I finger the 2nd octave D as xxx xxx, instead of oxx xxx. Yes, that’s wrong, I know, but that’s the way how I do it.
First. For now, I don’t see any reason to re-learn to right fingering, as this mistake does not cause any problems - I just play. Is that OK? Maybe there are some problems I don’t know?
Second. In fact, there is one problem: some whistles are out of tune when you play them that way. So - could you check yours with the tuner, and write here if your model does or does not change the pitch when you cover top hole on 2nd octave D? In first place, I ask the owners of Hudsons, Burkes (brass session bore Bb in particular) and Overtons to do that, as I’m going to buy some of these soon.
I play the middle D both ways, and I don’t have any reason for the one or the other way. I just play how my fingers fall onto the whistle. Nothing wrong with that IMO.
It isn’t wrong at all. If it sounds OK, there’s no reason to vent the D.
I don’t think this would be a useful exercise. A person who has been using that
fingering on a whistle for a long time would be able to blow that note into tune
on that whistle. So, that person telling you all Hudsons are “in tune” using that
fingering really might mean “once you blow it into tune” without realizing it…
Depending on the tune I finger XXX XXX or OXX XXX. Sometimes, in faster tunes, I find it easier to finger it XXX XXX but in the airs or waltzes I tend to finger it OXX XXX (not always).
I’ve never had a problem with this.
In the same way, I don’t bother in fingering the C-natural different than OXX OOO
I don’t think this would be a useful exercise. A person who has been using that
fingering on a whistle for a long time would be able to blow that note into tune
on that whistle.
Almost any whistle can be blown in tune, but some are easier then others. When you have to blow, say, Cnat lighter then B and A - maybe it’s better to change the whistle?
There are whistles that have just no difference between two fingerings (eg Clarke Sweetone, or my GFM), and are whistles that have difference up to 20-30 cents (eg Every whistle). I will prefer first ones for playing with others, not second.
Note that I’m not asking “is it in tune when fingered so?” - but “does the pitch change when you cover the hole?”
my xxx xxx isnt out of tune, but i do find that the oxx xxx fingering gives me a louder/fuller d than the weaker sounding xxx xxx. I dont have any hard and fast rules about it, but if i’m running through d i’ll often not vent the top hole, but i make a habit of trying to vent it, just because i think it sounds “fuller” if that term can be applied.
I play using both fingerings. Most often I’ll try to play OXX XXX because that way I won’t get a bottom D when I don’t want one. But I also use XXX XXX depending on the notes before or after the second octave D in the tune. Sometimes it’s just easier to play the D with all the holes closed if it’s a faster tune or it’s a tricky passage. As well, as someone mentioned above, you get a different sound to the D from the two fingerings. I also use the two fingerings based on which sound I’m going for on that second octave D. That being said, I don’t think it necessarily gives you a noticeable tuning difference if you cover all the holes. just a different sound. I’ve played a few Burkes and didn’t have any tuning problems when playing both fingerings.
I mostly use oxxxxx, as on Overton, xxxxxx is a little bit sharp, so I prefer to be in tune
And the biggest reason why I learned to do it oxxxxx way is because of 3rd octave D, which, on many whistles (my including), sounds horrible when fingered xxxxxx.
What i’ve found that is weird is, on my sindt, if i blow it right, i can get the second octave A by playing 0xxxxx and 2nd octave b by playing xxxxxo (might be 0xxxx0)
I play it xxx xxx also, but the note tends to “break” very easily on my Howard low D, so I’m trying to make it oxx xxx as much as possible.
FWIW, there is no difference I can hear on my Burke DAN.
Does xxx xxx work ok on flute?
Flutes work extremely similarly to whistles in this respect. The D at the start (bottom) of the 2nd 8ve is clearest, strongest and most in tune on the vast majority of instruments of either family with L1 vented (oxx xxx) - that is the standard fingering (for good acoustical/physical reasons) and should ideally always be used; but in certain contexts (fast passage of particular finger-shape combinations) a lazy top finger staying put does no harm. In addition, if it isn’t significantly flat or too weak, the 2nd 8ve D played xxx xxx can have a subtly different sound, slightly more overtoney, that may be used for special effect. Much the same is true for 3rd 8ve D - the standard flute fingering of oxx ooo is usually “best”, but overblown 1st or 2nd octave fingerings may be acceptable sound-wise. I have met some flutes and whistles that were better with oxx xxx for 3rd 8ve D, but they are the exception rather than the rule.
As always with these kinds of fingering question, I’d advocate experimenting to find the most-in-tune-strongest-sounding fingering on a particular instrument, then practice it until you can play it accurately and fluently. Don’t fudge. It really is not hard or awkward if you stick at it - it will become second nature and not even conscious surprisingly quickly. But bear in mind the other fingerings may have some small usefulness for special effect.
For most players/instruments, that means learn to use oxx xxx for 2nd D and oxx ooo for 3rd D. I think this is definitely one of those situations where it is worth making the effort to do it the conventionally “right” way and then deviate from that as a conscious choice, rather than to cop out by saying “that’s a bit awkward and this way is easier (for me at this stage) and works OK-ish…”
That is the overtone series. You can keep going, but I wouldn’t recommend it
without earplugs. Tabor pipes use that method so you can play one-handed
with only 3 holes (but they’re usually lower than a high-D whistle, so you
don’t go deaf).
