouth, and my 2 thumbs. Never used those little clip on thumb tab deals either.
I play fingertip style, and my pinkie to cover the lowest note.
On a high whistle, I drop my pinkie below the bottom note when all of my other fingers are up.
On a low whistle, I drop the pinkie so that the bottom note is quarter-holed. I suppose I could close it entirely, but my brain prefers to think the hole needs to stay open 
The right ring finger works for me, and hold the whistle at a fourty five degree angle and not stright up and down. Clean thumbs and a clean whistle have friction to also prevent it from sliding.
thanks, all, for the helpful hints. I had been only using my right hand pinky to steady the thing when playing open notes, but will see how it goes with the suggestions gathered here. BTW, when I used to play a Howard low D I used the old recorder player’s trick of glueing a chunk of cork on the back as a thumb rest for the right hand. Worked pertty good but I’d like to avoid that solution if at all possible - I hate to mar the appearance of the Burke Pro Viper I have now.
At the risk of revealing that I am no longer a sveldt young beauty 
, I offer these two photos as illustration of how I hold my Howard for open C#:
The balance of the thumb and pinky on the right hand and the thumb of the left hand and the lips produces a pretty steady grip.
Of course, it can also produce a pretty steady Three Stooges Salute… oh, wait… that’s the nose, not the lips… ah well…
Holding the whistle . . .
I am placing both pinkies against the opposite sides of the whistle to keep it from moving when I play. This appears to be an unusual configuration, from what I’m gleaning here, but it works for me. For that, I’ll probably go where all who use their whistles for evil go! 
Maybe it won’t work for other sized (not soprano “D”) whistles. I guess I’ll find out as I enter more advanced stages of WhOA.
If it works for you, it works. I don’t find much difference in the stability of the whistle either way, so I just use what I’m used to, and it works for me. Not a talking toy. Your results may vary. 
Like a flute in the top hand (left). The whistle is cradled on the third phalange of the first finger, the fingers curl over the top to contact the holes. The left thumb exerts just enough pressure to ‘hold’ the whistle steady.
Beak approx 1/4" into lips. Right little finger lightly touching the side of the tube.
My first store-bought whistle was a Susato with the little clip on thumb rest tab. Works great for me. I find that if I don’t use one, it’s very likely that I’ll mis-finger the first note after an open note. So, I make my own thumb rest tabs out of CPVC or PCV using the same diameter pipe as whatever whistle I’m making it for. It’s ugly, but it works for me.
You could try a little of this…
guitar players and some drummers swear by this stuff.
'Snot something I’d recommend for the whistle though. 
Cover the bottom whole with the third finger of your right hand. I do this on low whistle and soprano whistle. It should not affect the tuning and helps me with ornamentation.
Because whistle players are largely self-taught, they often have very poor posture when playing. Bowed heads (restricts your wind way) and whistle pointing downwards. Try holding that posture whilst being classically taught the Oboe or Clarinet and your teacher will give you a slap!
Stand up straight, keep you head upright to open you airway and your instrument nearer horizontal. Not only will you find blowing high notes easier, but also your whistle will not slip out of your hands on octave D.
gosh are you really serious about doing this with a low d???
might be hard for those poor short armed musicians…
berti
As per anniemcu (nice photo),
but with the pinky of the top hand on too.
I use pipers grip for Low D.
I find that the little fingers just touch
automatically when needed,
the rest of the time they’re off
(doing their own thing!)
With Soprano whistles - as per Wanderer.
HTH
Yep you’re right, it would be diffcult if you have short arms; but if you can manage it, it works. I know I sounded a bit ‘hard’, but for those who’ve had some classical training on an instrument such instruction will sound very familiar Many a child has been bullied (in a nice way) to improve their technique on orchestral instruments, folk musicians get it easy.