r/tinwhistle

I'm looking to buy my first tin whistle in High D. I really love Celtic and classical music and want to pick up a new hobby to unwind with at the end of the day.

I am based in the EU and want something that is durable and built to last (ideally still under 100 EUR). Ideally, I'm looking for a whistle that is relatively lightweight, comfortable to hold, and doesn't require a massive amount of breath pressure to hit the higher notes cleanly.

I’ve been looking through the sub and online guides, but a lot of the buying guides are a few years old. I'm trying to decide between a few options that seem readily available over here:

• Clarke Sweetone D: This seems to be a staple recommendation for beginners because it's lightweight and easy to blow. However, prices on Amazon.de are currently inflated to around €30.
• Tony Dixon (DX001 or DX006): These are often described as having a very pure, clean tone and being quite air-efficient. Is the DX001 plastic version a good starting point, or is it worth jumping straight to the aluminum DX006?
• Killarney or Lir Pro: I've seen these Irish brands mentioned quite a bit as sturdy, higher-end upgrades. If I went with Lir, would the aluminum version be noticeably easier to handle than the brass ones?
• Generation or Feadóg: These are easily available on Amazon for around €15. I've read mixed reviews about the quality control on Generations, and some comments suggest Feadógs can take a bit more lung power. Are they worth considering for a total beginner?

I don't have a musical background and just want a low-pressure way to learn some simple melodies. Any advice on which of these would be the smoothest starting point would be greatly appreciated!

I'm old. Yes, really old. I've decided to learn to play the Irish folk music on tin whistle, while I still have breath. I'm look for a good, easy to use course online to help me learn to play. I don't have any musical experience other than listening.

I've been looking around online, some lessons look OK, but they haven't moved me to pay for the lessons they offer. I did come across lessons, by John O'Brien, being offered through McNeela. I think he might take the ticket, but I'm reaching out to this group to see if anyone here has experience with this tin whistle course. The reviews I've seen on Youtube are encouraging.

I'm also open to recommendations for other coursed to check out.

Thanks in advance.

I don't know a lot (anything?) about music theory and was wondering if anyone could help. I play a little bit of guitar, mostly just cowboy chords and singalong. I very much have to learn and memorise a song and stick to a strumming pattern, I'm not very musical and can't just pick things up by ear etc.

I got a tin whistle and my wive is quite good at playing it by following "tabs" that we find online. I wanted to play Travelin' Soldier by the chicks on guitar while she plays it on the tin whistle. So I hoped I could just get the tab online, but it turns out I can't.

I have found the sheet music though, so I was trying to make the tab using: https://andyf.me/whistletab#u0

I bought a "D" tin whistle as I read they were most popular. Travelin' Soldier is in the key of A major. Google tells me a D tin whistle can play all the notes in A Major easily except the G#. So for now we will just use a G for that until we try and use half holes.

When I look at the notes a tin whistle can play I see this:

https://preview.redd.it/lmkz8c3ro8uh1.png?width=1024&format=png&auto=webp&s=d77c7d7fd4d238212756949043cfcea742720bbe

This is the first line of the song:

https://preview.redd.it/1roclckoo8uh1.png?width=612&format=png&auto=webp&s=a4d056fb06f822c8adf6a7a6674891c6f69c3c2e

Am I right that that it starts off:

E E E F# ? ? E ? ? E ? E E E F# E E ?

I'm not sure what the ones far below are that aren't on the tin whistle chart, I tried asking AI to do it and it was giving me wildly different answers. One was starting on three A's.

One was:

E E E A G# F# E E F# G# A B A G# F# E ...

Another:

E F# G# A G# F# E E F# G# A B A G# F# E ...

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction or tell me if this song is possible to play on a D tin whistle, if not what tin whistle should I use?

We were also looking at this site and I haven't seen the option for a D whistle in any songs :(

https://www.playbyfingering.com/song/the-wild-rover?instrument=w6

Edit:
Even with an A whistle that is talked about in the comments I don't think I can play this in the original key with a tin whistle :(

https://preview.redd.it/yfu7jaw3n9uh1.png?width=296&format=png&auto=webp&s=4bffa6ec746af2e843d5163ee67a7a57a358cc53

The "in a" and there is one other word with the same note is too low over for the A whistle (I think).

I'm looking for really off the wall, cool, or complex nonsense.

I put together a racing reel set (1st August / Vincent Broderick's / Séan sa Cheo) which is a lot of fun, but I'm looking for new stuff as well.

Other cool tunes I haven't found a home for:

* Beare Island reel

* Silver Vale jig

* With Ourselves

* The Independence (hornpipe with the B part essentially turning into a jig)

I'd love to hear what you're playing (or aspire to play)!