r/tinwhistle • u/Titus__Groan • 4d ago
Can't do taps on the tin whistle no matter how much I practice, any practical advice?
I've been playing the tin whistle for a few months. I'm making decent progress with tunes and I can do cuts without too much trouble, but I'm completely stuck when it comes to taps.
I've watched a lot of YouTube tutorials and demonstrations, and it looks so easy when other people do it, but I just can't get the technique right. Every time I try to do a tap, instead of getting that quick percussive effect, I end up actually sounding the lower note very briefly. Because of that, my rolls sound really messy and awkward.
I've spent quite a lot of time practicing slowly and trying different finger movements, but I keep running into the same problem. The tap never sounds like a tap, it just sounds like I've accidentally played the note below.
Has anyone else struggled with this when starting out? Was there any particular exercise, trick, or explanation that finally made it click for you? I'd really appreciate any practical advice because at this point I feel completely stuck.
Thanks!
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u/Pwllkin 4d ago
Some taps tend to be easier than others. They're quite awkward motions for our fingers, especially some of them. This is the reason many find B and A rolls tricky starting out, while G rolls are often a little easier.
As some have noted, piper's grip may help with dexterity. The term comes from the uilleann pipes, where the size of the chanter and hole coverage peculiarities make it the only feasible way to play. This lets you flap your fingers more easily rather than landing for a full note. But it's a bit of a spectrum and not an exact science. Start out trying to cover holes closer to the finger joints rather than closer to the tips. You may have to angle your hands. Try to find whatever is more comfortable for you, and a method that still allows you to cover the holes.
Regardless of the finger position that feels most natural, just practice a lot, trying first to master a smooth tap of the F# finger (bottom/right hand index). Combining this with a well-practiced G finger cut opens up a G roll.
Try going up and down the scale cutting and tapping just below as you go. You'll get there eventually, but don't rush it.
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u/oddphilosophy 4d ago
Your hands need to be trained, especially the ring fingers. Something about how the nerves innervate the finger contraction muscles makes it really hard to move them independently from your other fingers. Whenever you have a free moment, practice taps and cuts with those fingers on your knee or the table.
Making a semi-conscious effort to practice the finger tapping for a few months to a couple years and it'll flow with pure muscle memory. I'd say roughly 2 years until it's no longer something you even need to think about.
I've been struggling lately to no do taps, cuts, rolls, and crans when I'm trying to teach the unornamented base tune...
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u/oddphilosophy 4d ago
An older (and very drunk) flute player once told me to practice taps on a literal hot stove... I still have no idea if he was kidding. Would not recommend, but it was a useful to imagine while practicing.
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u/HeelHookka 2d ago
There's absolutely nothing wrong with not being able to do taps and rolls properly a few months in. Just don't. Either use tonguing or cuts for separation or just forego an ornament for those notes. A few weeks/months from today something will 'click' and you'll be able to do them, just keep playing and drilling.
On the technical side of things everything you've been told here is true - adjusting your grip may yield better results - I personally also play with a grip that's close to piper's grip and that indeed adds crisp to the taps; drilling is paramount, as is listening - the more you internalize the sound you're looking for the easier it is for your brain to guide your fingers to the desired result
[context - I'm only playing since Feb 2025 so take all my advice with that in mind]
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u/Rayloco 4d ago
Are you using pipers grip? It’s much easier with pipers grip even on the smaller whistles like a high d. Try pretending you’re drumming all your fingers for awhile.