Holding the low whistle--lil help?
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Holding the low whistle--lil help?
How many of you use a thumbrest?
I've been practicing steadily on the low whistle. Still a rank beginner, but people who don't know anything at all might be thinking I kind of know how to play. If I play Morrison's jig fast enough the mistakes just fly past...
Anyway I've gone from a really light Dixon plastic whistle to a Howard to now an MK "selkie," which is a great whistle but heavy. My left hand especially gets tired: I have an old table saw injury to that hand that might partly be the reason. On the other hand, the Howard used to feel heavy but now feels pretty effortless to hold.
I made a little slip-on ring out of PVC that works as a prototype. But I also feel like I should learn to play without it
I've been practicing steadily on the low whistle. Still a rank beginner, but people who don't know anything at all might be thinking I kind of know how to play. If I play Morrison's jig fast enough the mistakes just fly past...
Anyway I've gone from a really light Dixon plastic whistle to a Howard to now an MK "selkie," which is a great whistle but heavy. My left hand especially gets tired: I have an old table saw injury to that hand that might partly be the reason. On the other hand, the Howard used to feel heavy but now feels pretty effortless to hold.
I made a little slip-on ring out of PVC that works as a prototype. But I also feel like I should learn to play without it
- Peter Duggan
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Re: Holding the low whistle--lil help?
You need another poll option, which is just 'No' without the '! Tough it out!'
I don't use one, but wouldn't advise against their use where they might help. You can get easily-moved clip-on ones that should provide more support than your simple ring.
I don't use one, but wouldn't advise against their use where they might help. You can get easily-moved clip-on ones that should provide more support than your simple ring.
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Re: Holding the low whistle--lil help?
If its already on the whistle, then I'll use it, but I don't really need it. I've heard that it sometimes bothers whistlers while they are playing, but I don't really mind it. At the same time, though, I don't really go out of my way to make sure it's on the whistle in the first place!
Cheers!
Cheers!
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Re: Holding the low whistle--lil help?
I used a silicone wedding ring I picked up on amazon for my MK. It has a bit of stretch. I had a black one so I got a black ring in size 20 I believe. I think it cost me less than 10 bucks. It went on easy and off easily and didn't have much of a profile so it didn't make slipping it into its sleeve awkward in any way.
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Re: Holding the low whistle--lil help?
That's an interesting idea!busterbill wrote:I used a silicone wedding ring I picked up on amazon for my MK. It has a bit of stretch. I had a black one so I got a black ring in size 20 I believe. I think it cost me less than 10 bucks. It went on easy and off easily and didn't have much of a profile so it didn't make slipping it into its sleeve awkward in any way.
Re: Holding the low whistle--lil help?
MTGuru had a clever strap and plastic coated hook that went in the bell end of the low whistle. It was suitable for keys, medals, lunch bag, etc......
viewtopic.php?t=56767
viewtopic.php?t=56767
''Whistles of Wood'', cpvc and brass. viewtopic.php?f=1&t=69086
Re: Holding the low whistle--lil help?
I bought a pack of six clarinet thumb rests off Ebay. A bit of high strength double stick tape and all's good.
I play Reyburn low D whistles, one brass and one alloy. The alloy is fine but the weight of the brass one causes it to slip around a bit. Thumb rest is easily re-positioned or removed with no residual marks.
I also use Runyon Flute cushions under the L.H. thumb. They might be all you need, just try one under each thumb.
Piper Joe
I play Reyburn low D whistles, one brass and one alloy. The alloy is fine but the weight of the brass one causes it to slip around a bit. Thumb rest is easily re-positioned or removed with no residual marks.
I also use Runyon Flute cushions under the L.H. thumb. They might be all you need, just try one under each thumb.
Piper Joe
- Peter Duggan
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Re: Holding the low whistle--lil help?
If you need them, they work.Peter Duggan wrote:You can get easily-moved clip-on ones that should provide more support than your simple ring.
Susato version made in six sizes for whistles:
Aulos in three (?) sizes for recorders, but equally suitable for whistles because they're not actually tapered:
Re: Holding the low whistle--lil help?
Pay no attention to the poll. Do what ever works for you to keep playing music.PB+J wrote:How many of you use a thumbrest?
My left hand especially gets tired: I have an old table saw injury to that hand that might partly be the reason. On the other hand, the Howard used to feel heavy but now feels pretty effortless to hold.
I made a little slip-on ring out of PVC that works as a prototype. But I also feel like I should learn to play without it
''Whistles of Wood'', cpvc and brass. viewtopic.php?f=1&t=69086
Re: Holding the low whistle--lil help?
I never used one before, but also haven’t owned a low whistle in years. I’m thinking of getting a Walt Sweet Onyx though, which I think does come with a thumb rest.
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Re: Holding the low whistle--lil help?
I didn't respond because none of the available answers fit my experience.
It's like an auto poll about extra handles that clamp onto a car's steering wheel for some imagined benefit, the poll asking
1) yes I use clamp-on steering wheel handles
2) no, I tough it out
Which is building in an obvious bias into the poll: no matter how you answer you're implying that the object in question is beneficial, which is the very thing I disagree with.
My answer would be
4) No, because thumb-rests and neck straps are unnecessary for most Low Whistles
(Yes I did use a neck strap briefly, but only for an extremely heavy thick solid brass Low D whistle, which I got rid of. No other Low D which I've ever played, in alloy, plastic, or wood, has required such a thing.)
It's like an auto poll about extra handles that clamp onto a car's steering wheel for some imagined benefit, the poll asking
1) yes I use clamp-on steering wheel handles
2) no, I tough it out
Which is building in an obvious bias into the poll: no matter how you answer you're implying that the object in question is beneficial, which is the very thing I disagree with.
My answer would be
4) No, because thumb-rests and neck straps are unnecessary for most Low Whistles
(Yes I did use a neck strap briefly, but only for an extremely heavy thick solid brass Low D whistle, which I got rid of. No other Low D which I've ever played, in alloy, plastic, or wood, has required such a thing.)
Richard Cook
c1980 Quinn uilleann pipes
1945 Starck Highland pipes
Goldie Low D whistle
c1980 Quinn uilleann pipes
1945 Starck Highland pipes
Goldie Low D whistle
- benhall.1
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Re: Holding the low whistle--lil help?
I don't understand why you'd need one, and, for me at least, I think something like that would just get in the way.
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Re: Holding the low whistle--lil help?
I don't understand why I'd need one either. It's why I'm asking.benhall.1 wrote:I don't understand why you'd need one, and, for me at least, I think something like that would just get in the way.
It could be because I have a hand injury--as mentioned, I cut my hand pretty badly in a table saw accident, and lost a good bit of dexterity on the guitar which has only slowly and partially come back. Some left hand whistle moves don't come easily either. The effort of holding the MK whistle, which is wide and fairy heavy--makes my hand hurt, and that makes me tense up, etc etc.. I really don't know if this is a normal part of the learning curve, or if it's due to injury, or if it's due to the size and weight of the MK.
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Re: Holding the low whistle--lil help?
I guess I would suspect your injury. I have an MK Pro, and don't need or want a thumb rest. Is the Kelpie heavier than the Pro?PB+J wrote:I really don't know if this is a normal part of the learning curve, or if it's due to injury, or if it's due to the size and weight of the MK.
Deartháir don phaidir an port.
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Re: Holding the low whistle--lil help?
No thumb rest but I have a strip of electrical tape wound where my thumb rests to keep the whistle from slipping.
Use the pipers grip and don’t hold on too tight (easier said than done if you are new to the whistle).
I remember the Kelpie being heavier.
Use the pipers grip and don’t hold on too tight (easier said than done if you are new to the whistle).
I remember the Kelpie being heavier.