Piper's grip on B-flat whistle?

jen f · Post by **jen f** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 4:53 pm

I got a Gen B-flat today, and I'm having a hard time with the reach and covering the holes. Do I just need to get used to it, or should I use piper's grip? Does anyone else use piper's grip on a B-flat? I do have small hands and slender fingers.

emmline · Post by **emmline** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 5:05 pm

Once I learned how to cover holes on my low D, I started using piper's on everything, including Bb and high D's.
I have poor stretch, and pinky the last hole on low D and Bb. Everything above that key I can use my ring finger for.

lixnaw · Post by **lixnaw** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 5:23 pm

to tell you the truth, i played a low D for over a year with piper's grip,jig's reels,... and ever since i picked up button accordion, i had to pack in the piper's grip. my biggest stretch is now a high C. but at least i'll be heard in sessions anyway...

greenspiderweb · Post by **greenspiderweb** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 5:38 pm

Hi Jen,
Yes, even though I can play it with my fingertips, it seems much more comfortable with less stress on fingers/wrists with the pipers grip. I have a blue top nickel Gen Bb, and think it's a great whistle for the money!

Redwolf · Post by **Redwolf** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 5:46 pm

I use piper's grip on the bottom three holes and regular on the top. I still don't find the piper's grip terribly comfortable or natural, and I have a hard time getting a seal on the holes with that part of the finger.

Redwolf

happyturkeyman · Post by **happyturkeyman** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 6:19 pm

jen f wrote:I got a Gen B-flat today, and I'm having a hard time with the reach and covering the holes. Do I just need to get used to it, or should I use piper's grip? Does anyone else use piper's grip on a B-flat? I do have small hands and slender fingers.

Me too, me too, me too.

I gave my gen Bb to my mother for this reason.

emmline · Post by **emmline** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 6:21 pm

The moral of this story is...there's no one right answer. You have to fit your hands to the whistle.

Jennie · Post by **Jennie** » Fri Sep 03, 2004 5:09 pm

Jen,

I agree, see what works in terms of piper's grip or otherwise. You may want to check the archives on this topic too. Try "small hands" or "double-jointed" as search topics. There are some of us (me included) who have not figured out how to play a low whistle because of hyperextended knuckle joints. I love the low sound, but am beginning to resign myself to playing high whistles because the low ones hurt!

Gee, that sounded dismal. I didn't mean to inspire despair. Hope you find something that is comfortable for you.

Meanwhile, my seven-year-old delights in showing off a whole handful of double-jointed fingers! (I just have one on each hand.) Guess I should encourage her to take up the piccolo.

Jennie

emmline · Post by **emmline** » Fri Sep 03, 2004 6:22 pm

Playing a low D did not require double joints, or extraordinary athleticism of the digits...but compared to a high whistle, it took me weeks to consistently get a decent sound out of the thing. I think the larger whistles are just more similar to other large woodwinds in that way. The rudiments of playing require practice, whereas almost anyone can toot a high D, with or without any particular artistry.

Redwolf · Post by **Redwolf** » Fri Sep 03, 2004 7:07 pm

emmline wrote:Playing a low D did not require double joints, or extraordinary athleticism of the digits...but compared to a high whistle, it took me weeks to consistently get a decent sound out of the thing. I think the larger whistles are just more similar to other large woodwinds in that way. The rudiments of playing require practice, whereas almost anyone can toot a high D, with or without any particular artistry.

Actually, the problem is, double-jointed fingers make it very difficult to keep the part of the finger necessary to seal the hole properly flat. All my fingers are double-jointed as well, and I think that's a large part of my problem. It's impossible to keep the finger flat if there's any pressure on it at all.

Redwolf

emmline · Post by **emmline** » Fri Sep 03, 2004 8:00 pm

Ok, I get it. An advantage to stiff joints.

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Fri Sep 03, 2004 8:29 pm

If you can get used to it, you may find that you
are faster and more accurate, finally ,IMO.
But if it's too great a struggle,
piper's grip is fine.

Zubivka · Post by **Zubivka** » Sat Sep 04, 2004 4:39 pm

I still fingertip most Bb's, yet feel more comfy with piper's grip from A down. Now I started from the low D whistle, and reluctantly acquired a taste for them high-pitch thingies...

I heard some very competent players say piper's let them play faster. And it does seem to make a difference when fluttering a tremolo...

Martin Milner · Post by **Martin Milner** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 5:52 am

If you want to play in Bb a lot and can't get used to the Generation, the hole spacing on the Tony Dixon Bb is much closer - no big drop to that bottom hole, and it's not so big wither.

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