Low D for weak hands?

dagoose · Post by **dagoose** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 10:56 pm

I have an older Overton low D that has lovely sound but it's a bit heavy for me. I've got tendinitis and pain in my joints but I really want to play the low D. Can anyone suggest a lighter weight low whistle that I might be able to manage in my condition? I think I prefer metal over composite but am open to suggestions.

Thank you!

Thomaston · Post by **Thomaston** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 11:42 pm

It's not metal, butI got a Susato low D today that is very light-weight.

gerardo1000 · Post by **gerardo1000** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 3:33 am

A Burke Viper low D in aluminum is very light.

brewerpaul · Post by **brewerpaul** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 4:07 am

The Burke composite low whistles are amazingly light.
Alternatively, you could either get/make a thumb rest which makes a heavier whistle easier to play or install some sort of ring to the back of the whistle and use a saxophone neck cord to support the whistle.

MTGuru · Post by **MTGuru** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 4:29 am

Right, Paul, I was also going to suggest a secondary support: thumb rest, or neck strap, or thumb strap.

Actually, a tenor or baritone sax neck strap is long enough to hook the bell end of the whistle without an attachment ring. Pancelticpiper here has been using this for a while with some success.

My own idea for a compact thumb strap is here:
viewtopic.php?t=56767

And Michael Mahan devised a simple thumb rest for his low D:
viewtopic.php?t=56770

Dagoose: Your Overton is a really a special instrument IMO - THE classic low D - and it would be a shame not to play it because of tendonitis. It's amazing how light it can feel with some extra support that lets you relax your grip, relieve your sore fingers, and concentrate on playing. I'd give one of these inexpensive solutions a try before giving up on it.

dagoose · Post by **dagoose** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:18 am

Dagoose: Your Overton is a really a special instrument IMO - THE classic low D - and it would be a shame not to play it because of tendonitis. It's amazing how light it can feel with some extra support that lets you relax your grip, relieve your sore fingers, and concentrate on playing. I'd give one of these inexpensive solutions a try before giving up on it.

I made a mistake, I have a Howard, not an Overton. (sorry for the confusion) It was a gift from my husband about 15 years ago and I could never make a note on it. It has always been sitting there patiently. Then I started playing again and my friend Ted recently polished it and fixed it with a newer head that was an improvement I did not know about. Suddenly I can play it but not for long before my hands cramp. It's a combination of weight of the whistle and using the right fingering grip. The piper's grip makes it harder to keep the whistle from feeling like I'll drop it.

Thanks for the sugs on straps. I'll look into those links to try and find one. I think that would make all the difference.

Thanks!

Daniel_Bingamon · Post by **Daniel_Bingamon** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:04 am

Having a Low-D made with a rotatable bottom hole can take stress off the hands. Plastic models keep the weight down.

DrPhill · Post by **DrPhill** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:38 pm

A conical or tapered tube may feel more secure too, so I thought maybe the Dixon low D three piece. Then I compared it with a recent Overton - and the Dixon is not noticeably lighter than the Overton. I can do some rough weights (in ounces on our kitchen scales) if you want - few reviews include the weight, so others might chip in with weights of other whistles....

Daniels idea may work here too - the three sections can rotate for more comfort.

I seem to remember MTGuru recommending 'Gorilla Snot'. Make the whistle slightly sticky, with an easy-clean gunk. Probably an easy search on this forum

I found the smoothness of the Overton made me feel a little insecure - but I changed to play with the whistle horizontal. That taught me to hold the whistle more gently. My problem was tight grip leading to muscle fatigue and less-than-nimble fingers.

Good luck finding a solution.

DCrom · Post by **DCrom** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 2:14 pm

I can second the "too tight grip leads to muscle fatigue".

I have a Howard, and like it quite a bit.

But the first month or so I owned it was pure misery because of this. Loosening my frantic clutch of death (and getting comfortable with piper's grip) made a huge difference. Then I had to go through the same process again when I picked up flute because I was just *certain* that it would roll out of my grip.

As hard as it is to convince ourselves, a flute or low whistle really is secure enough when held lightly. If you drop it (I never did, much to my surprise), it was because you weren't gripping it correctly, not because you weren't gripping it hard enough. And it is actually HARDER, not easier, to seal the holes with a too-tight grip.

Relax. Be happy.

dagoose · Post by **dagoose** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 12:02 am

thanks everyone, I have a solution I think based on the great advice. I used the same fabric that I made the case for to make a strap. I found a large paper clip that I could use as my 'hook' and I have a little helper to hold the whistle. I blasted through Lark in the Morning but hope to some day be able to play it better. I can relax my hands now and they did not wear out as fast. I have to practice arm position and grip but this was such big help.

tin-titan · Post by **tin-titan** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 11:38 am

Dagoose, You sure have charmed that ferocious lil hummer. They are so aggressive towards each other. I get ruby throats only here in MD. I love birds. I have seen Pileated Woodpeckers in my suburban yard a couple of times. My parakeet is tough also. She is very surly when she wants to be. To me, birds are like otherworldly angels sent to us to make us realize the transcendental nature of life. I need to go wax my car instead of poetic.

dagoose · Post by **dagoose** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 1:17 pm

Dagoose, You sure have charmed that ferocious lil hummer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvEMKU2zxmk
Hi Tin-Titan,
Ah, I wonder how many whistlers are also bird people. Whistling is the closest I'll get to sounding like a bird. We've got occasional pileated woody sightings here but you can hear them more often banging their heads like a jack hammer of in the distance. The Allen's hummers are migrating now and we are getting a lot of visitation to our feeders. I love their little put-put flight sound. (We've got a cockatiel, parrotlet and 5 ducks.)
All the best,

MTGuru · Post by **MTGuru** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 1:47 pm

dagoose wrote:We've got a cockatiel, parrotlet and 5 ducks.

What, no ... goose?

dagoose · Post by **dagoose** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 1:54 pm

What, no ... goose?

I'm dagoose!
I love geese but I love ducks more.

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Low D for weak hands?

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