Slippery Fingers

antstastegood · Post by **antstastegood** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 9:01 pm

This condition is really starting to annoy the heck out of me. It causes severe unsteadiness as the whistle just slides along the thumbs at just the wrong moment and screws up the #@!$@$#%$^%$ song that I had almost just figured out that one $@$#@$#@ hard part.......

Well, you get the idea. Tips, Tricks, Tirades?

--ants--
"Irritated in Irvine"

Scott McCallister · Post by **Scott McCallister** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 10:36 pm

Try this....

a little dab'll do ya (just on your thumbs)

you can get it here

http://www.musiciansfriend.com[/img]

Marko · Post by **Marko** » Thu Oct 16, 2003 3:33 am

yeah my nickel generation Bb (pictured) is always slipping just as i get to the good bits. any homemade alternitaves to gorilla snot?

StewySmoot · Post by **StewySmoot** » Thu Oct 16, 2003 4:50 am

There is a homemade alternative to Gorilla Snot.

Pick and choose...

burnsbyrne · Post by **burnsbyrne** » Thu Oct 16, 2003 6:23 am

Have you tried one of the thumb rests that are made by Susato? They come in various sizes and are sold at the Whistle Shop at
http://www.thewhistleshop.com/
Mike

Jens_Hoppe · Post by **Jens_Hoppe** » Thu Oct 16, 2003 6:43 am

Marko wrote:any homemade alternitaves to gorilla snot?

Glue? Beeswax? Honey?

(The good thing about honey is that you get to lick it off your hands afterwards).

Sandy Jasper · Post by **Sandy Jasper** » Thu Oct 16, 2003 12:14 pm

Good question!

I would suggest a few different ideas.

1) If the whistle is a cheap or you don't care that much about the finish, you could use some sandpaper and rough it up a bit. Or spray some silver sparkles on it. If you don't use a clear coat on afterwards, the sparkles really add some grit.

2) If it happens most often at gigs or sessions where you are nervous, try spraying your hands with anti-persperant before going out. It will probably cut down on the sweat.

3) Talcolm powder, either store bought or the kind they use in gyms to lift weights. A bit of that on your hands before you play ought to sort it out!

Best of luck,

Sandy

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Thu Oct 16, 2003 12:22 pm

I have never found nickel whistles to be slippery.

But if I did I would put a little drop of super glue where my thumbs went, rub it in, and let it dry.

fancypiper · Post by **fancypiper** » Thu Oct 16, 2003 12:49 pm

Scrub the backside of the whistle where your thumbs rest with beeswax.

I have to use that on my Bourke low D and any nickle whistle I play.

TXwhistle · Post by **TXwhistle** » Thu Oct 16, 2003 4:27 pm

Why don't you just stick a piece of double-sided tape back there? Seems like that would work and it's not permanent.

lesl · Post by **lesl** » Thu Oct 16, 2003 10:32 pm

I have some gorilla snot. I got it here
http://www.gorillasnot.com/
It is pretty good stuff and smells like pine resin. And it doesn't cost much.
It really works too. I got it for when I used to have trouble covering flute
holes.

Hand cream works too if you get some real thick cream but if you use too
much it just makes your hands slippery not tacky. Also someone told me
to rub your fingers on orange peel to get tacky fingers.

Cheers Lesl

Marko · Post by **Marko** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 5:08 am

hey, cheers guys,

its not too much of a problem, i'm going to try the bee's wax i think.

Whistlepeg · Post by **Whistlepeg** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 2:27 pm

A bit of fabric bandaid stuck on the back under the thumb works well as it is rough textured and non-permanent. Elastoplast is what we have here. I often use it for beginner students for thumb placement as well as grip.
Some trad players just lick their thumb (or fingers) for a bit more adhesion - better than sticking them up your nose.....