The whistle shown at the top of the page is a Clarke. Though the one shown is a new paint job, this is essentially the same whistle on which I first learned to play. Though I am admittedly biased since, well, it is the first whistle on which I learned to play, I think this is one of the better whistles out there -- especially of the less expensive models. It is also, I believe, the only whistle out there that can rightly be called a "tinwhistle" since to the best of my knowledge it is the only one made out of tin. (Nevertheless, "tinwhistle" is pretty much a generic term used interchangeably with the terms "whistle," "penny whistle," "flageolet,"   "fipple flute," "Irish whistle," and others I'm no doubt forgetting. Used interchangeably by many people. Myself included.)

On the Clarke whistle downside is the fact that it takes a lot of air to play the thing, and above about the second octave E the sound quality drops some. This isn't so bad, really, though. There are a lot of really good tunes that stay below that second octave E. And while, yes, the Clarke whistles do take a lot of air and while it can be inconvenient to have to take a breath before you're ready... well... chalk it up to "breathing technique practice" and run with it. Or play another whistle altogether. Whatever makes you happy is best and anyone who doesn't like it needs to lighten up, right?

And that leads me nicely into the next point I would like to make, here. After a heck of a lot of study, listening diligently to many people's opinions and running myself ragged trying to be all things to all people, I have at last tripped over the secret of being a great musician. And, aye. I'd be happy to share this secret with you. And, no... it won't cost you a dime.

There are three factors -- steps, if you like -- to consider in deciding if you are a great musician. Those items are:

Item #1: If you are making a noise -- any noise at all -- you are a musician.

Item #2: If you are happy with the noise you are making, you are a good musician.

Item #3: If other people are happy with the noise you are making, you are a great musician.

This is true. I swear. Anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something.  I can prove it scientifically, if you'd like.

Though the whistle is typically considered an instrument for playing traditional Irish music, it is also excellent for playing a wide range of other styles of music. I point this out simply because, though I do love traditional Irish music, that isn't what I normally play. I try not to stand on tradition. It never stood on me.

In case someone should wander in here that doesn't know it already, there is an excellent site on the Internet at which can be found the fabled motherload of whistle information. This site can be found at www.chiffandfipple.com; I heartily recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about the whistle. The fellow who manages that site, Dale Wisely (the king of Internet Tinwhistle Journalism), also publishes a truly wonderful on-line whistle newsletter called "Chiff & Fipple." I fully intend to make Dale a Professor Emeritus of the Tinwhistle Fingering Research Center just as soon as I can get him to agree to participate in our rigorous lecture circuit.

Andrew Olmsted, who sent the above fingerings, is the first person to be added to the list of Honorable Fingerings Donors! Want to see your name on the list of Honorable Fingerings Donors? E-mail fingerings to me that aren't on the list already and you, too, can see your name up in lights!

Coming Soon!!! Songs to Make You Go Aaarrgh!!! I hope to soon have a small collection of my favorite pirate songs up here. Okay... so they may not really be pirate songs, but they would have been pirate songs if in fact pirates had been heroic swashbucklers instead of bloodthirsty thieves. I hope to have sheet music arranged for tinwhistle for songs like "All for me Grog," "What Shall We Do with a Drunken Sailor," and maybe even -- dare I say it -- "Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum."

Yes... I Dare. Sink me.

Pirate Update!!!

I'm working on it!!! Really, I am!!! After getting this e-mail:

I decided I should probably put a little more thought into this project. Okay... I'm putting thought into it. And I've found some software that will let me make nice, simple, easy-to-download-and-print sheet music. Now, all I have to do is find a few hours when I have nothing else pressing to do. (The bad news is the last time that happened was in the early '90s.)

Keyed Whistle Update!   I'm not crazy after all. Every since I created this page, it asked the Immortal Question: "Does anyone out there know if there is anyone making whistles 'like they use to' with keys?" Okay... so we all know that the Immortal Question is really, "What do you do with a drunken sailor?" Still, you have to admit that the keyed whistle thing is close.

Fifer Andrew Olmsted e-mailed me a few days ago and let me know that Ralph Sweet (Sweetheart Historic Woodwind Instruments) does indeed make a keyed whistle. On the downside, a keyed whistle costs $375. On the upside... well... what could be better than a whistle with keys.

And I still say this: you know what would really rock? A set consisting of a three-key whistle, a four-key fife and a six-key flute -- all matched, of course. The market should be virtually limitless.