Tin Whistle Games

Tin whistle finger chart

Every note on a D whistle. Tap one to see where your fingers go and hear how it should sound.

D

All six holes covered.

Low notes: breathe gently

High notes: same fingers, blow a little harder

The whole chart

A filled hole is covered by a finger. An empty one is open. Your left hand covers the top three holes and your right hand the bottom three.

Low notes

  • D

    All six holes covered

  • E

    Top five holes covered

  • F sharp

    Top four holes covered

  • G

    Top three holes covered

  • A

    Top two holes covered

  • B

    Top hole covered

  • C natural

    Second and third holes covered, the rest open

  • C sharp

    All six holes open

High notes (blow a little harder)

  • High D

    All six holes covered, blow a little harder

  • High E

    Top five holes covered, blow a little harder

  • High F sharp

    Top four holes covered, blow a little harder

  • High G

    Top three holes covered, blow a little harder

  • High A

    Top two holes covered, blow a little harder

  • High B

    Top hole covered, blow a little harder

tinwhistlegames.com/tin-whistle-chart

Try a tune

Pick a tune, then press Next, or the space bar, for each note. Play along on your own whistle as slowly as you like. Play it all runs the whole tune so you know how it should go.

Twinkle Twinkle

The first line of Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star. Low notes only, so it's the best first tune.

  1. D
  2. D
  3. A
  4. A
  5. B
  6. B
  7. A
  8. G
  9. G
  10. F♯
  11. F♯
  12. E
  13. E
  14. D

St. Patrick's Day

An Irish jig, tune 298 in O'Neill's Music of Ireland (1903). It climbs into the high notes.

  1. D
  2. G
  3. A
  4. G
  5. G
  6. B
  7. D+
  8. G+
  9. F♯+
  10. E+
  11. D+
  12. B
  13. G
  14. A
  15. G
  16. A
  17. B
  18. G
  19. D
  20. E
  21. F♯
  22. E
  23. E
  24. D
  25. G
  26. A
  27. G
  28. G
  29. B
  30. D+
  31. G+
  32. F♯+
  33. E+
  34. D+
  35. B
  36. G
  37. A
  38. G
  39. A
  40. B
  41. G
  42. D
  43. E
  44. F♯
  45. G

The Rakes of Mallow

An Irish polka, tune 1814 in O'Neill's. Quick, bouncy and only one high note.

  1. G
  2. B
  3. G
  4. B
  5. G
  6. B
  7. C
  8. B
  9. A
  10. G
  11. F♯
  12. A
  13. F♯
  14. A
  15. F♯
  16. A
  17. D+
  18. C
  19. B
  20. A
  21. G
  22. B
  23. G
  24. B
  25. G
  26. B
  27. D+
  28. B
  29. C
  30. B
  31. A
  32. G
  33. F♯
  34. G
  35. A
  36. C
  37. B
  38. G
  39. G

The Minstrel Boy

A slow Irish air, tune 203 in O'Neill's. Long notes give you time to set your fingers.

  1. D
  2. G
  3. A
  4. C
  5. B
  6. A
  7. G
  8. B
  9. D+
  10. G+
  11. F♯+
  12. G+
  13. E+
  14. D+
  15. B
  16. C
  17. D+
  18. B
  19. A
  20. G

Penny's whistle also plays in Typing Meadow, our free typing music game for kids. It shows the fingering for every note it plays.

New to the tin whistle?

Hold it

Hold the whistle out in front of you, pointing down a little. Rest the mouthpiece on your lower lip, not between your teeth. Your left hand goes on top and covers the top three holes, your right hand covers the bottom three, and your thumbs sit behind to hold it steady.

Cover the holes

Use the soft pads of your fingers, not the tips. Flat fingers seal better. If a note squeaks or sounds breathy, a hole is a little open. Check the bottom holes first, they're the hardest to feel.

Breathe gently

For the low notes, blow softly, about as hard as a sigh. For the high notes, keep the same fingers and blow a little harder. Too hard and it shrieks. Start each note with a soft "too" so it comes out clean.

Which whistle to buy

Get a D whistle for $10 to $15. That's the right first one, and any brand in that range is fine. We don't sell whistles, so this isn't a pitch. Most beginner books and charts, this one too, are written for D. Wait on a pricier whistle until you know you'll keep playing.