| ign="center"> | | | | certain Key signature. For instance, if the open note |
| The Tin Whistle (sometimes called a pennywhistle) is | | | | sounds a "D", then the whistle is considered to be in |
| a simple and cheap instrument. It's simply a metal | | | | the key of D. Many players carry a small set of |
| tube with six fingerholes and a mouthpiece (much like | | | | whistles in the most commonly used keys. |
| a recorder); it has a range of about two octaves. | | | | Some people don't realize you can actually tune a tin |
| Costs range from a few dollars to a few hundred | | | | whistle! You do so by sliding the metal barrel of the |
| dollars -- although some of the best players play only | | | | whistle in and out of the mouthpiece head. Some |
| the cheaper brands. | | | | whistles have the head glues securely to the barrel. |
| The tin whistle is a simple instrument -- and it's simple | | | | You can usually loosen the glue by holding the joined |
| to play, and simple to play easy tunes. But -- it's not | | | | portion under hot running water. Don't use boiling |
| simple to master! The instrument may be cheap, but | | | | water -- this may melt the plastic whistle head! |
| you'll have to pay for mastery ... by practicing! The | | | | Key signatures commonly found in celtic Music are "D |
| haunting whistle tunes from the movie "Titanic" | | | | Major" and "G Major". By default, all tin whistles are in |
| illustrate the deep soul found in this instrument. | | | | a Major key (since they play a diatonic scale). |
| This instrument is commonly made from metal | | | | However, if you begin your scale with all the |
| (usually brass) with a molded whistle mouthpiece. By | | | | fingerholes covered (instead of all fingerholes open), |
| playing it open (not covering any of the six | | | | then you're beginning one step higher than a diatonic |
| fingerholes), then by covering each fingerhole in turn, | | | | scale -- which results in a minor key signature! For |
| you can play the 7 notes in a diatonic (a simple | | | | instance, a tin whistle in "D" can play in E Minor if you |
| Do-Re-Mi scale -- essentially the white keys on a | | | | begin your scale by covering all the fingerholes. |
| piano) scale. Blow a little bit harder and you'll play the | | | | Interestingly enough, the chord sequence "E Minor" |
| same note, but an octave higher. While it is a diatonic | | | | and "D Major" is commonly found in Celtic Music. (This |
| instrument, you can achieve sharps and flats by | | | | is the same chord sequence used in "What Would |
| half-covering fingerholes. | | | | You Do with A Drunken Sailor".) A whistle in "G |
| Since there are essentially only two open notes -- a | | | | Major" could easily play in A Minor (A Minor and G |
| note, then the note an octave higher when you blow | | | | being another commonly found chord sequence). |
| harder -- each tin whistle is said to represent a | | | | |
