So, I learned to play the whistle 20 years ago, but took a 15 year hiatus and recently picked it back up. As I was mainly self taught as a kid, with a little guidance from my mom who also played, there were a few things I never learned. One of them was to pick up my top finger when playing the second octave D (on a D whistle I mean, of course). I’ve been playing with it and it seems to sharpen the note just a bit and make it sound a little breathier, but I also read that it can ensure a good clean note, rather than the fumbling between octaves that can sometimes happen. That has never really been an issue for me, but I do want to play well. It will take considerable practice for me to re-learn all my tunes to add the finger lift, and I’m wondering if it’s worth it? Will I run into problems in the long run if i don’t just cowboy up and do it now? Are there other players who don’t lift the finger, or is this something all good whistlers should do?
thanks
Nomi
I usually don’t bother with venting the 1 hole for middle D. I can play faster with the closed D. But if I want to articulate middle D, give it a little punch, I’ll vent the 1 hole since that gives a more stable note (less likely to overblow).
I am no expert, but I have encountered this. Some tunes on some whistles seem to benefit from this - I could not play the B d B d phrases in the Lament for Staker Wallace on the Bleazey without the vent. What a pain, but I just about got away with it (see my YouTube page and confirm or deny…). Going from xooooo to oxxxxx is far harder than going from xooooo to xxxxxx.
But I have learnt to do both fingerings for the d, and can swap between them as necessary. I did not need to go back and relearn all my old tunes vented, I just learn which works best in the ‘tune of the moment’. After a while my brain/finger/ear collaboration got the message and switches almost autonomously. The preference is still for the unvented fingering, but the vented form is easily invoked. And that applies as well to tunes that I originally learnt unvented.
So do not think of it as an all-or-nothing. That only makes your life harder. Gradually add it as a new ‘trick’ and it will eventually get used where needed.
Just my opinion, though…
I think on the one hand it depends on the whistle you use. I have played whistles which were really bad with xxxxxx. On others xxxxxx or oxxxxx won’t affect the sound very much.
On the other hand it may depend on the tune you play and the way how you play it. Often the second octave d doesn’t come as clear as you wish and there I would lift my top finger.
As DrPhill allready mentioned - there isn’t any ruel or any way which works on every whistle and in every tune. Just get a feeling for how it sounds and change your fingering when it doesn’t sound the way you want. That’s what I do at least.
Hope that helps,
Stef
Hi Nomi
I agree with the other posts. I have found that it depends on the speed of piece I am playing and the note that follows whether it easier to vent the top D or keep it closed. Also as mentioned it does depend on the whistle.
Ian
I find that on most whistles, I like the sound of the vented D better, and the note seems more stable. In fast tunes I’ll sometimes leave it closed for one less finger flailing around.
Thanks guys, eased my mind a little. I do find that the whistle makes a difference, I have plastic one, a ‘smart’, that is nearly impossible to play without venting the D. That’s what got me all concerned in the first place. But I don’t love the sound of it anyway, so I don’t play it much.
I got some whistles and flutes that require different fingerings for C too. It would be nice if one fingering would work for all but that would just be too simple. I usually remember which instrument is which or I play an off sounding note in practice or (the worst option) I play that note the first time wrong. I doubt most folks would notice and those that would sure aren’t going to shoot me.