▶ Video LessonIntermediateFree Preview📅 Posted November 10, 2011· 1m

Learn to control your finger height with this simple paperclip trick.

⚡ The Short Version

A bent paperclip taped to the back of your chanter gives you instant feedback on thumb tension. It sits right where your thumb rests, springing back out when relaxed and pressing flat when you're squeezing too hard.

It's easy to build: bend a jumbo paperclip to about a 45-degree angle and tape it flush to the back of the chanter. Position it right where your thumb naturally sits, generally across from or just below the middle finger, without covering any of the holes.

Movements like the grip, the D throw, and the birl need a real push from the thumb, but that push shouldn't turn into constant clenching. The paperclip spring makes it obvious in the moment whether your hand relaxes back out after a movement or just stays clamped down.

Video🔒 Members Only

▶

Learn to control your finger height with this simple paperclip trick.

1m · Full class available to Inner Circle members

⏱️ In this class

00:00Building paperclip spring the🔒

00:40thumb Positioning your under it🔒

01:21push need the birl real D throw, and grip, a Why🔒

About this class

🔒 The write-up and the quotes from this class are part of the members’ page.

to bottom is to you play. to of from chanter angle, whether need the or — trick relaxed is any a the and forty-five black your the lower, of paperclip rests Bend to naturally a hand then being than up some staying touch simple for not any jumbo your careful flush share your where holes. you right electrical degree as feeling or a little thumb it want clenching never a finger directly the across All middle less cover just — finger a higher back tape generally paperclip I tape.

spring That small got as hard, feedback under immediate, you chanter. thumb thumb guessing. flat right you you've a squeeze out the you against it Once is of you holds physical on, while hand and play. on doing your gives just is relaxed, instead it's itself that sitting down taped presses when play, When your what your actually the in position, sprung spring

firm is the when let — instead hand. all push This down clench tension just and for of those grip, movements spring actually and movements then time, you obvious a proper on one yourself The control relaxing in thumb the stay so and that don't D throw, thumb players your back should pattern isn't like birl the need press really of makes the problem bottom little never afterward of go catch especially that out. clenched point need. real do for can at The the you from

“It down, clenching am know: bit relaxed you I gives so in feedback, a or little of just am playing you I way?” a

🔒 This part of the page unlocks for Inner Circle members.

🔒

Key takeaways & member Q&A are for members

Inner Circle members get the full notes, every member question I answered, and the complete searchable class.

📜 Full class transcript

🔒 Members Only

which is Some than little one So a is the Maybe do black you jumbo-sized clip. what chanter. a have, what angle.… is going less you're silver your a fine. This gold, degree you will probably clip do paper like need bit to a to So tape, bend just electrical one paper but so. 45

🔒

The complete transcript is for members

Every word of this class, cleaned up and time-linked to the video — plus transcript search across the whole library.