Piper's grip on B-flat whistle?
- jen f
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Piper's grip on B-flat whistle?
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.
- greenspiderweb
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Piper's grip on B-flat whistle?
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!
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!
~~~~
Barry
Barry
- happyturkeyman
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Re: Piper's grip on B-flat whistle?
Me too, me too, me too.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.
I gave my gen Bb to my mother for this reason.
We can dance if we want to
We can leave your friends behind
Cause your friends don't dance and if they don't dance
Well they're no friends of mine.
We can leave your friends behind
Cause your friends don't dance and if they don't dance
Well they're no friends of mine.
- Jennie
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Piper's grip on Bb whistle
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
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
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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
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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.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.
Redwolf
...agus déanfaidh mé do mholadh ar an gcruit a Dhia, a Dhia liom!
- Zubivka
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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...
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
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