Tin Whistle A Complete Guide to Playing Playing Irish Traditional Traditional Music on the Whistle
Stephen Ducke
About the author
Originally from Athlone, Athlone, Stephen Ducke now lives in a small village in the French Alps with his wife and two children. He has been playing the whistle and flute for over 30 years, and runs Irish music workshops with Tradschool in different parts of France each year. He has recorded one a lbum on flute, entitled If There Weren't Any Women In The World , and currently plays with the group Bonaparte's Retreat.
Published by Tradschool Design and typesetting by Stephen Ducke. Tradschool 05190 THEUS FRANCE Web www.tradschool.com Email
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Copyright © 2012 Stephen Ducke. All rights reserved
Table of Contents Introduction...... Introduction.................... ........................... ........................... ...........................6 .............6 About this tutor....... tutor.............. ............... ................ ............... ............... ............... ...........................6 ....................6 The Irish whistle......................................................................7
Part One................ One......................... .................. ................................9 .......................9 Beginning Beginning the the Whistle.................. Whistle........................................10 ......................10 Holding the whistle................................................................10 Blowing the whistle................................................................11 Blowing your first notes...................................................11 Left hand notes......................................................................12 The note B......................................................................12 Exercise 1..............................................................................12 Left hand notes - continued...................................................13 The note A.......................................................................13 The note G......................................................................13 Exercise 2..............................................................................13 Song : Mary Had a Little Lamb..............................................14
Unit 2 : Right Hand Notes................................... Notes................................... 15 Song : Hot Cross Buns..........................................................16 Song: Oranges and Lemons ............... ....................... ............... ........................16 .................16
Unit 3 : The Second Octave................................ Octave................................ 17 Exercise Exercise Exercise Song: Au
1..............................................................................17 2..............................................................................17 3..............................................................................18 Clair de la Lune.............. Lune...................... ................ ...............................18 .......................18
Unit 4 – Scales..................................................... Scales..................................................... 19 1 Scale of D...........................................................................19 2 Scale of G...........................................................................19 Tunes using the new note ............... ....................... ............... ................... ......................20 ..........20 Good King Wenceslas...........................................................20
Unit 5 – Rhythm, Articulation Articulation & Breathing.... Breathing.... ....21 .. ..21 Playing Irish music on the whistle – rhythm, tonguing and breathing...............................................................................21 Rhythm..................................................................................21 Rhythm exercise 1..........................................................21 Rhythm exercise 2..........................................................22 Rhythm exercise 3..........................................................22 Tonguing................................................................................22 Tonguing exercise 1........................................................23 Tonguing Exercise 2.......................................................23 Tonguing Exercise 3.......................................................23 Song : Courtin' in the Kitchen................... Kitchen......................................... ......................24 24 Song – Mairi's Wedding..................................................25 Song : The Bog Down in the Valley....... Valley.............. .........................26 ..................26 Song : Cockles and Mussels........... Mussels.................. ...............................27 ........................27 Breathing...............................................................................28 Breathing after long notes ..............................................28 Making breath spaces.....................................................30 Some More Tunes.................................................................32
Unit 6 - Putting it together 1................................50 1................................50 Time!......................................................................................50 Practicing...............................................................................50 Attitude........... Attitude................... ............... ............... ............... ............... ................ ...................... .........................50 ...........50
Part Two.................. wo........................... ....................... ............................51 ..............51 Unit 7 – Irish Traditional Music...........................52 Music...........................52 Simple system.......................................................................52 Combining elements............ elements................... ............... ............... ..................................52 ...........................52 The Basics.............................................................................53 Rhythm............................................................................53 Types of tunes.................................................................53 The structure of the tunes...............................................54 Ornamentation structure and rhythm........... rhythm................... ...................55 ...........55 The Details............................................................................56 Making choices...............................................................56 Fast tempo......................................................................56 Ornamentation................................................................57
Unit 8 – Listening to Irish Music.........................58 Music.........................58 Listening................................................................................58 Why is listening so important?........... important?.................. ............... ............................58 ....................58 What to listen for...................................................................58
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Instrumentation...............................................................58 Repertoire.......................................................................59 Style and technique .......................................................59 Building familiarity.......... familiarity.................. ................ ............... ............... ................................59 ........................59 Some players and recordings............ recordings................... ............... ............................59 ....................59
Unit 9 – The Jig.......................... Jig.................................................... .......................... 60 Rhythm and tempo................................................................60 Some jigs...............................................................................60 Note Accent and Articulation........... Articulation................... ............... ................. .......................65 .............65 Jig Rhythm 1 - Basic Jig Accent .................. ....................................65 ..................65 Some More Rhythmic Exercises................................. Exercises....................................66 ...66 Jig Rhythm 2 – Accent on the off-beat............................67 Articulating the off-beat in jigs....... jigs............... ................ ............... ............... ...........67 ...67 Placing the off-beat in jigs...............................................68 Note Accent in Jigs – More Examples............... Examples............................72 .............72 Phrasing................................................................................74 Breathing at phrase ends................................................74 “Overflowing” phrases – breathing after phrase ends....75 Breathing and Phrasing – More Examples.......... Examples.....................78 ...........78
Unit 10 – The Hornpipe........................ Hornpipe........................................80 ................80 Rhythm and Tempo...............................................................80 Some hornpipes....................................................................80 Accent and articulation..... articulation............. ............... ............... ............... ............... .......................8 ...............84 4 Hornpipe Rhythm 1 – Basic Hornpipe Accent ...............85 Hornpipe Rhythm 2 – Accent on the off-beat..................86 Placing the off-beat in hornpipes............ hornpipes................... ........................87 .................87 Note Accent in Hornpipes – More Examples..................89 Examples..................89 Phrasing and breathing.........................................................90
Unit 11 – The Reel............................. Reel................................................ ................... 91 Rhythm and Tempo...............................................................91 Some Reels...........................................................................91 Accent & Articulation.......... Articulation.................. ............... ............... ............... ............................96 .....................96 Reel Rhythm 1 – Basic Reel Accent ............... ...................... ...............96 ........96 Reel Rhythm 2 – Accent on the Off-beat........................9 Off-beat........................98 8 Placing the off-beat in reels............. reels.................... ........................... ......................100 ..100 Note Accent in Reels – More Examples.......................102 Examples.......................102 Phrasing and Breathing.......................................................104 Breathing at long notes and phrase ends............. ends.....................104 ........104 Removing notes in reels............. reels.................... ............... ...........................104 ...................104 Phrasing and Breathing – More Examples...................106 Examples...................106
Unit 12 – Ornamentation................................... Ornamentation................................... 108 Ornamentation 1 – The Cut.................................................109 Fingering Chart - Cuts...................................................110 Use of the Cut................................................................111 The Cut in Jigs..............................................................117 The Cut in Hornpipes....................................................122 The Cut in Reels...........................................................125 Ornamentation 2 – The Tap................................................127 The Tap – Fingering Chart............................................127 Use of the Tap...............................................................128 The Tap in Jigs..............................................................133 The Tap in Hornpipes....................................................138 The Tap in Reels...........................................................141 Ornamentation 3 – The Slide.............. Slide...................... ............... ........................143 .................143 The Slide – Fingering Fingeri ng Chart.............. ....................... ....143 The Slide - Fingering Chart (continued).......................144 Use of the Slide.............................................................145 The Slide in Hornpipes............ Hornpipes.................... ................ .............................151 .....................151 The Slide in Jigs............................................................153 The Slide in Reels.........................................................155 Ornamentation 4 – The Roll............... Roll...................... ............... ..........................15 ..................156 6 Fingering chart - Rolls ..................................................157 Use of the Roll............... Roll...................... ............... ............... ................................15 .........................158 8 The Roll – Accent and Articulation............... Articulation....................... .................163 .........163 G Roll ...........................................................................165 F Roll ............................................................................167 E Roll.............................................................................169 A Roll........ Roll................ ................ ............... ............... ............... ............... ................ ............... ...............171 ........171 B Roll.............................................................................173 The Roll in Reels ..........................................................175 The Roll in Jigs.............. Jigs..................... ............... ............... ................................18 .........................183 3 The Roll in Hornpipes............ Hornpipes................... ............... ................. ........................186 ...............186
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Ornamentation 5 – The Short Roll.................. Roll......................................188 ....................188 Fingering chart – Short Rolls.................... Rolls................................... ....................189 .....189 Use of the Short Roll.....................................................190 G Short Roll..................................................................192 F Short Roll...................................................................194 E Short Roll...................................................................196 B Short Roll...................................................................198 A Short Short Roll............. Roll.................... ............... ................ ............... ............... ........................200 ................200 The Short Roll in Reels.................................................202 The Short Roll in Jigs....................................................206 The Short roll in Hornpipes............. Hornpipes.................... ............... .......................209 ...............209 The Short Roll in Hornpipes, Example 1 – Dunphy's...209 The Short Roll in Hornpipes, Example 2 – Poll Ha'Penny ......................................................................................210 Ornamentation 6 – The Triplet.............................................211 The Triplet – Notation and Fingering............................21 Fingering............................211 1 Use of the Triplet...........................................................213 FED Triplets on D.............. D...................... ............... ................................... ............................216 216 The Triplet in Reels.......................................................217 The Triplet in Jigs..........................................................220 The Triplet in Hornpipes................................................222 The Triplet in Hornpipes, Example 1 – Dunphy's.........222 Ornamentation 7 – The Bounce............ Bounce................... ............... .......................223 ...............223 The Bounce – Fingering Chart............ Chart....................................223 ........................223 Use of the Bounce........................................................224 The Bounce in Reels ............... ....................... ................ ............................228 ....................228 The Bounce in Jigs .............. ...................... ................ ....................... ........................231 .........231 The Bounce in Hornpipes............ Hornpipes.................... ................ .........................233 .................233 Ornamentation 8 – The Cran............. Cran.................... ................................. ..........................234 234 The Cran – Notation and Fingering..............................234 Fingering..............................234 Use of the Cran.............................................................236 The Cran in Reels ........................................................238 The Cran in Jigs ...........................................................240 Ornamentation 9 – Combining Ornaments.........................242 Ornaments.........................242 Tap & Cut......................................................................242 Slide and Cut................................................................243 Slide and Roll................................................................244 Tap and Roll..................................................................245 Ornamentation 10 - Staccato Triplets........... Triplets.................................246 ......................246 Ornamentation 11 – Summary............................................247
Unit 13 – Other tunes........................... tunes.........................................248 ..............248 Polka....................................................................................248 Slide.....................................................................................249 Slip Jig.................................................................................250 Set Dance............................................................................251 Barn Dance.........................................................................252
Unit 14 – Playing in different keys....................253 keys....................253 Half-holing...........................................................................253 Cross-fingering....................................................................253 Whistles in Different Keys............. Keys.................... ............... ............................... .......................255 255
Unit 15 – Playing Irish Music.......................... Music.......................... ..257 Repertoire............................................................................257 Choosing your repertoire............ repertoire.................... ............... ..........................257 ...................257 Style.....................................................................................259 Staccato vs legato styles............ styles.................... ............... ..........................259 ...................259 “Lift” and “swing”...........................................................259 Other stylistic choices...................................................260 Conscious Choices............ Choices................... ............... ................ ..................................260 ..........................260 Learning by Ear...................................................................261 Advantages of learning by ear.......... ear................. ............... .....................261 .............261 How to learn by ear.......................................................261 Using Sheet Music........................................................262
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Playing in public............. public..................... ............... ............... ............... ..............................262 .......................262 Sessions.......................................................................262 Sourcing music....................................................................263 Comhaltas Live.............................................................263 Na Píobairí Uilleann Source............. Source..................... ............................263 ....................263 ITMA Digital Library............ Library.................... ............... ..................................263 ...........................263
Unit 16 – Putting It Together Together 2.......................... 264 Learning and playing tunes............. tunes..................... ............... ............... .....................264 .............264 Practising.............................................................................264
Unit 17 – Tunes...................... unes.......................................... .................... ........265 The Haunted House......................................................266 The Rose in the Heather...............................................266 The Killavil Jig...............................................................267 The Ship in Full Sail......................................................267 Saddle the Pony............................................................268 The Humours of Glendart............ Glendart.................... ............... .........................268 ..................268 Out on the Ocean............. Ocean.................... ............... ....................... .............................269 ..............269 The Leitrim Jig.............. Jig...................... ............... ............... .................................2 .........................269 69 The Frost is all Over............. Over..................... ................ ................................270 ........................270 The Rambling Pitchfork......... Pitchfork................. ............... ...............................270 ........................270 Pay the Reckoning........................................................271 Club Céilí......................................................................271 The Battering Ram........................................................272 The Blackthorn Stick.....................................................272 The Mist on the Meadow........... Meadow................... ...................... ...........................273 .............273 The Monaghan Jig........................................................273 The Skylark...................................................................274 The Ashplant.................................................................274 Jackie Coleman's..........................................................275 Ships are Sailing...........................................................275 Sheehan's.....................................................................276 Over the Moor to Maggie............ Maggie................... ............... ................. ...................276 ..........276 The Heather Breeze............ Breeze.................... ............... .................................277 ..........................277 Lady Ann Montgomery..................................................277 The Teetotaller..............................................................278 Saint Anne's..................................................................278 The Cup of Tea.............................................................279 The Silver Spear...........................................................280 The Humours of Tulla........... Tulla................... ................ ................................280 ........................280 The Green Mountain.....................................................281 Miss Monaghan.............................................................281 Sean Reid's...................................................................282 The W ind that Shakes the Barley............ Barley................... .....................282 ..............282 Micho Russell's.............................................................283 The Earl's Chair............. Chair.................... ............... ............... .................... .........................283 ............283 The Galway Rambler....................................................284 The Home Ruler............................................................285 Kitty's Wedding.............................................................285 The Boys of Bluehill......................................................286
Appendix 1 – Troubleshooting......................... roubleshooting......................... 288 Sound..................................................................................288 Tuning..................................................................................288 Rhythm and tempo..............................................................288 Learning tunes.....................................................................289 Ornamentation.....................................................................289
Appendix 2 – Reading Music............................ Music............................ 290 Music Notation Basics.........................................................290 Notes and the Staff.......................................................290 Key Signatures..............................................................292 Note Values...................................................................292
Appendix 3 - Bibliography.............................. Bibliography.............................. ..293 Appendix 4 – Tracklist........................ racklist.......................................294 ...............294
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Introduction About this book The fruit of many years playing and teaching, both in Ireland and abroad, this 2-part tutor book gives a complete practical introduction to playing Irish traditional music on the tin whistle. It is aimed either at the complete beginner, beginner, or at those who already play music and are interested in discovering the music of the Irish tradition. As a novice, you can expect by the e nd of this course to be familiar with the Irish traditional repertoire and style, to have a core repertoire of tunes and be able to perform them with the suitable ornamentation. The course covers the basics of the whistle in Part 1, and Irish traditional music on the whistle in Part 2, which is much longer and more detailed. It is designed to be initially accessible even to complete beginners, but goes on to cover more advanced material. Each part of the tutor contains graded lessons, exercises and tunes, giving a complete introduction to the whistle in Irish traditional music. Both musical notation and tablature are used so no no knowledge of musical staff notation or sight reading is necessary, necessary, although those who prefer using staff notation may do so. I have tried to reflect the orally-transmitted orally-transmitted nature of Irish traditional music as much as possible in this course. I have also tried to base the course on the stylistic interpretation interpretation of the music, to bring the learner to a real understanding of the traditional idiom. Ornamentation is presented in context, and each new element is presented with numerous examples. Ideally, Ideally, the beginner would use both parts of this course, starting with the lessons in the basic tutorial, while listening to the audio files from the intermediate and advanced levels. These mp3 files can be downloaded to Ipod or burned to CD, to listen at home, when working or in the car... The more exposure you have to the music, the quicker and easier you will pick it up when you arrive at the intermediate and advanced stages. In Unit 8 I recommend some whistle players and recordings, while Unit 16 lists some excellent online sources of Irish music.
All musical musical instruments require require work, even a simple instrument like the whistle; whistle; however, however, it is my firm belief that the basics of tin whistle playing can be acquired quickly, with a little effort and a maximum of listening time. Once these basics are acquired, how far you go is up to you!!
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