First Lessons Tin Whistle

The tin whistle has an alluring voice — yearning, melancholy, joyous, playful — both youthful and ancient. Its music can sound like wind, birdsong, flowing water. With this book, you can learn to make beautiful whistle music:

• even if you’ve never played a musical instrument
• even if you don’t read music
• no matter how young or old you are

First Lessons® Tin Whistle is for beginners and for those who have tried to play the whistle (also known as a pennywhistle) but need more help. This book leaves no stone unturned, offering valuable insights and detailed instruction you won’t find anywhere else — expert guidance that will smooth your way and steer you clear of the pitfalls newcomers often encounter. In addition to music notation, this book offers two highly accessible alternatives:

• A much-improved tablature system
• Suit Code — a new and inventive fingering shorthand using the suits of the deck of cards

With this book you’ll get:

• Access to audio and video downloads
• 23 tunes from Irish, Scottish, Northumbrian, Welsh, English, Breton and African American traditions, along with melodies from Beethoven and Dvorák
• An introduction to Irish tin whistle ornamentation

Grey Larsen is a master musician who performs and teaches internationally. He has played the whistle since the 1970’s and has written nine books, including the best-seller The Essential Guide to Irish Flute and Tin Whistle. The author recommends using a tin whistle in the key of D with this book.