Sometimes I like to go back and work on old tunes that I learned when I was starting out, and try to bring them up to speed with whatever I've gained since then.

Also, sometimes I like to go back to my old starter whistles and see how they sound, now that I have better breath control!

So here's one of the first jigs I ever learned, the classic "Out on the Ocean", played on my Clarke Sweetone.

Feedback welcome!

There’s some whistle workshops and some mixed flute/whistle/pipes. Some are for all instruments. Check out Tune Supply on facebook. Most are around 90 minutes on zoom.

Space, Time and Percussion: Rhythm, Tempo and Drive in Playing Trad with Ben PowerMonday, October 26th @ 7:30pm ET
https://momence.com/l/oAh9ZJwG

More New York/Sligo Tunes with Brian Conway
Tuesday, November 3rd @ 7:30pm ET
https://momence.com/l/k8hPVLm5

Tune Up! Techniques and Exercises for Improving Intonation and Accuracy on the Fiddle with Tom Fitzgerald
Wednesday, November 4th @ 7:30pm ET
https://momence.com/l/XehLdD48

Irish Piano Accompaniment with Marta Cook
Thursday November 5th @ 7:30pm ET
https://momence.com/l/e4hvB8eP

Galician Tunes for Irish Musicians with Santiago Molina
Saturday, November 7th @ 2pm ET
https://momence.com/l/P0hZJl6e

How to Bring Your Music to Life! with Matt Cranitch
Sunday, November 8th @ 2pm ET
https://momence.com/l/b8h9mKdB

Bringing Breath and Joy into Irish Tunes with Martin Howley
Sunday, November 8th @ 4pm ET
https://momence.com/l/WQh9mExO

Bringing the Tunes to Life: Advanced Flute and Whistle Techniques and Phrasing with Isaac Alderson
Monday, November 9th @ 7:30pm ET
https://momence.com/l/wyhZQ6rZ

Need for Speed? Playing at Irish Dance Tempos with Katie Grennan
Tuesday, November 10th @ 7:30pm ET
https://momence.com/l/mXh48aGb

Gettin’ Jiggy With It. Accompanying Tunes in 6/8 and 9/8 on Guitar, Bouzouki, and Mandolin with Jefferson Hamer
Wednesday, November 11th @ 7:30pm ET
https://momence.com/l/wyhZQWmK

Tin Whistle for All: A First or Second Instrument! with Nicole Rabata
Thursday, November 12th @ 7:30pm ET
https://momence.com/l/79hLRgPo

DADGAD Made Simple: An Introduction to Irish Guitar Accompaniment with Aodán Coyne
Saturday, November 14th @ 2pm ET
https://momence.com/l/dahMZy0D

How to Hop Jig (for Harps and anyone who wants to join us!) with Lexie Boatright
Saturday, November 14th @ 4pm ET
https://momence.com/l/vrheMRWP

From the Well - Expand Your Irish Traditional Song Repertoire With Lesser-Known Gems (English Language) with Macdara Yeates
Sunday, November 15th @ 2pm ET
https://momence.com/l/b8h9mK4W

Listening Room: Traditional Music, AI, and Resisting the Archive with Marta Cook
Sunday, November 15th @ 4pm ET
https://momence.com/l/oAh9vogJ

Bluegrass Fiddle Tunes with Luke Bulla
Monday, November 16th @ 7:30pm ET
https://momence.com/l/ElhDrdED

Playing with Singers for Flute and Whistle Players with Dan Lowery
Tuesday, November 17th @ 7:30pm ET
https://momence.com/l/15hRnjPD

Bold Bowing with Winifred Horan
Thursday, November 19th @ 7:30pm ET
https://momence.com/l/6kh8lOa1

That Doesn't Sound Like Standard Tuning: Irish Style in Standard Tuning with Matt Heaton
Saturday, November 21st @ 2pm ET
https://momence.com/l/Z4h2kdDj

Deep dive into Cailleach an Airgid (The Hag with the Money) with Brenda Castles
Saturday, November 21st @ 4pm ET
https://momence.com/l/VRhkd7V6

So Many Ornaments, So Little Time! with Eimear Arkins
Sunday, November 22nd @ 2pm ET
https://momence.com/l/Mjhz1Al5T

he Seven Dimensions of the Bow: Getting the Sound You Seek with Ellery Klein
Sunday, November 22nd @ 4pm ET
https://momence.com/l/OehGX1ak

Bringing out the Beauty in Tunes with Embellishments, Melodic Variations and Phrasing with Tim Britton
Monday, November 23rd @ 7:30pm ET
https://momence.com/l/nmhdBoG1

Bowing for Lift with Devin Shepherd
Tuesday, November 24th @ 7:30pm ET
https://momence.com/l/k8hPVL7k

Better Bowing, Better Tone in Irish Fiddle Music with Maeve Donnelly
Tuesday, December 1st @ 7:30pm ET
https://momence.com/l/XehLdDnP

NY Sligo Style Tune with Ornamentation & Variations with Cate Sandstrom
Wednesday, December 2nd @ 7:30pm ET
https://momence.com/l/oAh9vozo

Orkney and Shetland Fiddle Tunes with Louise Bichan
Thursday, December 3rd @ 7:30pm ET
https://momence.com/l/P0hZJlW2

How to Back Up Singers on the Fiddle with Andrew Finn Magill
Saturday, December 5th @ 2pm ET
https://momence.com/l/b8h9mK1W

Fiddle Technique: Ornamentation and Bowing with Tara Breen
Saturday, December 5th @ 4pm ET
https://momence.com/l/g7hq7en9

"Help! I've Forgotten My Tune!" — How to Handle Tune Amnesia with Lesl Harker
Sunday, December 6th @ 2pm ET
https://momence.com/l/x9hjyrB4

Repertoire, Phrasing, Rhythm & Variation on the Concertina with Padraig Rynne
Sunday, December 6th @ 4pm ET
https://momence.com/l/vrhe0D2n

Reavy, Set, Go! with Haley Richardson
Monday, December 7th @ 7:30pm ET
https://momence.com/l/R5hgmxjn

Cape Breton Medley Making with Andrea Beaton
Tuesday, December 8th @ 7:30pm ET
https://momence.com/l/dahMZyeL

Gimme Five: Understanding Pentatonic with Anne Johnson
Wednesday, December 9th @ 7:30pm ET
https://momence.com/l/79hLRgb1

Hearing the Archive II with Cleek Schrey
Thursday, December 10th @ 7:30pm ET
https://momence.com/l/79hLRgBP

How to Learn Old Time Tunes by Ear - and FAST!! with Sophie Wellington
Saturday, December 12th @ 2pm ET
https://momence.com/l/9kh47bKo

Lilting as a Learning Tool with Marla Fibish
Saturday, December 12th @ 4pm ET
https://momence.com/l/4ZhPaOQZ

Tune Sleuthing: Find Phrasing Patterns by Ear with Hannah Harris
Sunday, December 13th @ 2pm ET
https://momence.com/l/8Mh4VDLo

Tis the Season: Let's Deck The Halls, oops... I mean Tunes!: Dressing Up Tunes with Ornaments and Variations with Ann Marie Acosta
Sunday, December 13th @ 4pm ET
https://momence.com/l/e4hvB8PW

Flute and Piping Tunes For The Fiddle with Eileen McLain
Monday, December 14th @ 7:30pm ET
https://momence.com/l/ElhDrdZA

Concertina Rolls Bootcamp with Lexie Boatright
Tuesday, December 15th @ 7:30pm ET
https://momence.com/l/e4hvBLxg

Hi! I’m still somewhat of a beginner at tin whistle. I’ve been playing for about six months and can now get clear notes pretty consistently / at first I really struggled with the high notes squeaking, but I’ve mostly figured that out.

But now I’m trying to learn Colors of the Wind from Pocahontas (cutiepie tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkuNZnLzzzA&t=226s ) on my Generation D whistle and oh my god it’s hard! 😅 I’m especially struggling with quickly transitioning from high notes to much lower ones without squeaking.

I’ve been practicing that a lot, and one thing I’ve found helpful is using less tonguing in some places, letting the notes flow into each other, that seems to help with the squeaking, but the section highlighted in yellow is still impossible for me

Any tips? Is it mainly a matter of breath control, or am I doing something wrong with my technique?

Generation D is also my only tin whistle, so I don’t know if it might be easier on a different whistle

I’ve recently been following Callum’s work on Rhubarb Whistles and really love what he's doing!

For anyone who owns or has played one, how easy are they to play? Also, given that they’re made of aluminium, how light do they feel in hand? I'd love to get some insights!

Help me Tab them!

Hello, guys, concert flutist here. I've got really interested in trying tin whistle recently and I've watched some anime whose OST makes me feel it. I was puzzled what kind of Irish flute/tin whisle/low whistle/something else has the similar timbre, cause it's the most brilliant sound I've ever heard. I'd really like to have the instrument which is close to it! Please, help me with that. Here is where I've heard the instrument: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ6TnKvB2rc

FULL SET Tarbolton +Longford Collector + Sailor's Bonnet. Backing track: https://youtu.be/b5NrGUZEFR0?si=iFglY0NxELgJ0Eic

Hello, I am a begginer with 5 months on the whistle. I finally practiced enough to make something that sounds decent enough for me to post. Tips and criticism are welcome to help me improve, or another way to play the tune. Thanks.

I started playing tin whistle a couple of weeks ago. I'm not very good at it (yet), but I'm getting more comfortable every day. It's the first musical instrument I've ever played and I've been around for years. Without a doubt, the BIGGEST problem I have is with moisture build up in the whistle. I can barely get through practicing a song twice without having become a screech session until I clear it out. It's killing me. Yes, I've tried blowing through the whistle, while covering the opening as well has sucking hard on the mouth piece. That'll give me a minute of clear play, but that's about it.

Has anybody come up with the way to minimize the moisture accumulation? If so, please let me know. It gets frustrating. I guess I'm a wet whistler.

I've been playing the tin whistle for a while now, but I still feel like I'm stuck at level one, and I can't seem to shake that feeling. I can read tin whistle tabs and play most songs I try, but I feel like I'm just following the tabs rather than actually knowing how to play. It makes me feel like anyone could do what I'm doing, so I struggle to see it as a real achievement.

Is this a normal feeling when learning an instrument? Does anyone else experience this?

I'm a software engineer based in Cardiff, and was a bit frustrated by there not being a Welsh equivalent to thesession.org. So, here you go: https://ysesiwn.cymru/

For each tune uploaded, you can choose to view whistle tabs: just expand "practice tools" and select it in the "See" section

If anyone here's interested in learning any Welsh tunes, I hope you might find it useful! And if you know of any tunes not in the site's collection, [you can submit new ones](https://ysesiwn.cymru/?page=add)

Hi guys,

How do you play the same notes twice while making it sound different?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNFvhG-nuPQ

I thought at first to blow it again but it sounds terrible.. And the tin whistle player does not look like doing that.

Hi!

I've recently started playing at Renaissance Faires with a fantasy tavern themed stage show. I'm just looking to add some songs to my repertoire whether for noodling around or for full-song stage performances.

We stick to music portrayed in fantasy media as well as music that fits a general Renaissance faire atmosphere. I'm fairly new to the whistle so there aren't a lot of songs that I know of and I'm not sure of how to begin looking.

Does anyone have any songs/tunes they would recommend?

If it helps, I currently own a high D, a high G, a low G, and an alto A.

Thanks so much!

Would like feedback and suggestions on adding proper ornaments to the tune to make it more dynamic and enriched. Thanks

I saw this smoothone for sale, but the seller doesn't know which one it is.

Can fiddle sheet music be used for the tin whistle without any problems? What do I need to be aware of? The introduction to Music of Ireland (see photo) states that it's for the violin and not the tin whistle. Does anyone know this book and can confirm this?

Morrisons Jig

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)!

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:

This is the first line of the song:

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 :(

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

The last bit is tricky !

A great traditional Irish march, Lord Mayo by Dáithi Ó Murchadha (David Murphy), written for his patron, Theobald Bourke, the sixth Viscount Mayo of Castlebar, County Mayo recorded live October. 3rd 2026 at the Northern Lights Folk Club for their Generations concert. 

Been working through "The Kesh Jig" and "Out on the Ocean" every evening after work, maybe twenty minutes a session on a basic Generation D whistle. My long notes are solid now, breath control finally feels natural instead of something I have to think about constantly.

The problem is cranns and cuts. I can hear exactly what they're supposed to sound like from recordings, that quick little flick of the finger that adds a lift to the note, but mine come out sloppy and slow, more like a stutter than an ornament. My fingers just don't move fast enough yet, or maybe I'm overthinking the timing.

I tried slowing the whole tune down to half speed and adding the ornaments in gradually, which helped a little, but as soon as I bring it back up to session tempo everything falls apart again. Watched a few tutorial videos where the instructor makes it look effortless, which honestly made me feel worse rather than better.

Is this just a time thing, like six months instead of three weeks, or is there a specific drill that actually builds finger speed for this stuff. I keep seeing people mention practicing cuts on a single note before applying them to a tune, so I might try isolating that tonight instead of always jumping straight into the full piece.

Also curious whether tongued articulation versus finger ornamentation is something most people develop separately or together. My tonguing feels more reliable right now than my fingers do, which seems backwards from what I expected going in.