Slides: ease into a note
Uncover a hole gradually to make a smooth approach to the melody.
By the end of this lessonSlide from F♯ into G and settle on a clear, stable G.
Begin below the destination
To slide into G, start with F♯: close the top four holes. Gradually uncover the fourth hole with your right index finger until G speaks fully. Roll or slide the pad away from the hole rather than lifting it in one sudden motion.
Pass through; do not stop halfway
The partly covered hole bends the pitch between the two notes. It is a transition, not an extra note to hold. The half-hole symbol in the movement diagram marks that transition; it does not prescribe an exact fraction of the hole.
Arrive in time
Give the destination most of its written duration. A slower air can leave more room for a slide; a busy phrase needs a shorter approach. Avoid sliding into every note. Choose a sustained note where the curve adds shape to the phrase.
Find the landing
- Play F♯, then G plainly. Listen to the two endpoints.
- Use a four-count G: start from F♯, uncover the fourth hole during count one, and hold a settled G for the remaining counts.
- Repeat from silence, then after a B. Keep the destination and the end of the note in the same places.
Arrive gently on G
Start the marked G from F♯ and gradually uncover the hole. Arrive without extending the note.
Practice
Tap a staff note or finger tab to hear a note and practise from there. The staff and tabs follow the same beat.
Hear it & follow the fingers
Synthesized examples on a high D whistle. Compare the sound, then study the movement below.
Movement breakdown
Read left to right. These diagrams show the order, not equal lengths of time.
- 1. Start below
- 2. Gradually uncover
- 3. Arrive on G
Shape a phrase in The South Wind
Find a SLIDE label and compare it with plain playback. Try one slide after you can play the phrase comfortably.
Your self-check
My slide moves continuously and ends on an open, steady G without delaying the next note.
Take your time. You can revisit any lesson, completed or not.