Has there been a post on this topic yet? I’ve just noticed that all the top whistlers I’ve seen lift their left index to vent the second octave d… Any thoughts?
If you want to vent, try the “It’s Sickening” thread… 
Seriously, on most of my whistles, I find that opening that top hole makes the high D ( or whatever it is on the whistle in question) easier to hit, and better sounding-- more open, and clear toned.
I usually play with the left index down so I can cut above the second octave d
Depends…if it’s a fast passage and I have the opportunity to do some ‘finger cheating’ then I leave the index finger down. If I really want to lean into the 2nd octave D or it’s a slower passage, I’ll raise the index finger for the best tone.
Thanks for all the response! I just know that guys like Vinny Kilduff always vent the second octave d… Anyone know what Ms. Bergin, Ms. Madden, Seamus Egan or L.E. does? Just curious… Thanks!
I know Seamus Egan is pretty insistant regarding the matter of venting the top hole because he does the flute. But for the whistle, I don’t think it matters at all on the whistle unless you are really holding that 2nd 8ve D for a long time, or doing a 2nd 8ve cran. The melody sometimes makes it inconvenient to vent and in those cases you may chose not to. However I think I have read that fleadh competition rules state that venting is compulsary for 2nd 8ve D (among other things). I’m not totally sure on that one.
Just to chime in as a newbie with the beginnings of Whoa…
I’m with Bro Steve on this in that venting the top hole doesn’t matter much (at least with most of my inexpensive whistles).
On the one I practice with most, you’d be hard pressed to hear a difference, especially if I’m playing a tune, rather than say, doing scales.
I’ve noticed that on many whistles I own, venting the high D sounds better (clearer/louder), but is actually not as in tune. Have others found this to be the case?
I vent the high D when I’m going up the scale but not when I’m coming down. I don’t really do this on purpose…just a habbit I picked up I guess.
-Brettt
Hello Folks,
I also noticed that on my Kerry-pro Low G that I “must” vent the top hole to play an octave “g” Also I slightly vent the top hole when playing “a” which would be the “e” finger positioning to get a truer pitch.
How do you vent on your lower whistles?
Laura
Hey McChastain,
I’ve found that it varies with the whistle, but most whistles seem to produce a cleaner sound on the second octive bell note if played OXX XXX. But I do have some whistles (can’t remember which) for which there is no discernable difference between OXX XXX and XXX XXX for the 2nd octive bell note. Out of habit I always use the former.
Vinny
Eldarion wrote:
“However I think I have read that fleadh competition rules state that venting is compulsary for 2nd 8ve D (among other things). I’m not totally sure on that one.”
Eldarion… That was actually my concern… If I decided to get into competition in a few years I don’t want to have to deprogram my brain! About a month ago I started the deprograming process and it’s hard enough at this poing let alone 3 years from now…
For all of you who don’t care / vent when it sounds better musically… I totally respect that… I’m on the same page because…actually on my dixon I have to blow a lot softer to keep it in tune if I vent…AND I think the tone of the 2nd 8va D SOUNDS better… Put that in your pipe and smoke it!
So Bretton… your question:
“I’ve noticed that on many whistles I own, venting the high D sounds better (clearer/louder), but is actually not as in tune. Have others found this to be the case?”
My dixon does this severely although you can correct it with just blowing less (which certainly isn’t a bad thing). And actually… as I mentioned before…I think the dixon second d sounds better not vented even when in tune… My alloy silkstone sounds better vented…and as you would expect is a much more “accurate” instrument in terms of intonation.
Here’s where I see that sticking with one instrument would help (I know there’s been other threads on this issue…) but tell me… really… who could stick with one?!! I’ve got WHOAD Bad!
Well… that’s enough writing… must… reach… for… my… whisle… Ahhhhhhhhhhh…
Blayne
And remember… Greeley, CO IS whistle country.
I stick pretty much with my generation, use my 2 piece clare in the car,and I just prefer the closed fingering on the 2nd octave d.
Now that I think about it the only high end whistle I own is my Hoover Low D. I do play the 2nd octave d 0xxxxx on that.
Check your e-mail Blayne.
All Hail Colorado Whistlers
Ron
Apparently… there was an earlier thread on this topic..
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?topic=1033&forum=1
Very good actually… Anyone know where to get the tin whistle “rules” for competitions..?
Blayne
Greeley, Colorado - Home of the Tin Whistle.
Venting on the uppermost tonehole is good. It causes a pressure loss that encourages second octave notes to to play stabily.
A good source of information on this, “Air Columns and Toneholes” by Bart Hopkin.
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On my Howard low D, the venting is necessary, but on my Generation D, both are playable and is played (by me) depending on in what context i play the D. The vented D is a bit clearer, but it really does’t matter much.