I played the whistle a couple of years ago but went on to the bodhran. I am confident now on the bodhran and decidded to go back and learn the whistle.If anyone out there can help me I am looking for some easy Jigs,reels,polkas to start off with.
Always a good sign, a percussionist who wants to know melody...
For a slow and relaxed reentry, do a general search under 3/4 waltzes or mazurkas and listen to the midis, it would be easier if your ears recommend something to you than me being specific. You could do the same with any other search, hornpipes, jigs, etc... If you want some nice walkable and rhythmic fun, go for marches. But, since there isn't a category, click on the tab for 'Tunes' , then click on the tab at the top for 'Search'. Instead of using the drop-down menu for 'All tunes' and selecting a type, go to the blank entry and type in 'march', a whole slew of marches will show up. If you want something key specific, well, you can always use the drop down menu 'All keys' and select say G Major or D Major to cut the size of the selection down some. That can also be done when doing an open search, for example for Slip Jigs... You ears will not only be able to key into a melody you like the sound of, but you'll know the easier tunes too...
As I always say, if you've a whistle player nearby, like in your local session, or any other musician, but whistle to whislte is a clear advantage, ask them for a tune or a lesson...always priceless and keeps with the social aspect of this tradition. Besides, they'd be chuffed, a banger who wants to play melody. It'll earn you points...
Polkas are always a good bet, but especially if you take them relaxed. On any tune, don't gun the tempo, take it where you can play it without too much trouble, and then slow it down just a little bit more. Increased tempo will come in time. One of the great failings of a lot of musicians is to jump into it all full bore as soon as they can. Speed has that ability to fool you, to mask a host of horrors ~ you're going so fast you can't hear the shight.
Some very famous souls in the music world have a wise bit of wisdom they share with their students ~ but that doesn't mean they hear or follow the advice ~ DON'T PLAY REELS FOR YOUR FIRST YEAR!!! That isn't altogether true, slow reels are O.K. The problem is that if you jump into reels and then into playing them in sessions, you're likely to fail on that first count I mentioned above ~ not to go full bore at it. Hell, when they are going hell for leather, relax and listen, and if it's a session, tap your foot and see if they can hold a decent steady beat. Then you might look for who keeps pushing the envelope. Sometimes it's the drummer ~ I make a distinction between drummer and percussionist. The first is a version of head banger...
Egans Polka is a good starter. my first reel was Dan Breen's, but i don't think it's posted here. boys of blue hill is a great starter hornpipes. as far as jigs go, garret barry's and apples in winter are good to start with.
Connecting the threads ~ you'll find some things cropping up over on this thread, and they will be tied back into a tune on site here where you can hear some version of the tune on midi, if not the same given in the examples. Maybe your ears will take to one of them and you'll add them to your repertoire, all except one, a reel (and you reelly should avoid those for awhile, at least fast ones ), will be old standards:
I teach alot of beginner classes and my repetoire normally goes like this. week 1 Fairy Lullaby, week 2 Sine Bhan, Week 3 Sandy McConnells, week 4 Cockle gatherer, week 5 Egan's Polka.... They are all good tunes for working on breathing, phrasing, coordination and to work on grace notes
Tunes to start learning on the whistle.
Tunes to start learning on the whistle.
I played the whistle a couple of years ago but went on to the bodhran. I am confident now on the bodhran and decidded to go back and learn the whistle.If anyone out there can help me I am looking for some easy Jigs,reels,polkas to start off with.
# Posted on July 20th 2006 by bodhranmad
Re: Tunes to start learning on the whistle.
Always a good sign, a percussionist who wants to know melody...
For a slow and relaxed reentry, do a general search under 3/4 waltzes or mazurkas and listen to the midis, it would be easier if your ears recommend something to you than me being specific. You could do the same with any other search, hornpipes, jigs, etc... If you want some nice walkable and rhythmic fun, go for marches. But, since there isn't a category, click on the tab for 'Tunes' , then click on the tab at the top for 'Search'. Instead of using the drop-down menu for 'All tunes' and selecting a type, go to the blank entry and type in 'march', a whole slew of marches will show up. If you want something key specific, well, you can always use the drop down menu 'All keys' and select say G Major or D Major to cut the size of the selection down some. That can also be done when doing an open search, for example for Slip Jigs... You ears will not only be able to key into a melody you like the sound of, but you'll know the easier tunes too...
As I always say, if you've a whistle player nearby, like in your local session, or any other musician, but whistle to whislte is a clear advantage, ask them for a tune or a lesson...always priceless and keeps with the social aspect of this tradition. Besides, they'd be chuffed, a banger who wants to play melody. It'll earn you points...
# Posted on July 20th 2006 by ceolachan
Re: Tunes to start learning on the whistle.
I liked playing jigs when I first started. Try these:
Lilting Banshee, Haste to the Wedding, The Kesh.
They're all posted at thesession.org.
Have fun. Learn what you like!!
# Posted on July 20th 2006 by justwhistle
Re: Tunes to start learning on the whistle.
I recommend starting on the polkas, you cant beat them for getting your phrasing up and running again after a sabbatical.
# Posted on July 20th 2006 by blas
Re: Tunes to start learning on the whistle.
Polkas are always a good bet, but especially if you take them relaxed. On any tune, don't gun the tempo, take it where you can play it without too much trouble, and then slow it down just a little bit more. Increased tempo will come in time. One of the great failings of a lot of musicians is to jump into it all full bore as soon as they can. Speed has that ability to fool you, to mask a host of horrors ~ you're going so fast you can't hear the shight.
Some very famous souls in the music world have a wise bit of wisdom they share with their students ~ but that doesn't mean they hear or follow the advice ~ DON'T PLAY REELS FOR YOUR FIRST YEAR!!! That isn't altogether true, slow reels are O.K. The problem is that if you jump into reels and then into playing them in sessions, you're likely to fail on that first count I mentioned above ~ not to go full bore at it. Hell, when they are going hell for leather, relax and listen, and if it's a session, tap your foot and see if they can hold a decent steady beat. Then you might look for who keeps pushing the envelope. Sometimes it's the drummer ~ I make a distinction between drummer and percussionist. The first is a version of head banger...
# Posted on July 20th 2006 by ceolachan
Re: Tunes to start learning on the whistle.
The first two polkas I learned were the Kerry Polka (Egan Polka) and Maggie in the Woods. I think they are a good place to start.
# Posted on July 21st 2006 by nofrets
Re: Tunes to start learning on the whistle.
My favorite polka is "The Pig Aitin' Nuts in the Woods".
. . . and you can't beat that title.
# Posted on July 21st 2006 by justwhistle
Re: Tunes to start learning on the whistle.
The Road to Lisdoonvarna is a good starter tune.
# Posted on July 21st 2006 by AlBrown
Re: Tunes to start learning on the whistle.
Hey!!Some pretty basic tunes are:The Black Rogue,Paddy In London,Up Sligo,My darling Asleep,Maggie in the woods,Kerry Polka,Inis Oirr!!Good luck!!
# Posted on July 21st 2006 by xxecxx
Re: Tunes to start learning on the whistle.
Egans Polka is a good starter. my first reel was Dan Breen's, but i don't think it's posted here. boys of blue hill is a great starter hornpipes. as far as jigs go, garret barry's and apples in winter are good to start with.
# Posted on July 22nd 2006 by rob_handel
Re: Tunes to start learning on the whistle.
Connecting the threads ~ you'll find some things cropping up over on this thread, and they will be tied back into a tune on site here where you can hear some version of the tune on midi, if not the same given in the examples. Maybe your ears will take to one of them and you'll add them to your repertoire, all except one, a reel (and you reelly should avoid those for awhile, at least fast ones
), will be old standards:
"Breathless in Saskatoon"
# Posted on July 20th 2006 by frozenstiff
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/10712
# Posted on July 22nd 2006 by ceolachan
Re: Tunes to start learning on the whistle.
The Kerfunten (in D): http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/139
The Killavil Jig: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/4472
The Killarney Boys of Pleasure: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/733
The Trip to Cullenstown: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/2996
If We Hadn't Had Any Women in the World: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1376
# Posted on July 22nd 2006 by slainte
"Tin whistle books"
# Posted on June 25th 2006 by PaddyCmusic
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/10437
# Posted on July 22nd 2006 by ceolachan
Re: Tunes to start learning on the whistle.
I teach alot of beginner classes and my repetoire normally goes like this. week 1 Fairy Lullaby, week 2 Sine Bhan, Week 3 Sandy McConnells, week 4 Cockle gatherer, week 5 Egan's Polka.... They are all good tunes for working on breathing, phrasing, coordination and to work on grace notes
# Posted on July 23rd 2006 by Jenny