The Irish Whistle, also known as a tin whistle or penny whistle, is a simple woodwind instrument. Similar simple flute instruments are found in many cultures, but the basic tin whistle is prominently featured in Celtic music and gained popularity in the early 19th century. The whistles are designed to be played in a specific key, making it an easy to learn first instrument. Irish music is usually played on a whistle in the key of D.
You will need a D whistle to play the following songs (click here to download the Irish Whistle Music). They are inexpensive and readily available online or can often be found in toy stores.
To hold your whistle, use your left hand to cover the top three holes with your thumb resting behind your index finger. Use your right hand to cover the bottom three holes. To read the music charts, cover the holes indicated by the filled in circles.
When you have learned Mary Had a Little Lamb and Danny Boy, you can find additional music whistle charts online or we suggest the book 30 Irish Folk Songs with sheet music and fingering for Tin Whistle. For additional fun, try 30 Christmas Carols with Sheet Music and Fingering for Tin Whistle.
