Added: 4 years ago
From: RyanDunsSJ
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  • Thanks for this video, I've been looking for some basic introduction lessons for ages and it's great.

  • So wait....if D is all fingers down and releasing them makes a diatonic major scale....shouldn't the notes be D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D?

  • C natrual

  • There's a c with fingers to it called c natriuret

  • tin whistles are english damm itttt

  • Satan.

  • I bought a clarke meg tin whistle in D but when I tried it out the sound came out a little strange, is it possible that it may be sort of out of tune or something?

  • @sweetpotatoefish you are likely blowing to hard/soft or not covering the holes properly. the strength of the blow controls the pitch aswel as the hole covering/uncovering. If in doubt go back to the musicshop and ask them they should be able to help you out

  • @silvermam thank you very much, as I bought it on-line I can't go back to the shop... as to the blow and the covering of the holes I'm trying my best, but it still seems a little off tune, especially the first note, with only the first hole covered. I will try to go to another music shop nearby and see what they say. :)

  • @3:57

    MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB

  • With learning "MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB", I think that I have learned two songs:

    "LONDON BRIDGE IS FALLING DOWN". They are very similiar, except for the

    ending which is a little different, but still the same notes are used.

  • "MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB" my first one to play on the Tin Whistle, thanks.

    The first one without using the finger chart, I haven´t used that yet, I want to

    learn a tune first without it, tried "FRÉRE JACQUES", got the first few notes

    then got lost....but thanks to you, I can now play "MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB".

  • THANKS RYAN,

    GREAT LESSON VIDEO

  • wow i just got one yesterday, i think this is a really great tutorial, thanks for sharing! :)

  • Generation are total crap. All they do is squeak and squawk. dont waste your money on them. Buy something half decent

  • Comment removed

  • Could you post the tabs in the both keys. Sorry I am slow.

  • Does it have to be nickel, would it be not be smart to start out with a waltons brass?

  • Been playing for close to 3 years and much of my progress is due to this series of videos right here. So while much of this knowledge is already ingrained within me, I still come back and watch just to see his style of explaining the tin whistle. Many musicians love what they do, but it is easy to see that he posesses a passion for the music and that comes through in these lessons. So, many thanks to you Bro. Duns.

  • I'm curious; can i learn to play this without having a teacher- atleast properly?

    and also how much and what type of basic whistle should i get as a beginner?

  • stima a sto prete

  • My child just got one from school and is practicing, I was wondering, i know this is an Irish instrument, but do you think we can do Indian music on it? if so, if i give you the tune, can you tell me which notes to play? I would really appreciate this!

  • should i take your information literally or literalistically?

  • @stainless809 A good question, AW. In a sense, you could take it literalistically (because I want students to follow my instructions step-by-step). But if you interpret a bit, you're taking me literally.

  • @RyanDunsSJ I'll remember tht for the test

  • When did you started playing the Tin Whistle?

    Can I learn it without any knowledge of making music or sheet music?

    Is It an easy instrument to start with?

    Thanks alot! I've never played an instrument before.

  • I just got mine and I'm trying to learn, but it sounds like I'm killing a dog. It's EMBARRASSING to learn, at first at least... Mine is a nickel one.

  • do ppl with longer fingers find it hard? cos i cannot block them properly

    

  • Yayy!! i did it! LD just got mine today and yeh, holding it well is hard

  • This is exciting! Thanks so much for making these videos!

  • @dzcvr1989 Use these vids, just know you're not playing in the same key. the fingering rules are still the same, theoretically - I have a Bb, and I play my normal tunes on it.

  • @synthpathetic They're not "total crap". I learned on a Generation Whistle, and even now, I can pick up one and play flawlessly, despite using a Feadog as my main whistle.

  • @BigBubbasBrassBand it is possible, but it doesn't sound as accurate, and can't be played as fast, due to the half-notes needed. Perhaps the internet would bring up a good D whistle?

  • @mellowBreez Then your lowest note (all 6 fingers) will be a C natural instead of a D. A C whistle's main keys are C, F and G (but they use the same fingering as D, G and A on a D whistle)

  • Leave the Witches alone, they be not that many left these days!  ;)

  • Open is C#, fourth is F#... if you're going to teach, please do it properly. it would also do to teach Cnatural in the first lesson, as an awful lot of irish music - and other trad music - is in G, rather than D.

    heaven forbid when you get into the key of A. in my experience, on a D whistle, the keys of D, G and A are the easiest to play, as the others normally require half notes.

    if anyone's wondering, C natural is like F# (4 holes covered), but with the top finger off. I teach whistle btw.

  • @AtharAqua So if I have a song that is to be performed in the key of G, I want a D whistle?

  • @32bars most likely, yes. when a tune is written in notation form (lines and dots), it's easier to play on the D whistle, instead of transposing it onto another key. Does that make sense?

  • @AtharAqua The singer sings the song in the key of G. We want to use a tin whistle in the musical "hook" of the song. So a D tin whistle is what I want... correct?

  • @32bars D is the easiest to play it on, yes.

  • excellent series!

  • I don't understand. If it is in the Key of D, why are is the F and C not Sharp?

  • @NancyBeare just, It is not an instrument that needs transposing like a saxophone in the key Bb. It is in fact concert pitch. How ever the the fingering positions on each differ. One is in the scale of C and the other in D so the the finger positioning for each is (The closed hole notes up the length of whistle) as follows; C, D, E, F, A and the open note B for the C whistle and on the D whistle, D, E, F#, G, A, B, then open for C#. Hope this explains and i'm right only had it a week :P

  • @NancyBeare it is. the guy on the video (and not meaning to be rude) is wrong. I've been playing irish whistle for 12 years now, so i'd know as well xP

    on a D whistle, the scale, from the lowest clear note is D, E, F#, G, A, B C#, D. in second octave, it's difficult to get above G without developing a squeak, but more fluent whistle players can do a full 2-octave scale on a whistle. :)

  • @NancyBeare they are. and it's not really the key of D, it's based on the lowest note playable by the whistle, so in technical musical terms, the whistle in D is actually a concert pitch instrument.

  • thank you soo much father! I've been playing my penny whistle for a while, but never knew you could play D on it. I did'nt even know it was in the key of D. I want to watch all of penny whistle videos! :]

  • lol this guy is my teacher for one of my classes at school. Hi Mr. Duns, it's Anthony from seventh period!!!!

  • @TammoWoosorel Well if he's as good teaching in class as he is on Youtube you're on to a good thing. :-)

  • @atree496

    Jesuit's evil doings go way back before Hitler!

    Perhaps you should do some research and look into it.

  • i've watched alot of your vids, i always assumed you were irish, dont know why! im scottish btw! ;)

  • Jesuits are evil, the pope is evil.

    Look up the history of the Jesuits!

  • @knownchild Hey, just because Hitler was evil doesn't mean every German is.

  • @atree496 Hitler was Austrian, not German

  • Thank-you for this course. I've wanted to play the penny whistle, and I'm grateful for the lessons!

  • Wow this is good thanks man your so helpfull :D

  • @BigBubbasBrassBand Someone more knowledgeable might have a more authoritative answer, but it's my understanding that while this is possible, it probably wouldn't be recommended. You're right that you can play an accidental by partially covering a hole, but it's not terribly reliable, it's hard to get in tune and it's tough to do while playing fast (at least, that's been my experience). Have you tried looking for a D tin whistle online?

  • "witch's fingers" he just had to say it xD

  • SAAAAATAAAAN!!!!

    Just kidding.

  • Nice video and sound. Thanks.

    Sunday Music with the Penny Whistle: come join us on Facebook

  • I got my tin whistle 2 days ago .

    I have mastard the mary had a little lamb .

    thing is I tend to go sqeecky even though I have all much fingers on the whistle right .

    Is it possible that I am playing it wrong?

  • @fabzcardon you're probably blowing a bit too hard, or not covering the holes properly. it's easy to do

  • good tutorial im thinking of taking up the tin whistle

  • Sounds great.

    Can't wait -- ordering a tin whistle in the morning

    Great instruction.

    Thanks, Father.

  • woops.. wouldn't let me add the youtube link.. but if you search Thomas Johnston OAIM here you'l see it :)

  • Hiii there... really like your clips... I've just posted a clip of me teaching whistle on OAIM.. I'd love if you'd check it out and let me know what you think :)

  • should it not be a C# and an F# as it is in the key of D?

  • Question...what do you think of the Clarke's tin whistle? Also, this looks rather big for a tin whistle...is it a true tin whistle or a penny whistle?

  • @DwnAszPunk tin whistles and penny whistles are different names for the same instrument. Also, if you look at different keys of tin whistles, you'll see they vary greatly in size. For example, the F whistle is about 10 inches long, while the G whistle is about 2 feet long.

  • Darn, I bought a Generation in key of G.

  • Thank you!

  • I love the fact that I can learn to play the tin whistle by a catholic priest!

  • hey father thanks for this im gunna get one this week..

  • THANKS!!

  • Thanks man, I thought I was playing wrong with my Left hand on the top because I'm a lefty and usually I do things "differently" ^-^

  • What difference is between clarke c and d?

  • wonderful video, and very helpful...will be practicing Mary had a little lamb for a bit :)

  • wonderful video, and very helpful...will be practicing Mary had a little lamb for a bit :)

  • i was wondering mhy mine was squeaking. now i know!!!

  • virgin hahah

  • my whole primary school learned it using d r m f s l t d' ta. Is this wrong?

  • @Joewalshe38 no way of learning is "wrong", unless the result is opposite of what was expected.

  • Make a change from someone blowing their whistles

  • Thanks for your lessons....

  • Thanks for the video. Got my first Penny Whistle this week and this was my introduction. There are many demonstrations on here for Penny Whistle but few lessons. You got me up and running. I appreciate it.

  • Can we play chords for penny whistle ?

  • @realjuvelive Chords are characteristic for string instruments, not wind instruments. There are few wind instruments that use harmony, that is blowing in several chambers or having a split airway to make two whistles sound, but they're not very common. (ie. double ocarina). I know not another way of playing more than one note at the same time in a tin whistle than putting two whistles in my mouth and try to play them, and it doesn't sound well. The only way would be playing in group.

  • i think friar is alot cooler of a title than priest. but thats just me :) i can totally see a friar playing a tin whislte in a pub with a small band

    cheers and merry christmas!!

  • whats happening father! good to see a priest on this god forsaken site lol keep up the good work!

  • Dear Fr Ryan,

    Is the technique of playing the tin whistle is the same as playing the wooden flute?

  • @kyrshan the fingering system is the same, yes, but the wooden flute takes more breath and control (and is more likely to cramp the hands)

  • This is a very good way to begin to learn this humble but beautiful instrument, thank you for posting this. Good job.

  • Thank you so much for this tutorial. you made its easy and enjoyable to learn a new instrument.

  • @kfirlevi1 you're totally right dude is a snob

  • @kfirlevi1 you could have said all that while still being respectful of him just thought I'd point out.

    Anyway, for some, his videos are in fact very helpful for learning the

    tin whistle, especially people like me who are extreme visual + auditory learners.

  • @JdeppHatter17

    maybe you right that need be more respct

    but this dude is control on all tin whistle songs in the you tube , you alwys see him

    all over,and he dont know to explain , if you more then level one u see he not help at all -the problem is nobudy teach well , just expert villege , he just play fast and not the same notes

  • @kfirlevi1 I see what you are saying, like I said, his videos are fine for me but that definitely won't be the case for everyone. Your right about there being hardly anyone that teaches or trys to teach the tin whistle on youtube, that is sad for sure.

  • I'm a good clarinet player, yet I still had a little trouble learning this... until I watched this. One thing was that I held the holes like I did the the clarinet... Doesn't work the same.

  • hey what kind of whistle do u have and what one would you recomend i am lookin for a cheap one that has a good sound not a garbage one, hopefully u can help me

  • @mick0093 dude just learn off a garbage one until you know if you like it

  • @mick0093 Generation D would work, or a Feadog D (Feadog whistles are known for having wonderful colour combinations, but still sound good)

  • I just go a meg by clare in D. Came in the post a few days ago.

    I have little to no music experience haha.

    So I dont know how I will do!

  • What a jerk, labeling the finger position as "Witches Fingers"

  • okey does anyone remember a tv series about a group of youngsters that hide out in the woods in england during one of the WW wich intor has a loverly tin wistle in it?

  • I just bought a tin whistle about five days ago (my first instrument) and am using this video to help me learn... I have a question however: are you using your tongue to modulate airflow between the repeated B's and A's? I'm sure I'll have more later, but I just wanted to thank you for putting these lessons up, they're great! (I've watched a bunch of your video's already but am sticking with this one, for now).

  • Thank you for the great video! I just received my whistle this week and am feeling much more hopeful about learning it now that I've found this wonderful tutorial.

  • I just bought Clarke's "The MEG" in D. The first notes I played along with your video and they where completly off-tune.. That's because I had to adjust the windstream, right? Sorry, if that's a stupid question. I'm a violinist^^

    Greetings from Germany :)

  • Thank you for this video. Its really helpful and lovely to watch. Greetings from Germany.

  • I went out today and on a whim bought a whistle in D and didn’t have the foggiest notion of what it should sound like or how to play it and spent the morning squeaking away…thanks to this vid I can now begin to play it properly….Thank you.

  • The Irish didn't believe that sin was possible and didn't accept the foreign teachings for hundreds of years. Research it!

  • Hi, I want to lern to play the penny whistle because I love Ireland! I have a bodhram too, but it won me the war... it's too difficult!!

    Can you tell me a good irish place form Internet to buy a penny whistle? I would like to be sure that it comes from the lovelly Emerald Isle.

    Thanks a lot!

  • @MorganaEire

    I will sell you mine.

  • @metube80 I bought one by Ebay it's a Walton's Collector Edition but I'm interested in yours too! Everything from Ireland is welcome!!

  • @MorganaEire

    I'm impressed...you obviously have great taste indeed! Are you sure Everything from Ireland is welcome? ;-)

  • @metube80 Dear... EVERYTHING... and if "it" is red haired, pale and green eyes... MUCH BETTER ;)

  • @MorganaEire

    ha ha ha. that's almost the tricolour!

    you'll increase your chances if you look for pale hair, green skin and red eyes;-)

  • @metube80 If it's Irish I'm sure it'w perfect^^

  • One of the best on-line lessons I've seen.

  • Thank you so much Ryan! This is so good of you to put this "course" online like this. I found the 3-4 lessons I've followed so far have been more helpful than anything else I've looked at so far.

    If you execute your priestly calling as well as you do the tin whistle, your congregations will be very blessed!! "s"

    God bless.

  • Great video! Easy to understand and informative.

    I agree with "SirDukeSeb"'s message too.

  • Hey, Mr. Dun! I like your lesson and your teaching methods, I find them easy to remember and to understand.

    However... The first note you played, covering no holes is a C SHARP, not a C. And the note that you play whilst covering 4 holes is an F SHARP, not an F. Just thought that might be of some use, heh heh. :) Thanks for the videos!!

  • Hello Mr. Duns

    I'm sure I'm not the first one who thanks you (I'm a bit too lazy to read all comment :)) But I personally think, it is kind of an affirmation to you, that people from all over Europe, maybe even the world like your lessons. I'm from Germany and found the old Tin Whistle of my boyfriend while cleaning up our flat and thought: Hey, why not learning? So I found your lessons and I'm really glad of that, cause your showing the play so easy, even a fool like me can do it. Thanks.

  • how long have you been playing?

  • is a brass key of d tin whistle just as good as a nickel,because i,m getting a brass one on Christmas?

  • @josephus47 I've got a brass one too. I think it's ok to have a brass one. The notes sound the same.

  • Thanks for the help man! +1 to the like!

  • Comment removed

  • shouldnt a d tin whistle go like this: d e fis g a b cis? correct me if im wrong

  • Cool, I'm the 365th person to hit the like button :D (it's a numerology thing...). great vid btw, i will subscribe mefinkz as i just bought my first tin whistle today - i may also have an interest in ur christian side; my mother is irish-catholic from county derry, but she has lived on the outskirtz ov manchester, england most of her life though (though you probably wouldn't realise if you met her though - she has a still thick accent, smokez like a chimney and drinkz like a fish; to be sure :)

  • I ahve a hard time making a crear sounds, can you help me? thank you.

  • this is hard instrument to play it needs a lott of time

  • On a D whistle, no fingers means C#, father. You said C.

  • I made the horrible mistake of learning to play it with the hands switched, and it's so disorienting to learn it this way.. I'll keep trying though.

  • @Omega52 Don't swap hands - there's no need to. If you learned with Right at the top, carry on playing that way. I know many whistlers who play with Right at the top, and I teach some as well.

  • Oops, it's C# and F#, not C and F!

  • It's bloody complicated (sorry about the cussing father)

  • LOL "Because I said so!" I really like this video :) Very informative and helpful. Hopefully I can be a good student and learn! :D

  • You're the man!

  • Thank you for this video- i am trying to learn playing tin whistle for 2 years now- but only with the help of books. This video (and the others ) helped me a lot. Best wishes and a big hello from Germany :-)

  • Perfect Man, Thats what i need.

    ^^

  • ... the first note you play with a tin whistle in D is... D. Shocker! Why'd you say C? Unless you're using a C whistle...

  • @firegal555 Because he started with Finger0 = C sharp (he said "C")

  • you missed out two notes on the tune and the flute is made for your fingers not vice versa, nice video though

  • comon you suck so much you cant even imagine

  • R u a priest? =P Nice lesson though!

  • THIS IS SO GREAT! I saw a gentlemen playing a Irish Whistle at my church this past Sunday. It was so beati beautiful to me. Not only did I like it, it inspired me to try it out for personal pleasure and to possibly worship God. But it came with instructions in a different Language (but pictures I kinda understood), I was hoping I would find a good teacher on youtube. Thank you for your time, God Bless. (I got a Feadog Key" D Tin Whistle) (For about $10 US)

  • me gusto mucho la lección digamos que fuiste mi primer instructor...a demás pareces un cura copado!!!

  • I played an F generation once...tiny whistle! sounded hecka good though.

  • @UnsettledParadox same thing happened to me. It's likely that yoyr blowing too hard. Try opening your mouth on the sides as if you breathing through your mouth regularly and play like that letting some air pass through the sides. That may help.

    (for anyone with musical knowledge) is it normal for a tin whistle to be sharp? Cuz mine is pretty sharp. It's a Feadóg D.

  • @buzzy918

    It is not normal. Welcome to cheap whistles.

    Heat the headjoint by heating the metal with a candle, and twist it off. Then put it back where it is in tune. You will need an accurate tone generator. You can find instructions at the chiffandfipple website.

    Or buy another whistle. I like the Clarke SweeTone, Clarke Meg, and Generation.

  • @Rajamuttu I'm not going to be playing it professionally (I really only got it because I wanted to learn the Titanic song :P). I do however plan on buying a full set of D, C, Bb, A, G, and Eb tin whistles of the Generation variety whenever I can, just so I can play as many songs as i really want in whatever key. Plus, I think the low sounding ones are gorgeous.

  • @SirGamer199318

    I'm lost. Who are you, and what post are you replying to? Are you the one with the sharp Feadog? Follow the fix-it directions in "Chiff & Fipple".

    Be sure to get your Gen set through a reputable whistle store - not eBay!

    How to decide between brass or nickle? I don't know!

  • @Rajamuttu Pardon that last message. I'm the same person as buzzy918 I just was logged into the wrong account :P

  • @SirGamer199318

    There are also tuning directions at "The Whistle Shop" ' s "Beginner's Page".

    I can't post the address, but you can find it easy enough.

  • @Rajamuttu It IS normal, especially for a Feadog. You don't need to alter the headpiece - just blow hard through the whistle, while covering the fipple. heats up inside, lowering it into standard tuning, while making it harder for saliva to stick inside as you play.

  • @buzzy918

    I did some research. Yes, Feadogs usually come sharp when you buy one.

    Fortunately, the headpiece is not glued on. It's on pretty tight, but with a little care and elbow-grease, you should be able to move it so that A=440.

  • @buzzy918 before you play it, try covering the fipple hole and blowing hard to heat up the inside. it expands the metal fractionally, giving it a lower note.

    But yes, it's normal for nontuneable whistles to be sharp.

  • even though my holes are all covered very well my whistle still wants to "squeek" as mentioned. any pointers?

  • @UnsettledParadox i'm tin whistle newb, but still noticed huge difference in quality of sounds/squeeks between different whistles (tried 2 really cheap one <5$) then I bought Tony Dixon trad..about 20$ ish. wow what a difference. So if you have "toy whistle" don't get frustrated. (please don't take no offense)

  • @UnsettledParadox

    The only other reason possible is that you are blowing too hard. More likely your fingers are leaking air and you don't know it. Look in a mirror.

  • u serious

  • @Destiny4511 It's folk music - ie, traditional. Not concert tuned. The sooner you get that, the sooner you'll understand traditional Irish music. I can imagine Turlough Carolan wandering the hills of Cork in 1712 composing, by your logic he must have been thinking "Bugger, if only I could play this march I wrote for the Lord of Inchiquin only I forgot my Korg CA-30 and can't tune my harp, my C will sound like a C#, I'll be the laughing stock of all Ireland."

  • Vielen Dank :)

  • i play tinwhistle

  • Hi Father Dunn,

    I gave a tin whistle to my dear 80+ year old friend for a fun little gift and sent her this link to your lessons. She is thrilled, by the way! I play Irish fiddle but am going to be starting the whistle with your lessons. thanks so much.

  • thank you the lessons. i'd like to think my grandfather is in a pub in heaven getting a laugh out of my playing. may the wind be at your back

  • Thank you Ryan for giving up your time. I know now that with a teacher like you, I will definitely learn the tin whistle.

    You are such a lovely person - much love to you.

    You are the answer to my prayers!

  • you seem like a really good teacher, and I like what sounds like an echo effect there in your room, peace, blessings, namasté

  • Well said, Ryan. There is a time and place for precision however if one requires it then this type of instrument is not for you, Destiny. Tin whistles are made for music of a more spontaneous nature. Better to learn one's fingering rather than worry how 'off' Ryan is.

    Isn't that biblical? Mote in your eye log in mine?

    At any rate.

    Keep it up Ryan! Funny, as a Freemason, this is the only time I have ever agreed with a man of your ... life decision? (No offence!)

    Well done!

  • I've just got my Irish whistle! I'm so excited! You are a wonderful teacher. I'm gonna watch your videos and play along. Thanks for your teaching :)

  • everything is practice i  got mine last week ago

  • @Rajamuttu

    he moves them away so that it would be easier to see. if you keep the fingers right above the holes, it's harder to see which ones you cover

  • @WhisperingToTheWind

    You may well be right. But he doesn't mention it ... and I would hate for newbies to pick up a bad habit.