How to Play the Irish Tin Whistle

Play lively whistle music in any appropriate setting with the Irish tin whistle, sometimes called a penny whistle. These tubular whistles have six holes in a straight row along the barrel. The Irish tin whistle is made in a variety of keys, but the most common whistles are in the key of D. Consequently, most of the popular whistle music is also in the key of D. Learn the notes of this scale and you'll be playing songs on the tin whistle in a matter of hours.

Instructions

1. Hold the whistle with the correct fingers over the assigned holes. Place the index finger of your left hand over the top hole that's closest to the mouthpiece. Cover the next two holes down with the middle and ring fingers of your left hand. Cover the bottom three holes with the index, middle and ring fingers of your right hand. Learn to play as such whether you are right- or left-handed.

2. Blow the whistle with quick tongue-release action. Put the mouthpiece in your mouth with all the holes covered by the proper fingers. Hold the tip of your tongue against slightly open teeth and quietly say the word 'to' as you begin to blow. Hold the O sound for the duration of the note. Blow with less force if it makes a squeaky noise. Practice making the note carry the same pitch for as long as you play it.

3. Play specific notes by covering different holes. The note made with all the holes covered is a low D. Cover all but the bottom hole near the open end to play E. Cover all but the bottom two holes to make F#. Play a G with just the top three holes covered. Cover the top two holes to play A. Leave only the top hole covered for B, and play C# by leaving all the holes open. Now cover all but the top hole nearest to the mouthpiece to play a high D.

4. Play songs to get used to making the different notes on command. Make sure you play repeated notes with the same air pressure to create equal pitches.

   Play Row Row Row Your Boat: (Start on the low D) D - D - D - E - F# / F# - E - F# - G - A / (high) D - D - D - B - B - B - A - A - A - (low) D - D - D / A - G - F# - E - (low) D.

   Now play When The Saints Go Marching In: D - F# - G - A / D - F# - G - A / D - F# - G - A - F# - D - F# - E / F# - F# - E - D - D - F# - A - A - G / F# - G - A - F# - E - F# - D

Tips & Warnings

• Play one octave higher by blowing harder for each note.

• The tin whistle creates some ear-splitting pitches with the higher octave. Take care not to annoy your neighbors as you practice playing.

References

• Tin whistel introductory on Whistle Away
• Tin whistle play on BBC h2g2
• Tin whistles on Chiff and Fipple