Poll: How do you Anchor?

gallant_murray · Post by **gallant_murray** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 7:02 pm

Greetings all. I was reading in a whistle tutor today and the author suggested anchoring the whistle with the bottom pinky finger. I personally did not learn this way and to me it seems really awkward to always have my pinky holding the whistle. Does anyone do this or another method consistently?

Tia · Post by **Tia** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 7:09 pm

Hello, I use my mouth and thumbs to hold it, I think that using pinkies would be awkward, but I belive that some do hold it that way, so I guess what ever feels most confortable and works the best for you.

TheSpoonMan · Post by **TheSpoonMan** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 7:19 pm

I just pick up and play, but when I think about it find I'm using my thumbs and pinky- pinky doesn't go to the bottom tho, it's just a counterweight to the right thumb. It goes up and down as I need, which makes my friends joke about the "phantom hole".

Holding it in your mouth? How do you do that? (But then I barely put the whistle in my mouth when I play. I'm the wierd one probably.)

Loren · Post by **Loren** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 7:46 pm

Darn, you had me fooled there for a minute - I thought this was going to be about rock climbing or mountaineering. I'll put my slings, chocks and cams away now

(pitons are no longer PC, and bolting is highly questionable.)

As for whistles, I sometimes use the pinky, sometimes use the ring finger on the bottom hole.

Loren

Mitch · Post by **Mitch** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 9:01 pm

My right hand pinky gets all the stress - I have to remind it to be gentle - my elbow reminds me that 20 years of mouse-clicking has a cumulative risk for RSI so RELAX!!!

Pinky is good.

Congratulations · Post by **Congratulations** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 9:02 pm

I use my pinky almost all of the time. I do lift it to do rolls on E, though.

King Friday · Post by **King Friday** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 9:46 pm

I don't even know, but my thumbs hurt after I play a low whistle so probably my thumbs. I dont think about anchoring at all though.

Tommy · Post by **Tommy** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 9:50 pm

Most of the time I throw the anchor off the bow.

dDave · Post by **dDave** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 10:09 pm

Howdy,

Thumbs and pinkies on both hands.

Best,

Dave

Bridges-PdP · Post by **Bridges-PdP** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 10:13 pm

TheSpoonMan wrote:I just pick up and play, but when I think about it find I'm using my thumbs and pinky- pinky doesn't go to the bottom tho, it's just a counterweight to the right thumb. It goes up and down as I need...

What he said.

m31 · Post by **m31** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 10:57 pm

It depends on the whistle size. Lately I've been experimenting by adding a clamp (borrowed from a mic stand) to my Chieftain F whistle. It takes a lot of stress off the fingers as I don't press nearly as hard. The idea is from my days as a soprano sax player... I've also been experimenting with resting my Low D whistle on my thigh when I'm playing F# or higher. I figure if pipers can do it, so can I. Besides, it also gives me the option of bending the D and d notes.

Chiffed · Post by **Chiffed** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 1:11 am

Loren wrote:Darn, you had me fooled there for a minute - I thought this was going to be about rock climbing or mountaineering. I'll put my slings, chocks and cams away now (pitons are no longer PC, and bolting is highly questionable.)

As for whistles, I sometimes use the pinky, sometimes use the ring finger on the bottom hole.

Loren

Join a rescue group - then you get to use the heavy metal (and play with helicopters and crazy military pilots). Pitons, rock bags, picket lines... it's all PC in a rescue. A little more secure than having Friends in high places.

As for anchoring whistles, I just stick them between two beer glasses on the table, and they stay put.

bdh · Post by **bdh** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 2:15 am

Bridges-PdP wrote:
TheSpoonMan wrote:I just pick up and play, but when I think about it find I'm using my thumbs and pinky- pinky doesn't go to the bottom tho, it's just a counterweight to the right thumb. It goes up and down as I need...
What he said.

Ditto.

Walden · Post by **Walden** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 2:38 am

I use both little fingers and the right thumb. I don't use the left thumb, which is why whistles with the Cnat thumb hole are difficult for me to cope with.

Adrian · Post by **Adrian** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 3:12 am

From G up I normally use the pinkie but sometimes the third finger on the bottom hole. On the recorder I use just thumbs and lips usually.