The Bodhrán is a frame drum typically covered with goat skin and is struck with a tipper (type of drum stick). Learn to play with Blayne Chastain’s Irish flute lessons online. Also have a look at The Irish Flute Store as they carry a great variety of flutes ranging from entry-level starter instruments to higher-end and even rare & hard to find Irish flutes! If you’re just starting out, the Chiff & Fipple Flute forum is a great community to join. Many prefer the look and balance that leaving the foot joint “long” provides. Many keyless flutes actually have 8-holes - the bottom of which would sound C# and C if they had keys. Those wishing to dive deeper into tunes which depart from the “usual” keys enjoy the flexibility that additional keys afford. G & A major scales (and related modes) can also be played quite easily on a D-pitched flute.Īs most Irish tunes can be played on either a 6-holed tin whistle or Irish flute, many players stick with playing a keyless flute. Most Irish flutes are pitched in D and as such play the D Major scale (and related B minor scale and other associated modes) with ease. The Irish flute is also typically a *6-holed instrument and can either be keyless or have 1 to 8+ keys to facilitate playing in other keys or the odd “accidental”. Learn to play with Blayne Chastain’s tin whistle lessons online. The Irish Flute Store also carries a large variety of tin whistles ranging from the inexpensive Dixon Trad to many rare and hard to find higher end instruments. The Chiff & Fipple forums are a great place to begin your research. There are many makers of higher-end / hand made tin whistles these days. If you’re looking for an inexpensive instrument that still plays great, have a look at the Tony Dixon trad. The most popular inexpensive / mass produced whistles would be those made by Generation, Feadog and Clarke. What’s the difference? Inexpensive mass-produced tin whistles as a general rule simply don’t play as well as those made by hand.
Tin whistle, penny whistle, flageolet, whatever you like to call it, is most typically a 6-holed fipple flute most associated with Irish traditional music / Celtic music.Īfter doing a good bit of researching, you’ll find a large range of instruments ranging from $5 to $500+. Looking to either learn to play or buy an Irish tin whistle, Irish flute or Irish bodhrán drum? Below are a few resources to help you get started! Irish Tin Whistles Tin Whistle, Irish Flute & Bodhran Resources