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Tin Whistle

Overview

Sheet music in our Tin Whistle series includes melodies and chord symbols with tin whistle tablature.

What Is Included

Music in our Tin Whistle series includes:

  • Melody in notation and tin whistle tablature
  • Lyrics if the original music includes words
  • Chord symbols above the music

Required Skills

  • Ability to read tin whistle tablature. You will also benefit from the ability to read notation to help with the rhythms.

Chords

Chord symbols are included above the music. The chords may be simplified slightly to make it easy for guitarists, pianists, or other musicians to accompany you.

Music Notation and Tablature

The music notation and chord symbols are for a D tin whistle. This is the most common type of whistle.

Tablature for tin whistle is included below the music. The tablature is fingering diagrams that show which holes to cover on your tin whistle. See the tablature explanation in the ebook for details about how to read it.

Note that the tablature will work for tin whistles in keys other than D as long as they use the standard fingering. You will just be playing in a different key than what is notated.

Keys and Pitches

Keys are selected based on their suitability for a D tin whistle. The most frequently-used keys include D major, G major, B minor, and E minor. Other keys may be used occasionally.

Most pitches are within the keys listed above, but some titles do include accidentals. These notes may require half-hole fingerings.

Lyrics

We generally include one verse of lyrics within the music. Other lyrics are included as text at the end of the music. Some lyrics may be omitted, but this is usually done only when there are too many verses to easily include (e.g., songs that include dozens of verses).

Lyrics may vary from the version you know. A small number of songs include many variations in lyrics, none of which are standardized. It isn't always possible to create a version of these lyrics that is familiar to everyone.

Tempo

Tempos are editorial suggestions in most cases. Feel free to choose your own tempo.