I've had an interest in all kinds of folk music (not 70's folk revival or whatever, but real folk music) for quite a while, and I just got a Clarke tinwhistle for my birthday. So far, I can play "What Shall We Do With a Drunken Sailor", but that's it. What's a good, easy Irish traditional tune for a beginning whistler?
There are so many! The first thing I played on whistle was 'Rising of the Moon'. More a song than a tune but It gave me something to focus on. 'Road to Lisdoonvarna' is a nice jig on whistle and (quite easy). Lotsa tutors online nowdays too. Ryan Dunn and Michael Eskin are on You Tube.
Definitely get a D whistle, if your Clarkes is a C.
If you can, try all the whistles available so that you have been able to find the best, as you hear it. If possible take along an experienced player for advice. Some whistles become shrill in the second octave, or lack a good bottom note, or may be out of tune on one note in one octave.
Clarkes tend to be breathy and quiet.
The Generation tends to be the start point for everyone. It may be a while before you can tell you need a better one.
Some people think highly of the Susato as a mid-price instrument, others dislike their sound.
It is certainly true that the more you pay the better, on the whole and by and large, will be the instrument, but you are probably not yet at the point where that is very important.
Beware of Instrument Acquisition Syndrome ( IAS ), it is pernicious and creeps up on you quietly.
I don't know if it's OK to mention other sites here, but there's a site called Chiff & Fipple that has an entire forum dedicated to whistles.
There you will find many, many threads by and about beginning whistlers.
The trouble with Generations is that they've been getting progressively more spotty or dodgy over the years. You might have to play one dozen, two dozen, or more new Generations before you find one that plays well.
Some might say "a beginner won't know what to listen for so how can they judge?" but it's not rocket science: the things you're looking for in a whistle are things anyone can hear and feel, such as clarity of sound in both the 1st and 2nd octaves and decent tuning. Some Generations have a very flat 2nd octave but others are pretty close.
There's a guy named Jerry Freeman who "tweaks" Generation whistles, that is, he buys them off the shelf but then modifies them so that they play very well. His "tweaked" Generations are available from a couple online shops.
By far the best whistle book I've ever seen is the one by L E McCulloch. (spelling?)
Find out what's happening in your area, try the 'Sessions' link here for starters, make contact, find other whistle players, learn direct, find a teacher/mentor...
And there are some great folks on site here always willing to help, or wind you up...
Best of luck ~ always start with your ears... As already said, a D whislte is a necessity, and then an Eb for old recordings, etc., and a C is lovley to have, your first 3 keys...
~ followed by a Bb, all still made by Generation and available for under a fiver ~ £3.95 for a Generation Bb down the road from here, and in that particular music shop it’s the same price whether it’s brass or nickel plated…
Justwhistle, your list really made me smile. If you add The Lilting Banshee and Club Ceili you have the list I started with.
I think Sally Garden and Silver Spear were my first reels. Off to California and Rights of Man were the first hornpipes.
thanks everyone! My whistle is in D, but I don't really want to buy any more until I'm decent as I already own a lot of instruments. Anyway, I'm looking forward to playing all of these!
beginning whistler!
beginning whistler!
I've had an interest in all kinds of folk music (not 70's folk revival or whatever, but real folk music) for quite a while, and I just got a Clarke tinwhistle for my birthday. So far, I can play "What Shall We Do With a Drunken Sailor", but that's it. What's a good, easy Irish traditional tune for a beginning whistler?
# Posted on May 30th 2009 by dellegazze
Re: beginning whistler!
There are so many! The first thing I played on whistle was 'Rising of the Moon'. More a song than a tune but It gave me something to focus on. 'Road to Lisdoonvarna' is a nice jig on whistle and (quite easy). Lotsa tutors online nowdays too. Ryan Dunn and Michael Eskin are on You Tube.
# Posted on May 30th 2009 by shanty
Re: beginning whistler!
I'm sorry it's Ryan Duns...
# Posted on May 30th 2009 by shanty
Re: beginning whistler!
Have you got a C whistle or a D whistle, dellegazze?
# Posted on May 30th 2009 by ∅
Re: beginning whistler!
You'll be needing more tunes.
Save this link. It may give you a few ideas.
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/1794/comments#comment31650
Re: top 10 session tunes
June 20th 2003 by Dow
# Posted on May 30th 2009 by Ben Steen
Re: beginning whistler!
Here's some tunes for inspiration, dellegazze.
http://www.rogermillington.com/tunetoc/index.html
# Posted on May 30th 2009 by ∅
Re: beginning whistler!
A copy of Geraldine Cotter's Tin Whistle Tutor would be invaluable
# Posted on May 30th 2009 by Tony O'Rourke
Re: beginning whistler!
Definitely get a D whistle, if your Clarkes is a C.
If you can, try all the whistles available so that you have been able to find the best, as you hear it. If possible take along an experienced player for advice. Some whistles become shrill in the second octave, or lack a good bottom note, or may be out of tune on one note in one octave.
Clarkes tend to be breathy and quiet.
The Generation tends to be the start point for everyone. It may be a while before you can tell you need a better one.
Some people think highly of the Susato as a mid-price instrument, others dislike their sound.
It is certainly true that the more you pay the better, on the whole and by and large, will be the instrument, but you are probably not yet at the point where that is very important.
Beware of Instrument Acquisition Syndrome ( IAS ), it is pernicious and creeps up on you quietly.
# Posted on May 30th 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: beginning whistler!
I don't know if it's OK to mention other sites here, but there's a site called Chiff & Fipple that has an entire forum dedicated to whistles.
There you will find many, many threads by and about beginning whistlers.
The trouble with Generations is that they've been getting progressively more spotty or dodgy over the years. You might have to play one dozen, two dozen, or more new Generations before you find one that plays well.
Some might say "a beginner won't know what to listen for so how can they judge?" but it's not rocket science: the things you're looking for in a whistle are things anyone can hear and feel, such as clarity of sound in both the 1st and 2nd octaves and decent tuning. Some Generations have a very flat 2nd octave but others are pretty close.
There's a guy named Jerry Freeman who "tweaks" Generation whistles, that is, he buys them off the shelf but then modifies them so that they play very well. His "tweaked" Generations are available from a couple online shops.
By far the best whistle book I've ever seen is the one by L E McCulloch. (spelling?)
# Posted on May 30th 2009 by Richard D Cook
Re: beginning whistler!
http://www.chiffandfipple.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/RyanDunsSJ
A useful tool for the memory and because it is similarly compact ~ ABC notaation:
http://www.lesession.co.uk/abc/abc_notation.htm
http://abcnotation.org.uk/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABC_(musical_notation)
Find out what's happening in your area, try the 'Sessions' link here for starters, make contact, find other whistle players, learn direct, find a teacher/mentor...
And there are some great folks on site here always willing to help, or wind you up...
Best of luck ~ always start with your ears... As already said, a D whislte is a necessity, and then an Eb for old recordings, etc., and a C is lovley to have, your first 3 keys...
# Posted on May 30th 2009 by ceolachan
~ followed by a Bb, all still made by Generation and available for under a fiver ~ £3.95 for a Generation Bb down the road from here, and in that particular music shop it’s the same price whether it’s brass or nickel plated…
# Posted on May 30th 2009 by ceolachan
Re: beginning whistler!
Nice beginner tunes:
Road to Lisdoonvarna (as mentioned above)
Foggy Dew
My Darling Asleep
Out on the Ocean
Donnybrook Fair
The Kesh Jig
Have fun!!
# Posted on May 30th 2009 by justwhistle
Re: beginning whistler!
Justwhistle, your list really made me smile. If you add The Lilting Banshee and Club Ceili you have the list I started with.
I think Sally Garden and Silver Spear were my first reels. Off to California and Rights of Man were the first hornpipes.
# Posted on May 30th 2009 by whistler gan ainm
Re: beginning whistler!
does no one play polkas?
# Posted on May 31st 2009 by Ben Steen
*
"Traditional Irish Tin Whistle Tutor" Geraldine Cotter. Ossian Publications, Cork, 1989.
Mally's Traditional Music Store
http://www.mally.com/details.asp?id=612
also good;
"Timber The Flute Tutor" Fintan Vallely
http://www.mally.com/details.asp?id=604
# Posted on May 31st 2009 by Ben Steen
Re: beginning whistler!
OK, a polka. Hummmmm. How about "O The Britches Full of Stitches"? Nice beginner polka & fun to play. ..... or maybe Egan's Polka.
# Posted on May 31st 2009 by justwhistle
Re: beginning whistler!
John Dogherty's Mazurka is a lovely little number.
Simple fingering, simple tune to quickly memorize and it sounds delightful to boot.
# Posted on May 31st 2009 by CW
Re: beginning whistler!
Also endorse Geraldine Cotter's tutor book. Well laid out, easy to follow, nice tunes.
# Posted on May 31st 2009 by awwilko
Re: beginning whistler!
thanks everyone! My whistle is in D, but I don't really want to buy any more until I'm decent as I already own a lot of instruments. Anyway, I'm looking forward to playing all of these!
# Posted on June 1st 2009 by dellegazze