The penny-whistle or tin-whistle is a relatively simple fipple flute. This instrument is indigenous to the British isles particularly Scotland and Ireland. The most common size is a D-whistle, but whistles are also built in a large range of other keys. Whistle music employs various ornaments.
The penny-whistle or tin-whistle is a relatively simple fipple flute with six tone holes, often made for brass or nickel. This instrument is indigenous to the British isles particularly Scotland and Ireland.
The most common size is a (high) D-whistle, which is about as long as a piccolo flute. Whistles are also built a large range of other keys (some brands make whistles in all 12 chromatic keys). Standard notation is write whistle music untransposed but sounding an octave above. The range is roughly two octaves.
The whistle family also contains low-whistles which are twice as long, these sounding at concert pitch. Piper's grip is usually necessary to play a low-whistle.
As a diatonic instrument, pitches that are not in the native key often require half-holing, this makes them difficult to play accurately/reliably. A notable exception is C-natural, which is played with a simple forked fingering.
Consequently music for the whistle is usually in one of the "Celtic modes". For a D-whistle theses are:
- Two sharps: D-ionian, A-mixolydian, E-dorian, B-aeolian
- One sharps: G-ionian, D-mixolydian, A-dorian, E-aeolian
Music for the whistle frequently employs various ornaments including cuts, strikes, and rolls.
