Do you use your bottom-hand pinky to stabilize your whistle?

[waltcamp45]

Making my way slowly (to prolong the enjoyment) through Grey Larsen's The Essential Guide to Irish Flute and Tin Whistle. He advises using the pinky of your bottom hand as one of four stabilization points. And he recommends placing your pinky on top of the whistle, just as you would if you were using it to cover a finger hole.

I'd never tried this, though I do occasionally use my pinky for stabilization (but have never thought much about where and how I place it on the whistle).

I'd be interested to know whether others use their pinky fingers and--if so--where they place them on the whistle.

Please note: I'll likely mention the results of this poll and may cite some especially insightful remarks on an upcoming episode of the TinPenny WhistleCast.

I'm eager to hear what others do, as I'm still having trouble getting the hang of what Grey advises. I wonder if it's better to place the pinky on the side of the whistle (if it won't comfortably reach the top) or just use your bottom-hand third finger to stabilize the whistle (and accept the tonal consequences).

Pinky power!

Walt

[crookedtune]

I seem to recall a thread on this subject not too long ago. It was split, with most not using the pinkie too much. I never did until I started playing larger whistles, (Bb and beyond), at which point I started doing it more. It's probably a good habit to get into, but feels awkward if you haven't made it a habit yet.

[waltcamp45]

I seem to recall a thread on this subject not too long ago.

Any chance you recall the URL for that discussion? I did a quick search before posting my message and couldn't find anything in the results that seemed relevant (though I suspected this has been covered before ... perhaps more than once).

Thanks,

Walt

[dfernandez77]

I started as a pinkie downer. Played for several months that way.

When I received the Mad for Trad Whistle Tutorial, I saw how Brian Finnegan played. Watched a few other good whistle players, then tried pinkie up.

I use the third finger of my right hand on the bottom hole when stabilization is necessary. Personally I feel much more comfortable (and a little quicker) playing this way.

Try both. See which you like better.

[dfernandez77]

I think maybe you searched for "pinky" instead of "pinkie."

http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=41130

[waltcamp45]

I think maybe you searched for "pinky" instead of "pinkie."

http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=41130

Ugh Always nice to make a giant, silly mistake like that.

Thanks for the kind suggestion/correction!

Walt

[JessieK]

I don't use my pinky on whistles, but I do use it on flutes, on the toppish side.

[jim stone]

The thing is that sooner or later one may play flute
(as Jessie's post suggests). Flute hand position can
be a bit devilish.

The third finger down works nicely on whistles, in my
experience, and sometimes simplifies fingering, once
you get the hang of it.

But, if you are going to hold flute in a more or less classical
way (Gray has a lot of good stuff about that), the
third finger down doesn't transfer so well--you
need your pinky.

So there's something to be said for using the pinky,
because it transfers to the flute, and it isn't so easy
to stop the right-hand dance the third finger down
involves once the habit is ingrained.

As to where the pinky goes, I think anywhere is fine
that's comfortable and stabilizes the whistle. My two cents.

[mutepointe]

i would love for my pinkie to be a lot longer to stablize my flute too.

[waltcamp45]

But, if you are going to hold flute in a more or less classical way (Gray has a lot of good stuff about that), the third finger down doesn't transfer so well--you need your pinky.

Hmm, I'm learning the flute now and am using my pinkie to stabilize it, which makes it all the stranger that I never thought to do so with my whistle. Maybe it's due to the whistle's smaller size and easier manageability.

Walt

[JessieK]

I'm learning the flute now and am using my pinkie to stabilize it, which makes it all the stranger that I never thought to do so with my whistle. Maybe it's due to the whistle's smaller size and easier manageability.

I think it has instead to do with angle. I use my pinky on piccolos, too. And I don't use it on Low whistles.

[crookedtune]

The thing is that sooner or later one may play flute
....

Yeah, but wouldn't that extra finger cut down on the volume? Hey, just pulling your leg!! (I agree, it's good form, and necessary for flute, if you want to go there.

[dfernandez77]

When I mess around on the flute (which is admittedly not very often, perhaps once ot twice a week) I have both the thumb and pinkie of my right hand on the flute. Both on the side towards me, thumb low on the curve and pinkie high on the curve.

[straycat82]

I use my pinkie, I didn't start out that way but made the difficult transition later in my learning. I found that I was much quicker with my lower hand when my Pinkie didn't have to follow my ring finger everywhere. Although I tell students that if it isn't comfortable to put your pinkie on the whistle, if it hurts or causes your hands or wrists to strain then don't worry about it.

[Lambchop]

My pinkies aren't long enough to reach. It's not like they're little stubs, of course, but the rest of my fingers are very long in comparison, so when they're on the holes, the pinkies don't reach.

I refuse to feel guilty about this.