To all the whistle/keyless flute players
I'm just curious, do you normally half-hole for notes like, say, c-natural (on D instruments), or do you use cross-fingerings?
I usually half-hole myself, but I've been experimenting a bit with cross fingerings; I think I tend to slide into notes too much (and in inappropriate places) using half-holing.
Tim
On a D whistle l I cross finger the C and C# and half finger F and G# etc. I find that you have to know how much half fingering for each note you want to use on each whistle which can take a while to get right.
Practice lowering you fingers on to the cross fingering not sliding the note (unless needed).
Some tunes in other keys don't sit well on a D whistle so I just change whistle or transpose the tune (cue dirty looks from fiddlers and others ).
i was taught to half finger the C natural and have all off for C sharp. it does take practice but it's worth it in the end, especially in reels with a lot of C naturals and slow airs, because the tone is better. i think that in slow airs sliding is nice and in reels it is a distinguishing factor as not many people would usually, although this may be due to my teaching! there is a lovely air 'The Mountain Streams Where The Moorcock Crows' with naturals in it and sliding in it is particularly effective! (or so i humbly think! :P)
I think it depends on your instrument. I always cross finger C nat. on whistle and flute, but my instruments (Dixon 3 piece flute and Clare whistle) have good cross-fingered C naturals.
Actually, on the Dixon I have a hard time half holing anything because of it's smaller holes, but I can cross finger C nat., G# and A# quite well.
However, when I get my Seery, with it's larger holes I expect to half hole more notes which I've done with a pair of Ralph Sweet fifes I had in the past (they had large holes for fifes).
As I said, I adapt to my instruments, but I'll probably always cross finger C since most modern makers aim for that anyways...
I use to crossfinger the C nat unless I'm playing at high speed and the transition from whatever the note to C nat (or the other way around) is really short. Then I half cover the hole or slide the note, depending on the situation.
Anyway I think Eric is right. It really depends on your instrument.
Could someone please explain "cross-fingering". I don't recognise the term. And I'm particularly interested in ways of getting a G# on a D whistle, without half covering the G hole. Thanks
Hi Madonna
Cross-fingering means (as shown above), placing fingers below the hole making the note, to flatten its pitch.
I make my own bodies for generation heads and use oxx xox for C natural.
To get a use full A#/Bb in the top octave try xxo xxx.
Cross-fingering vs. half-holing
Cross-fingering vs. half-holing
To all the whistle/keyless flute players
I'm just curious, do you normally half-hole for notes like, say, c-natural (on D instruments), or do you use cross-fingerings?
I usually half-hole myself, but I've been experimenting a bit with cross fingerings; I think I tend to slide into notes too much (and in inappropriate places) using half-holing.
Tim
# Posted on June 28th 2003 by loscann7
Re: Cross-fingering vs. half-holing
On a D whistle l I cross finger the C and C# and half finger F and G# etc. I find that you have to know how much half fingering for each note you want to use on each whistle which can take a while to get right.
Practice lowering you fingers on to the cross fingering not sliding the note (unless needed).
Some tunes in other keys don't sit well on a D whistle so I just change whistle or transpose the tune (cue dirty looks from fiddlers and others ).
Hope this helps.
# Posted on June 28th 2003 by borderpiper
Re: Cross-fingering vs. half-holing
i was taught to half finger the C natural and have all off for C sharp. it does take practice but it's worth it in the end, especially in reels with a lot of C naturals and slow airs, because the tone is better. i think that in slow airs sliding is nice and in reels it is a distinguishing factor as not many people would usually, although this may be due to my teaching! there is a lovely air 'The Mountain Streams Where The Moorcock Crows' with naturals in it and sliding in it is particularly effective! (or so i humbly think! :P)
# Posted on June 29th 2003 by marymccaffrey
Re: Cross-fingering vs. half-holing
I think it depends on your instrument. I always cross finger C nat. on whistle and flute, but my instruments (Dixon 3 piece flute and Clare whistle) have good cross-fingered C naturals.
Actually, on the Dixon I have a hard time half holing anything because of it's smaller holes, but I can cross finger C nat., G# and A# quite well.
However, when I get my Seery, with it's larger holes I expect to half hole more notes which I've done with a pair of Ralph Sweet fifes I had in the past (they had large holes for fifes).
As I said, I adapt to my instruments, but I'll probably always cross finger C since most modern makers aim for that anyways...
Eric
# Posted on June 29th 2003 by Jayhawk
Re: Cross-fingering vs. half-holing
I use to crossfinger the C nat unless I'm playing at high speed and the transition from whatever the note to C nat (or the other way around) is really short. Then I half cover the hole or slide the note, depending on the situation.
Anyway I think Eric is right. It really depends on your instrument.
# Posted on June 29th 2003 by Toni Ribas
Re: Cross-fingering vs. half-holing
It's best to develop and use both techniques for contrast.
# Posted on June 30th 2003 by Hanley
Re: Cross-fingering vs. half-holing
Could someone please explain "cross-fingering". I don't recognise the term. And I'm particularly interested in ways of getting a G# on a D whistle, without half covering the G hole. Thanks
# Posted on July 1st 2003 by madonna
Re: Cross-fingering vs. half-holing
Some flutes/whistles (it really depends on how they're made with hole size and location) can get a G# with this fingering:
XXO XXO This works great on my Dixon flute.
However, on my Clare whistle, if you blow gently with this:
XXO XXX you can get a decent G#
Eric
# Posted on July 1st 2003 by Jayhawk
Re: Cross-fingering vs. half-holing
Hi Madonna
Cross-fingering means (as shown above), placing fingers below the hole making the note, to flatten its pitch.
I make my own bodies for generation heads and use oxx xox for C natural.
To get a use full A#/Bb in the top octave try xxo xxx.
All the best PP
# Posted on July 3rd 2003 by Pied Piper
Re: Cross-fingering vs. half-holing
Thanks Folks. I'll give that a go....
# Posted on July 29th 2003 by madonna