C'mon Jack, it's a whistle fer cat's sake (been hanging around Zina too long , there's nothing hygenic about it. Just sit downwind of one some time--it's like front row seats at a Gallagher show.
Dave, most whistle players end up whatever part of their finger happens to cover the holes with their hands in a comfortable playing position. This can range from down on the pads near the ends to up around the outermost joint. A lot depends on how long or short your fingers are and whether you play another wind instrument (such as flute or pipes) and use a Rockstro grip or piper's grip, etc.
That said, nearly all good whistle players keep their fingers basically flat over the whistle, as opposed to arching above it to come down fingertip first on the holes (as your hand might on a fingerboard on, say, a fiddle). Now, by flat, I don't mean stiff and straight. Your fingers should be relaxed, which tends to leave them just slightly curved, kind of convex, over the whistle.
Play whichever way you feel more comfortable with. I use to cover the holes of the whistle with my fingertips, but whenever I play a low whistle I use the second joints.
As you see, no rule of thumb!
"See a man about a horse?" I thought our Jim was more of a "driving the porcelain bus" sort. *whinny*
Dave, try the relaxed, flat approach and see if that helps. When you cover the holes with the palm-side of your fingers (wherever along your fingers the holes happen to land), you don't have to be quite as accurate as if you try to cover the holes with the very ends or tips of your fingers. I've never seen anyone play with speed or finesse using the actual fingertips (but then I don't get out much).
Go to www.kerrywhistles.com and click on downloads to view some video of good players on low whistles--you'll see what the relaxed finger posture looks like (besides seeing and hearing some great performances). Of course, the grip changes a bit depending on the size of your whistle, but the basic principle is the same.
After having the "thrill" of a lifetime sharing a room with "not the man with the horse" but more "the man with the Pony" Jim is indeed very hygenic!!! I have never seen so many uses for a hotel sink in my life!!!!!!!!
As for tips or joint, I am only a newbie to the flute world, and yup... you guessed it.. Ponyman (Jim) is teaching me!!! So I have not gotten past the silly grin stage yet!!!
I agree...cover the holes where it feels most comfortable. I use the pads of my fingers...anywhere else feels awkward since I've been using the pads of my fingers to cover holes on the clarinet for 20 years now. Whatever you decide to cover the holes with, though, practice to keep your fingers close to the holes when you lift them up...it'll help you with playing fast!
LOL -- yes, but you have to pay the piper sooner or later, Jimmy Troy. "The Porcelain Bus" refers to the grip taken upon that certain hygienic convenience/appliance, usually late at night or the morning after the night before, while in the throes of that other condition with a million names.
Hint: after your sessions with Jack in November, take him to an all night doughnut shop, and he'll be a happy camper.
Surely you at least remember the porcelain bus Jimmy.... beside it is a porcelain sink,, where your smalls resided for a week! Until they opted for a worser environment!
(These discussions threads sure can wander from the original subject, can't they? Kind of like the old game "Telephone," a/k/a "Gossip.")
If anyone in the discussion thread cares anymore, I let the pads of my fingers cover the holes. That seems to work best for me. More likely to hit the target than trying to arch the fingertip onto the hole.
Sorry Wabbit...........
I (as have stated) am a newbie to flute...
I definitely use my finger pads, as it seems more comfortable.... maybe this is how I started and know no difference....
I think the fact of changing to second joint would be too daunting at the moment... but then again if someone could put up a good argument for latter I am not too long in the game too change....
Just my thoughts
Jim Troy....
were you born during that epic time, thus the last name???
And could be the reason for the "Pony" on the head!!!
Me thinks that the pony has kicked the royal cranium one too many times!!!
I use a combination. For the flute and the soprano(?) whistle, I cover with the finger tips but find that impossible when playing the low whistle. For that I use the first joint back from the tip.
2c
finger tips v second finger joint on whistle
finger tips v second finger joint on whistle
I read a comment by Jim Troy to the effect that:
"and DO use the second joint of the fingers , on the whistle , unlike the finger tips ? used on the recorder"
I use my finger tips on the whistle holes. Is there a reason to use the second finger joint? Does it give greater speed?
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by dave73
Re: finger tips v second finger joint on whistle
Erm... in jim's case -- it's a hygene issue. Don't ask.
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by Phantom Button
Re: finger tips v second finger joint on whistle
Ha. All right I get the picture
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by dave73
Re: finger tips v second finger joint on whistle
C'mon Jack, it's a whistle fer cat's sake (been hanging around Zina too long
, there's nothing hygenic about it. Just sit downwind of one some time--it's like front row seats at a Gallagher show. 
Dave, most whistle players end up whatever part of their finger happens to cover the holes with their hands in a comfortable playing position. This can range from down on the pads near the ends to up around the outermost joint. A lot depends on how long or short your fingers are and whether you play another wind instrument (such as flute or pipes) and use a Rockstro grip or piper's grip, etc.
That said, nearly all good whistle players keep their fingers basically flat over the whistle, as opposed to arching above it to come down fingertip first on the holes (as your hand might on a fingerboard on, say, a fiddle). Now, by flat, I don't mean stiff and straight. Your fingers should be relaxed, which tends to leave them just slightly curved, kind of convex, over the whistle.
Does that help?
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by Will Harmon
Re: finger tips v second finger joint on whistle
Meow to you, Harmon. ;)
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: finger tips v second finger joint on whistle
You don't understand, Will, it's that jim doesn't wash his hands after "seeing the man about a horse."
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by Phantom Button
Re: finger tips v second finger joint on whistle
Are you two going to ride this one for all it's worth?
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: finger tips v second finger joint on whistle
Thanks Will, yes, that makes sense to me. I think in my playing my fingers are too arched, and hence my speed is not up where it could be...
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by dave73
Re: finger tips v second finger joint on whistle
Dave,
Play whichever way you feel more comfortable with. I use to cover the holes of the whistle with my fingertips, but whenever I play a low whistle I use the second joints.
As you see, no rule of thumb!
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by Toni Ribas
Re: finger tips v second finger joint on whistle
Meow, meow, meow....
"See a man about a horse?" I thought our Jim was more of a "driving the porcelain bus" sort. *whinny*
Dave, try the relaxed, flat approach and see if that helps. When you cover the holes with the palm-side of your fingers (wherever along your fingers the holes happen to land), you don't have to be quite as accurate as if you try to cover the holes with the very ends or tips of your fingers. I've never seen anyone play with speed or finesse using the actual fingertips (but then I don't get out much).
Go to www.kerrywhistles.com and click on downloads to view some video of good players on low whistles--you'll see what the relaxed finger posture looks like (besides seeing and hearing some great performances). Of course, the grip changes a bit depending on the size of your whistle, but the basic principle is the same.
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by Will Harmon
Re: finger tips v second finger joint on whistle
After having the "thrill" of a lifetime sharing a room with "not the man with the horse" but more "the man with the Pony" Jim is indeed very hygenic!!! I have never seen so many uses for a hotel sink in my life!!!!!!!!
As for tips or joint, I am only a newbie to the flute world, and yup... you guessed it.. Ponyman (Jim) is teaching me!!! So I have not gotten past the silly grin stage yet!!!
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by Eoino
Re: finger tips v second finger joint on whistle
I agree...cover the holes where it feels most comfortable. I use the pads of my fingers...anywhere else feels awkward since I've been using the pads of my fingers to cover holes on the clarinet for 20 years now. Whatever you decide to cover the holes with, though, practice to keep your fingers close to the holes when you lift them up...it'll help you with playing fast!
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by Crysania
Re: finger tips v second finger joint on whistle
LOL -- yes, but you have to pay the piper sooner or later, Jimmy Troy. "The Porcelain Bus" refers to the grip taken upon that certain hygienic convenience/appliance, usually late at night or the morning after the night before, while in the throes of that other condition with a million names.
Hint: after your sessions with Jack in November, take him to an all night doughnut shop, and he'll be a happy camper.
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: finger tips v second finger joint on whistle
What, with a reed and everything? Curiouser and curiouser.
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by Q
Re: finger tips v second finger joint on whistle
Jim sure talks funny when he first wakes up.
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by Phantom Button
Re: finger tips v second finger joint on whistle
Jim, what color is the sky in your world? Just curious.
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by Phantom Button
Re: finger tips v second finger joint on whistle
You can have your babbling sky fairy... introduce me to Mary Mahaffey when I'm over. I'll wear my rose tinted specs.
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by Phantom Button
Re: finger tips v second finger joint on whistle
Jack, WHERE IS THAT MP3 TRACK!?!
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: finger tips v second finger joint on whistle
You must have gone to the same timing school that my wife did, Zina.
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by Phantom Button
Re: finger tips v second finger joint on whistle
Surely you at least remember the porcelain bus Jimmy.... beside it is a porcelain sink,, where your smalls resided for a week! Until they opted for a worser environment!
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by Eoino
Re: finger tips v second finger joint on whistle
(These discussions threads sure can wander from the original subject, can't they? Kind of like the old game "Telephone," a/k/a "Gossip.")
If anyone in the discussion thread cares anymore, I let the pads of my fingers cover the holes. That seems to work best for me. More likely to hit the target than trying to arch the fingertip onto the hole.
If no one cares anymore, well, that's OK, too.
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by Dwatted Wabbit
Re: finger tips v second finger joint on whistle
Sorry Wabbit...........
I (as have stated) am a newbie to flute...
I definitely use my finger pads, as it seems more comfortable.... maybe this is how I started and know no difference....
I think the fact of changing to second joint would be too daunting at the moment... but then again if someone could put up a good argument for latter I am not too long in the game too change....
Just my thoughts
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by Eoino
Re: finger tips v second finger joint on whistle
Jim Troy....
were you born during that epic time, thus the last name???
And could be the reason for the "Pony" on the head!!!
Me thinks that the pony has kicked the royal cranium one too many times!!!
# Posted on August 11th 2004 by Eoino
Re: finger tips v second finger joint on whistle
I use a combination. For the flute and the soprano(?) whistle, I cover with the finger tips but find that impossible when playing the low whistle. For that I use the first joint back from the tip.
2c
Jonathan
# Posted on August 11th 2004 by jdave