Low D - thumb support

Cariad · Post by **Cariad** » Sun Nov 23, 2003 6:42 pm

My friend has just bought herself a low D whistle for her birthday. Its 2nd hand and the make is written too small to read but its cylindrical metal with an all in one plastic mouthpiece and sounds really very nice. However - she is finding it strenuous to hold for too long and we wondered if there is some kind of thumb support one can buy (or improvise) like I have on my smaller susato whistles (which they come with) ... does such a thing exist for a larger low whistle? - or are there any tricks on how to hold it best? - can anyone help? - much appreciated if so!
Sarah

finkelsj · Post by **finkelsj** » Sun Nov 23, 2003 7:07 pm

The Whistle Shop has Susato thumbrests for sale that may do the trick. Send an email to Thom Larson (tlarson@thewhistleshop.com) and see what he says.

CHIFF FIPPLE · Post by **CHIFF FIPPLE** » Mon Nov 24, 2003 3:00 am

Thumb rest's

Its like training wheels on yer first bike

Here I go again banging on about Low D's and in fact all Low Whistles.
There is no easy way to play Low whistles no short ones no small ones none with bells and whistles, just Low ones, which by the very reason for them being Low, makes them big,and so it takes years to get realy good at playing them.Which is the whole point of learning to play whistle,its a

challenge

Zubivka · Post by **Zubivka** » Mon Nov 24, 2003 3:28 am

Stacey's right about the training wheels.
Now, I don't see anything wrong with them: better teach a kid to ride on a true bike with training wheels (then remove them) than on this horrible trikes with the pedals directly on the front wheel.

A thumb rest (available from Susato, but you can easily make one yourself by strapping/taping a piece of wood) may at least help the beginner in relieving strain from excessive pressure of his grip. Now that rubbing of a plastic thumbrest over one's thumb isn't really comfortable...

This often comes from fear of dropping the whistle. I'd advice to attach some kind of neck-strap to the whistle. All it takes is a long lace and a "constrictor" knot.

It may seem unnecessary, but it has at least the benefit of a sort of
placebo: when you don't fear to drop the whistle, your grip relaxes, and you find out quickly you don't need the thumbrest. Or the neckstrap

Easily_Deluded_Fool · Post by **Easily_Deluded_Fool** » Mon Nov 24, 2003 5:30 am

Zubivka wrote:Stacey's right about the training wheels.
snip
This often comes from fear of dropping the whistle. I'd advice to attach some kind of neck-strap to the whistle. All it takes is a long lace and a "constrictor" knot.

It may seem unnecessary, but it has at least the benefit of a sort of
placebo: when you don't fear to drop the whistle, your grip relaxes, and you find out quickly you don't need the thumbrest. Or the neckstrap

Everything 'Zub' said.
Make one from a long coloured boot lace.
After a week or two, you won't need it

HTH

trisha · Post by **trisha** » Tue Nov 25, 2003 7:53 am

Zubivka wrote:Stacey's right about the training wheels.
Now, I don't see anything wrong with them: better teach a kid to ride on a true bike with training wheels (then remove them) than on this horrible trikes with the pedals directly on the front wheel.

Completely OT Zoob, but it's a hundred times easier to teach a child bike riding by simply removing the pedals rather than having stabilisers/training wheel thingies. Scooting along with the feet on (and off!) the ground teaches balance which training wheels don't. Back on with the pedals, easy...

Trisha

tubafor · Post by **tubafor** » Tue Nov 25, 2003 8:54 am

So, I'd imagine Stacey wouldn't like to see the clear thumbrests on my Alba Bass Bb and Low C?...

I know that most here have issues with thumbrests... however, for some of us, they're the only way we CAN play... I have a weakness in my left thumb that makes it hard for me to even hold a soprano D for any length of time. Without the thumbrests, I'd be out of the whistle world.

The point - if you can do without the support, great and good! If, though, there's a need for that assistance, then that works too. Just as no one whistle suits all players, differences in how we play the things are OK too.

CHIFF FIPPLE · Post by **CHIFF FIPPLE** » Wed Nov 26, 2003 6:13 am

This one must be a trick question,

I would like better to see Alba whistles with a thumb rest, then not see them at all

How yer doing Carl good ta see yer two pennith

Do you think Enso liked to see his red baby with L plates

selkie · Post by **selkie** » Thu Nov 27, 2003 9:06 am

I solved the thumb rest problem in two ways. I used a lump of Blue Tack and my thumb moulds into it and I also got some nice leather thonging and a garden plastic tie so I could hang the whistle around my neck. It makes it easier to swap from a D to a C whistle and as I have physical problems I don't drop my whistles anymore.

Cariad · Post by **Cariad** » Thu Nov 27, 2003 7:32 pm

Thanks everyone!!

tuaz · Post by **tuaz** » Sat Nov 29, 2003 1:43 am

When I ordered some whitecap mouthpcs quite some time back, I asked Mack Hoover if he could also make me a thumb rest for my Overton Low D, and he very kindly did so. I'm not ashamed to say I use one. Sometimes my hands get powdery-dry: trying to hold a smooth, fairly heavy, large diameter aluminium barrel with piper's grip gets difficult for me.

If the ready-made Susato thumbrests don't come in the right size, the above might be another possibility you could consider.