Tin whistle for beginners
The tin whistle is a simple six-holed pipe and the most popular instrument in Irish traditional music today. It is cheap, small enough for a pocket, and you can play a recognisable tune within an hour.
- Also called
- Penny whistle, Irish whistle
- Family
- Fipple flute, like the recorder
- Holes
- Six
- Range
- About two octaves
- Start with
- A whistle in D, the standard key for Irish and Scottish music
History
Factory-made whistles began in the 1840s, when Robert Clarke of Manchester produced them between 1840 and 1889. They were so cheap they were sold for a penny, which gave the instrument its other name and made it as common in households as the harmonica.
Which whistle to buy
- Key of D. Most session tunes are in D or G, and nearly all tutor books assume a D whistle.
- Brass or nickel body with a plastic mouthpiece is the common, inexpensive design and perfectly good for learning.
- Try before you settle. Whistles vary in how much breath they need; a reasonably quiet, easy-blowing one is kindest to beginners and their neighbours.
- Low whistle later. Larger, deeper "low whistles" are lovely but need bigger finger stretches.
How to play: first steps
- Hold the whistle with your left hand covering the top three holes and your right hand the bottom three.
- Blow gently. Covering all six holes on a D whistle gives a low D; lifting fingers one at a time from the bottom walks you up the scale.
- Blow a little harder to jump to the second octave with the same fingering.
- Learn a slow air first. The Water Is Wide and Danny Boy suit the whistle well.
D whistle fingering chart
Holes are counted from the top: 1–3 are your left hand, 4–6 your right. ● means covered, ○ means open. Blow harder with the same fingering for the second octave.
| Note | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| E | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ○ |
| F♯ | ● | ● | ● | ● | ○ | ○ |
| G | ● | ● | ● | ○ | ○ | ○ |
| A | ● | ● | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ |
| B | ● | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ |
| C♯ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ |
| C natural | ○ | ● | ● | ○ | ○ | ○ |
C natural is usually played with this cross-fingering or by half-covering the top hole. Whistles vary, so check it against a tuner.
Ornaments
Irish whistle style is decorated with cuts, strikes and rolls: tiny, quick finger movements that give a note an accent or a ripple. Learn them only after you can play a tune cleanly; they come naturally with listening.
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Frequently asked questions
Is a tin whistle the same as a penny whistle?
Yes. Tin whistle, penny whistle and Irish whistle are names for the same six-holed instrument. The name penny whistle comes from the 19th century, when factory-made whistles were cheap enough to sell for a penny.
What key tin whistle should a beginner buy?
A whistle in D. Most session tunes are in D or G, and nearly all tutor books are written for the D whistle.
How do you play the tin whistle?
Cover the top three holes with your left hand and the bottom three with your right, and blow gently. With all six holes covered a D whistle plays a low D; lift fingers one at a time from the bottom to climb the scale, and blow a little harder for the second octave. See the fingering chart above.
What are good first tunes on the tin whistle?
Start with a slow air such as The Water Is Wide or Danny Boy, then move on to simple dance tunes.