The Fingering Forum

Tinwhistle

Author: Aaron  Date:   2001-10-23 02:37 Ah the tinwhistle, God love that little thing. I think it's neat this site has a tinwhistle chart. I've been fooling around with my D tinwhistle for years; it's much more portable than the oboe, and no need for reed hassles. Of course then again, trying to play in say... Gb major presents a few problems... but hey gotta love it anyway. I can get out ridiculous technical passages on it (as long as their in the right key) which would cause my oboe to tuck its tail between its legs and run for dear life. Anyway, for anyone who cares, there are a lot more (and better) ways to finger some of the notes on tinwhistle than those listed on this site. Just ask if you're curious. Also, I was wondering if anyone knew why I can finger a low D on it, stick my right ring finger over the end of the tube completely blocking the escape of air, and make a G below the lowest D come out. It's the weirdest thing I've ever seen. Some sort of weird harmonic thing going on I guess. Anybody else more adept at wave-form physics than me have any ideas?

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Hola

Author: Aaron  Date:   2001-11-01 16:07 Awesome! Yes the tinwhistle is cool. Have you ever tried to play a pennywhistle? Anyway, these fingerings are things that I have found just messing around with it. There are a few oboe fingerings I've found this way as well. The chart on this page stops right at high D. I'll show you how to get to the C above that. Plug up any animals ears you may have first though. Low D through A I can't find any others for that sound decent. At low Bb, you can also play as 1-3 123 which is more stable on my tinwhistle low B is the same middle C you can play -23 --- or if that's sharp -23 -23 middle C# same middle D I play 123 123 and just rely on air to jump octaves. Leaving out the first index finger makes mine really sharp middle D# same (unfortunately) middle E 123 12- middle F the same (again unfortunately) middle F#, G, G# the same middle A sounds good the way it is, but you can also play 123 123 and get it out as a harmonic middle Bb can be played as 1-3 --- or as a continuation of the harmonic above 123 12(1/2), however my favorite fingering is 12- -23 because it's the best in tune and most stable middle B also sounds good the way it is if not a little flat, but can be played as a further continuation of the harmonic as 123 12- high C is better played as 1-- 12-, and it can also be continuted on the harmonic as 123 1(1/2)- high C# I play --- --3 just to keep it from going sharp high D is sharp unless I play it (1/2)23 --- , however you will find it difficult (at least I do) to go from high D to high E with that fingering, so in that instance use 123 123. high Eb is 123 12(1/2) and my also be possible as (1/2)2(1/2) --- high E is 123 12- with varying degrees of half holing the first index finger to get the note to sound high F is 12- 12- this time with varying degrees of half holing on the left SECOND finger to get the note up to pitch(though this one usually just comes right on out) high F# comes out with 1-3 123 and may be a little sharp if you blow too hard high G comes out 1-3 1-- (that should look familiar to an oboe player) high G# comes out with 1-(1/2) --- at this point, you have to start listening really closely to make sure you're getting out the right pitch high A is a really bad one, and it's the only one I have no really fingering for. I usually kinda fudge it with -23 12- or 12- 123, though both of those sound more like a flat Bb than an A high Bb is good as -2- 12 high B is -2- 1-- and will be flat ultra high C then is 1-- 12- with a bunch or air yet control as it will sing really sharp if you're not careful. Phew that's high. It takes practice, but boy it's fun to come away with your ears ringing knowing that NOTHING is too high for you! Godspeed.

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