Bit of advice needed quickly, please. I have 2 students this week learning “Low” whistle. Do you “low” whistle players prefer to “cut” the “A” note with the “B” or “C” finger ? Both players are using “straight” fingers.
Thanks, in anticipation.
I would let them do whichever is most comfortable for them. A lot of instructionals recommend using the top finger to cut A’s & B’s. I usually (but not always) prefer to cut with whatever note is immediately above the main note - it’s just easier & more natural for me.
I use the top finger in lower octave
oxo ooo cut
xxo ooo note
and the second finger in the upper octave
xoo ooo cut
xxo ooo note.
Reason being that the upper octave is more likely to break on me and the cut on the hi b (oxo ooo) can be a bit to screetchy.
That’s what I do most of the time anyway.
I agree with Bloomfield. I play the same way most of the time.
I’ve seen the “cut with top finger” advice and it did seem a bit easier at first. I think for most of us, small, fast, independent actions with the index finger seem more natural than doing the same thing using the middle.
But since I started drilling on rolls and crans regularly, I find I have a lot more choice in which finger I use. And varying the finger I use for a cut in a repeated part is a pretty easy way to add a bit of interest.
My thanks to all 3 of you for your replies. I’ll pass them on to the 2 musicians. We may just gain another 2 recruits to “Chiff & Fipple”.