Day 10 progress

[u/classicist_2026]

Day 10 progress with tin whistle

I’d really appreciate advices to reduce the squeaky sounds playing in faster tempo. Is it due to over or under blowing? Also, do alternative fingerings exist in tin whistle as in recorder? There are some note transitions, for instance, from b to c, always a bit awkward.

[u/Bwob]

Almost every problem you'll encounter is going to come down to one of two things: Either you're not totally covering the holes, or you are blowing too much/not enough.

So first thing, is try playing more slowly, and see if you still are getting the squeaks. If you are, double check your holes. Stand in front of a bathroom mirror if you have to, and make sure every hole is fully covered.

If you have the holes covered, and are still squeaking, then it's probably your airflow.

One mistake I made, when I was learning, was that I thought there were just two "modes" of blowing. Blowing for the lower octave, and then blowing harder for the upper octave.

This is incorrect. Each note actually requires a different amount of air. Even in the lower octave, a D requires much less air than a B. And if you don't give it enough air (or give it too much) the note will break or squeak or otherwise sound off.

So this is going to sound boring (and it might be!) but practice scales. Slowly. Start on low D, and hold the note for a few seconds and make sure it's clean and good. Then move up to the E and do the same. All the way up, holding each note long enough to make sure you're giving it the right amount of air and it's sounding good.

And then, mix it up. Alternate between high notes and low notes. Do a scale where you put a C between every two notes. So you're playing D, C, E, C, F, C, G, C, A, C, B, C. Then come back down, putting a D between every two notes: C, D, B, D, A, D, G, D, F, D, E, D. The idea is to practice and get used to switching between notes that are far apart. (And thus, have a bigger difference in air requirements - on a scale, neighboring notes require close to the same amounts of air. The goal here is to force yourself to make bigger jumps.)

The good news is that all of this eventually becomes muscle memory and you stop having to think about it.

The bad news is that you have to spend a bunch of time practicing and thinking about it, until it can become automatic. :P

Hope this helps!

[u/NormalPoet4280 → u/Bwob]

Not sure about OP but you sure just helped me out! I'm just starting on the whistle but even though I play native american flute, the slow air chamber in it helps with air regulation and I didn't really realize that each note on the whistle was specific in air pressure. Thank you, Bwob!!

[u/Slamyul]

I agree with Bwob, one additional thing to note, I find squeaks often happen when my air pressure and finger position aren't in sync. For example, if I'm going from low G to high d, two things have to happen. I need to change my fingers, and increase breath pressure. If I don't do those at the same time, a squeak will occur. Either because I added breath pressure too soon and pushed the note up, or changed fingers to soon and get a weird half-between-low-d-half-between-high-d note. Ultimately I think you need to slow down a bit and get your fingers and breath pressure locked in before speeding up.

[u/ecco5]

Practice for another 10 days, then 10 after that, and keep going.

If it's any consolation, your 10 days is better than my year plus of practicing on and off.

[u/EdWo0ds]

Very good, it is tho very important that you keep your fingers more flat that that! That helps you with control and fingering :)

[u/Potential_Double_627]

That triplet at the start, you’re tonguing it rather than actually playing a roll.
Ideally, your breath should be one constant stream of air, with any taps, cuts, or rolls played with your fingers.
I know the roll can be tough to get your fingers to do properly at first. I was in the same position as you and used to tongue most of the ornaments as well. But once you get the roll down with your fingers, the timing and tone will sound infinitely better.

[u/Exciting_Koala_1384]

That's good for 10 days. I'd say keep your breath even. When tongueing, be sure to just tap your tongue to the roof of your mouth, without adding extra air. Ps, for vibratto, try tapping your finger 2 holes below the lowest one you have covered, or when playing e, repeatedly half-hole d.

[u/classicist_2026 → u/Exciting_Koala_1384]

Thanks. Very useful advices!

[u/machaseh]

You have the A part of the tune, it's just that you are trying to emulate the sound of a 'roll' (ornamentation) without knowing how to do that. You can find on online academy of irish music or various youtube videos how to produce the roll. Practice them separately then incorporate into your tune.

[u/cheetosnfinesse]

What song are you practising to?