What is it?

So what is this "tin whistle"? It is also called the "pennywhistle."

Its sound is similar to that of a flute, but it is most closely related to the recorder.

The Irish tin whistle dates back to the early 1800's, when tin plate came into good supply. But people had played similar six-holed flute-like instruments centuries before that. For instance, the recorder and the flageolet are related to the tin whistle. (This and more history of the whistle can be found in The Clarke® Tin Whistle Handbook). By covering the holes on these instruments, the passage of air is lengthened or shortened, which results in longer or shorter sound waves (physics!)

The first step to becoming a good tin whistler is to get a tin whistle! A lot of you may already have a tin whistle lying around somewhere (quick, go check in your closet). As instruments go, they are really inexpensive. The cheapest cost around 10 dollars. The Whistle Shop is a great place to buy them online. Most people have several whistles, in different keys or with different tones (myself included).

First simply learn how to position your fingers to play the notes of the scale (D or G for most tin whistle songs). Find a teaching book with lessons to follow. I used the The Clarke® Tin Whistle Handbook. I listened to the Clarke tape while I was learning the lessons and tunes in the book. Now the Clarke book comes with a CD, which I also recommend. The CD makes it easier to find each song and listen to it many times as you are learning it. Often hearing the song played by an expert (Bill Ochs plays the songs on the Clarke tape and CD) will help you to determine the rhythm and speed of a song. The book itself teaches you how to read music for the tin whistle, so you can learn it even if you've never read music before. Learn how to play simple songs first. Once you are able to play it slowly and accurately, then try it at a faster speed. Remember, don't feel silly just because you have to start with easy songs like "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"--after all, playing simple tunes well is better than attempting songs that are too difficult when you are just starting out. Eventually, and with practice, you will move on to more advanced pieces.

As you become a more advanced tin whistle player, you will want to experiment with variations and ornamentation on the tunes you play. Adding cuts, rolls, crans, and other grace notes to your songs adds flair and a new dimension of musical interest. I learned how to add this ornamentation from lessons on it in the tunes section of the Clarke book. Hear me playing the tin whistle on my original recordings of my favorite tunes! When listening to songs on tapes or CDs using ornamentation, pay attention to when and how the grace notes appear in the piece. Once you get a feel for this, you can try adding your own ornaments to your favorite jigs, reels, and other tunes. Most importantly, put emotion in the songs! Our favorite performers are those who evoke the spirit of the songs in their interpretation.

Whether you wish to play the tin whistle just for fun, play with other musicians in a group, or maybe even go professional, I hope this site will help you on your way.

Good luck!

Elizabeth Gott

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