I'm primarily a fiddler, but also am learning tin whistle. I keep hearing about using cross fingerings instead of half-holing, but the only one that I can find that works is 0xx 000 for C nat. Are there any others that I can use?
Try it, every whistle is different. On some xx0 xxx gives G sharp, but Cnat is the only note that can be cross-fingered on any whistle. But then again half holing is more flexible as it is easier to adapt to other whistles.
Hi Criostoir.
Yes, there are other cross fingerings but the one you mentioned is the most standard one among different whistles.
The thing is that each whistle can produce different frequencies with a given cross fingering. For instance, if you want to make a G#, in some whistles the best fingering for it is xx0 x00, while in other whistles the best is xx0 xx0.
But, as I said, it depends on your whistle. For instance, I have a whistle where the best G# is achieved with xx0 x00 and this fingering is not even mentioned in the chart above.
I suggest that you try on your whistle what is the best fingering for a given accidental (perhaps using a tuner) and then remember that fingering. The heuristic to search for a cross fingering is simple:
- Consider that note N is achieved by closing the top n holes.
- If you want to obtain a note that is one semitone below N, what you should try is to 1) keep the top n holes closed, 2) keep hole n+1 open, 3) close one of more of the next holes.
Example:
wanted note: Ab (i.e., G#)
N=A (so, on a D whistle, n=2, i.e., xx0 000)
cross fingerings to try:
xx0 x00
xx0 xx0
xx0 xxx
And besides that you can correct the sharp Cnat with breath control, but in contrast to Cnat the cheapo-whistles I own can't be moved to more than -20 cent on other notes through cross fingering, while the Cnat jumps almost the half-step by itself, and then there's little adjustment necessary, the feadog simply won't play G# without half holing.
Even on the best the Cnat cross fingered goes sharp.
I got tired of trying to get particularly Gsharp and just half hole like you would on the recorder. Since I know that instrument, the half holing is less of a challenge.
Some interesting and fun ornamentation is possible with cross-fingering, though I mostly half-hole... As someone mentioned already, you often have to adjust your fingering for a given whistle, including =c / c natural ~
oxoooo
oxxooo
oxxxoo
oxxoxo ~
& sometimes the only decent solution is to half-hole it...
Cross Fingering on Whistle
Cross Fingering on Whistle
I'm primarily a fiddler, but also am learning tin whistle. I keep hearing about using cross fingerings instead of half-holing, but the only one that I can find that works is 0xx 000 for C nat. Are there any others that I can use?
# Posted on June 2nd 2008 by Criostoir
Re: Cross Fingering on Whistle
Try it, every whistle is different. On some xx0 xxx gives G sharp, but Cnat is the only note that can be cross-fingered on any whistle. But then again half holing is more flexible as it is easier to adapt to other whistles.
TMB
# Posted on June 2nd 2008 by TMB
Re: Cross Fingering on Whistle
"but Cnat is the only note that can be cross-fingered on any whistle"
Cross-fingering Cnat on my John Sindt gives a very sharp Cnat.
# Posted on June 2nd 2008 by Ramiro
Re: Cross Fingering on Whistle
Hi Criostoir.
Yes, there are other cross fingerings but the one you mentioned is the most standard one among different whistles.
The thing is that each whistle can produce different frequencies with a given cross fingering. For instance, if you want to make a G#, in some whistles the best fingering for it is xx0 x00, while in other whistles the best is xx0 xx0.
A nice fingering chart can be found here (including several cross fingerings):
http://www.fullbodyburn.com/images/charts/01-D.jpg
But, as I said, it depends on your whistle. For instance, I have a whistle where the best G# is achieved with xx0 x00 and this fingering is not even mentioned in the chart above.
I suggest that you try on your whistle what is the best fingering for a given accidental (perhaps using a tuner) and then remember that fingering. The heuristic to search for a cross fingering is simple:
- Consider that note N is achieved by closing the top n holes.
- If you want to obtain a note that is one semitone below N, what you should try is to 1) keep the top n holes closed, 2) keep hole n+1 open, 3) close one of more of the next holes.
Example:
wanted note: Ab (i.e., G#)
N=A (so, on a D whistle, n=2, i.e., xx0 000)
cross fingerings to try:
xx0 x00
xx0 xx0
xx0 xxx
Good luck.
Cesar
# Posted on June 2nd 2008 by cesarpim
Re: Cross Fingering on Whistle
I didn't mean a special cross fingering, and I haven't seen a whistle that is still sharp when you use the piper-cross-fingering 0xx x0x
# Posted on June 2nd 2008 by TMB
Re: Cross Fingering on Whistle
And besides that you can correct the sharp Cnat with breath control, but in contrast to Cnat the cheapo-whistles I own can't be moved to more than -20 cent on other notes through cross fingering, while the Cnat jumps almost the half-step by itself, and then there's little adjustment necessary, the feadog simply won't play G# without half holing.
# Posted on June 2nd 2008 by TMB
Re: Cross Fingering on Whistle
Even on the best the Cnat cross fingered goes sharp.
I got tired of trying to get particularly Gsharp and just half hole like you would on the recorder. Since I know that instrument, the half holing is less of a challenge.
# Posted on June 2nd 2008 by zippydw
Re: Cross Fingering on Whistle
some cross fingering here; http://www.whistleworkshop.co.uk/cross_fi.htm
# Posted on June 2nd 2008 by Twiz
Re: Cross Fingering on Whistle
Susatos tend to lend themselves well to cross-fingering
# Posted on June 2nd 2008 by JosephofCK
Re: Cross Fingering on Whistle
Be careful, though. Really cross fingering can lead to unfortunate misunderstandings.
# Posted on June 2nd 2008 by maxF
Re: Cross Fingering on Whistle
Why not just half hole? Much closer intuitively to fiddle I would have thought. Allows for sliding up to the note - more nyah and more traditional?
# Posted on June 3rd 2008 by the wounded hussar
Re: Cross Fingering on Whistle
Some interesting and fun ornamentation is possible with cross-fingering, though I mostly half-hole...
As someone mentioned already, you often have to adjust your fingering for a given whistle, including =c / c natural ~
oxoooo
oxxooo
oxxxoo
oxxoxo ~
& sometimes the only decent solution is to half-hole it...
# Posted on June 3rd 2008 by ceolachan
Re: Cross Fingering on Whistle
Thank you everyone! This helped a lot.
# Posted on June 19th 2008 by Criostoir