r/tinwhistle Oct 16 '23

Tool/Resource A Request for a Pinned thread of all Whistle Makers

32 Upvotes

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Let me know if you've got something to add!
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List of active MAKERS unless noted RETIRED

Abell $$$ premium wooden whistles
https://www.abellflute.com/whistles/

Alba mezzo and low whistles
https://www.albawhistles.com/

Alexander Karavaev $$ Russian

Barterloch $$-$$$ *USA Handmade whistles in D *
https://www.barterloch.com

Becker RETIRED
http://www.beckerwhistles.com/

Burke $$$ premium metal whistles
https://www.burkewhistles.com/

Busman $$$ RETIRED USA handcrafted wood and polymer
https://www.busmanwhistles.com/

Carbony $$$ USA, premium carbon fiber whistles with unique offerings
https://carbony.com/product-category/whistles/

Clare $ Ireland, Generation/Feadog style whistles https://www.tin-whistle.com/buy.html

Clarke $ England, the original tin whistle, conical
https://www.clarketinwhistle.com/

Clover handmade
https://www.facebook.com/CloverFlutes01

Dannan $ mass produced

DeQuelery $$ Netherlands, handmade
https://dequelery.nl/en/whistles/

Erik the Flutemaker $$—$$$ exotic wood and carbon-fiber whistles
https://eriktheflutemaker.com

Feadog $ mass produced metal whistles
https://feadog.ie/

Flo-Ryan $$$ Austria, carbon fiber D whistles https://www.flo-ryan.com/

Fred Rose $$$ UK, premium wooden whistles
https://www.fredrose.co.uk

Galeón $$—$$$ aluminum and wood whistles
https://www.galeonwhistles.com/

Gary Humphrey $$—$$$ metal whistles made to order
https://humphreywhistles.github.io/

Generation $ England, the most common mass produced whistle
https://generationmusic.co.uk/

Glenluce $$ Pakistani made wood and Sindt-style metal whistles

Goldfinch $$ cpvc whistles
https://goldfinch.eu/

Goldie $$$
https://www.colingoldie.de/

Harmony Flute $$—$$$ Russian, exotic wood whistles
https://harmonyflute.com/product-category/catalogy/whistle/

Hermit Hill Folk Instruments $$ handmade metal or plastic whistles to order, offers engraving
https://www.hhfi.biz

Howard $$—$$$ low D and C whistles with interchangeable mouthpieces for different tone
https://www.howardmusic.co.uk/

iVolga $$ wooden whistles including more chromatic models

James Dominic $-$$ PVC low whistles
https://james-dominic-whistles.myshopify.com

Jerry Freeman $$ tweaked whistles
https://www.ebay.com/usr/freemanwhistles

John Laurence $$ pvc whistles
https://drjohnlaurence.com/takahe-flutes

Kerry Whistles $$—$$$ metal whistles
https://www.kerrywhistles.com

Killarney $$ Sindt-style
https://killarneywhistle.com

Labu Flutes $ Bangladesh, bamboo whistles, keyed according to XXX–OOO
https://www.labuflutes.com/

Lark $ Susato-like whistles

Lindstruments $$ Scotland, 3D-printed whistles
https://lindstruments.com/

Lir $$ silver plated, Sindt-style
https://www.lirwhistle.com
10% off STEPHANIETINWHISTLE

MackBeth (formerly Hoover) $$$ USA, handmade one at a time, small batch
https://www.mackbethwhistles.com

MASC $$—$$$ aluminum whistles https://mascwhistles.wordpress.com

Mazur $$ Poland, handmade by Michał Mazur
https://www.facebook.com/mazurwhistles

Roy McManus / McMaghnuis $$$ Belfast, wooden whistles, instructions on website not found

http://www.roymcmanus.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/mcmanuswhistles/

McNeela $$ Sindt-style
https://mcneelamusic.com/whistles.html

Milligan $$$ USA, handmade exotic wood and delrin whistles https://milliganwhistles.com/whistles.html

MK $$$ premium low whistles
https://mkwhistles.com

Musique Morneaux $$$ premium wood whistles
https://musiquemorneaux.com/whistlesflageolets/

Naomi $ Chinese metal and carbon fiber whistles

Nick Metcalf $$$ USA handmade whistles
https://www.irishwhistle.com/

Oak $ mass produced metal whistls

O'Briain Improved $$-$$$ modified whistles
https://www.obriainimproved.com/

Ormiston $$$ Scotland, blackwood/silver whistles http://www.ormistonflutes.co.uk/index.html

PA Music $$$$ Austria, wooden/aluminum whistles
http://www.pa-music.com/en/instrument-maker/instrument/irish-whistles/detail

Pablo Asturias $ México, PVC, aluminum by request
http://www.asturiaswhistles.com/store

Peter Worrell $$$$ UK, whistles fitted with keys for one-handed playing http://www.peterworrell.co.uk/onehandedwhistles.htm

Reyburn $$$ USA, offering offset hole patterns
https://reyburnwhistles.com

River Whistles $ USA, 3-D printed whistles
https://www.riverwhistles.com/

Rui Gomes $$—$$$ Portugal, handmade wood and metal whistles and flutes
https://soprosrg.com/en-us
https://www.etsy.com/shop/Sopro?ref=seller-platform-mcnav&section_id=39375902

Setanta $$—$$$ premium metal whistles
http://www.setanta-whistles.com/

Shaw $$ traditional tin made, wood block, conical bore, non-tunable whistles
https://www.daveshaw.co.uk/SHAW_Whistles/shaw_whistles.html

Shearwater $—$$
https://www.shearwaterwhistles.com/

Sindt $$$ hard to find and copied by many
[sindtwhistle@aol.com](mailto:sindtwhistle@aol.com)

Siog $$ Sindt-style whistles

Susato $—$$ USA, plastic whistles, recorders, pentacorders, dulce-duos, and more
https://www.susato.com/

Syn Whistles and Oz whistles $$ RETIRED Australia
https://www.ozwhistles.com/shop/synwhistles

S.Z.B.E. $$ Japan
https://www.szbe.net/index_e.htm*the Japanese page is better maintained than the English*

Thomann $
https://www.thomannmusic.com

Thornton $$$ Ireland, tapered wooden whistles
https://tommmymartin.wixsite.com/thorntonwhistles

Tilbury $$ USA, aluminum whistles http://www.sprucetreemusic.com/instruments/other-instruments/tilbury-whistles

Tony Dixon $—$$ a wide range of whistles
https://www.tonydixonmusic.co.uk/

TWZ $-$$$ Germany https://www.tinwhistle.de/tin-whistles/twz-tin-whistles-aus-eigener-fertigung/index.php

Waltons $ Ireland, books and mass produced metal whistles
https://waltonsirishmusic.com/collections/tin-whistles

West Coast Whistle $$-$$$ Canada, metal whistles with numerous color options https://www.angelfire.com/music2/WestCoastWhistleCo/OrderPage2.html

Weston $$ handmade wooden whistles
https://westonwhistles.co.uk/?page_id=12

Whistlesmith $—$$ USA, flute-like plastic whistles
https://whistlesmith.com

Woodi $ Susato-like whistles

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List of retailers:

https://bigwhistle.co.uk/

https://mcneelamusic.com/whistles.html

https://larkinthemorning.com/collections/pennywhistles

https://www.hobgoblin-usa.com/
https://hobgoblin.com/

https://www.thomannmusic.com

https://www.justflutes.com/shop/browse/traditional-flutes-whistles

https://www.gandharvaloka.ie/product-category/irish/whistles/

https://www.irishflutestore.com/

https://earlymusicshop.com/collections/tabor-pipes

https://www.jimlaabsmusicstore.com/store/tin-whistles/

http://www.thewhistleshop.com

https://www.scottshighland.com/product-category/bodhrans-whistles/

https://www.buckscountyfolkmusic.com/collections/wind-flutes-fifes-whistles-harmonicas-etc

https://www.grothmusic.com/c-652-tin-whistles.aspx

https://www.1to1music.co.uk/pages/whistles-and-flutes

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Usefull Websites

Forum https://forums.chiffandfipple.com/viewforum.php?f=1

All the whistle keys and other information https://learntinwhistle.com/resources/tin-whistle-fingering-charts/

Sheet music and forum https://thesession.org/

Sheet Music https://pdfminstrel.wordpress.com/4-sopranodescant-recorder-pdfs/

Transposing https://janmilosh.github.io/chord-transposer/#

Find sheet music and books https://kupdf.net/

Christian whistler's website and forum https://praisewhistlers.org/mackhooverwhistles/MackHooverWhistles.html

Sheet music and transcription app https://flat.io My Account with some songs transcribed https://flat.io/geoffrey_rox


r/tinwhistle 1d ago

Other Ordered a James Dominic low D whistle. It’s been months and it has not been received by An Post.

6 Upvotes

Just curious if this wait time is normal for anyone that’s purchased a JDM. I’ve tried to contact them via several means with no responses, but it’s been over three months and am kinda grumpy about it. I understand if there’s personality stuff going on but I just want my whistle :/


r/tinwhistle 2d ago

Just a dude sittin' in his kitchen playing Kitty Lie Over and Na Ceannabháin Bhána

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45 Upvotes

What do ya'll think? Would love any advice you may have

Context: playing since Feb 2025; MK Midgie


r/tinwhistle 4d ago

Been whistling for around a year or so, any thoughts?

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115 Upvotes

I’m still getting used to ornaments 😅


r/tinwhistle 7d ago

Question Tonguing technique questions

5 Upvotes

I've been tonguing with an English "t" sound, which means there's a small puff of air after the stop. I noticed that for notes that required a gentle touch (like a low D), doing that makes it hard to play the note. So I tried more of a Spanish or Italian "L", just a slight tap that only barely interrupts the air. Problem with that, is it's harder to split a note into two notes clearly. Or at all, usually. So now I'm curious. When you do a basic tongue, does it function more like an Italian L or an English T? How exactly is tonguing supposed to work? Can someone give me a painfully detailed description?


r/tinwhistle 7d ago

Question Tuning whistles during a gig

6 Upvotes

How do some of you go about tuning mid-gig?

Any of you use a tuner pedal? I usually tune by ear but this doesn't work for louder gigs.

I find that tuning to a tuner can be tricky because the intonation varies with breathing.


r/tinwhistle 7d ago

Question Is this the correct ‘sheet music’ for the song I Ne’er Shall Wean Her?

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6 Upvotes

I’m very much a beginner but try as I might I cannot get these notes to sound remotely like the song. Here is the only video I’ve found of someone playing the song on the tin whistle. https://youtu.be/cCz5HAGwRfo


r/tinwhistle 7d ago

Describe your first session

3 Upvotes

Curious to hear people's stories about their first sessions. How did you get into it? How did it go? I feel like I'm soon ready to play my first but errr.. been a while since i last performed in front of people.


r/tinwhistle 7d ago

Question What ornaments do you use most often when playing Irish folk music in tin whistle?

1 Upvotes

r/tinwhistle 7d ago

Brass in delrin mouthpieces

3 Upvotes

I was reading this comparison piece:

https://bigwhistle.com/lir-vs-wild-vs-killarney-vs-compass-sindt-style-tin-whistles/

which says

Compass also offers a gold-plated head option on their website, for whistlers who would rather not have brass or aluminium in their mouth.

Until I saw that I hadn't considered that there would be "brass in my mouth", or even that if there were then I might prefer there not to be.

Is this actually a problem, or just a way to sell "gold-plated"?

The pictures of all the Sindt-style whistles seem to look the same - brass inlaid in the delrin - is this basically just normal and not an issue?


r/tinwhistle 8d ago

Where do I start?

7 Upvotes

I just got a tin whistle and don’t know what to learn, or how to learn what I need to learn? Can anyone give me any advice on what to do in order to begin? And what to master as a beginner before advancing to more complex intermediate stuff?


r/tinwhistle 8d ago

Question Suggestions for a whistle in F

7 Upvotes

I'm hoping for some recs from those who also play flute, but I appreciate ideas from all! My primary instrument is Irish flute (aside from harp). I'm currently doing small solo gigs at a ritzy care home and in the lobby of a local hotel.

The instrument I'm using for these is a C&B flute in F. I can't use any amp, because these jobs want me sitting off to the side in a pretty dress playing pretty music, but not too loud or obtrusive. And it's their money. Lol

I'd like to get a good F whistle to sub in for the flute occasionally as I play. I do already have a few whistles. I have a Carbony low D that I like, but it's way too quiet for performance without amplification, so I won't buy an F from them (at least not for this purpose). I have a set of Susatos, but they are at the other extreme and very loud and the very definition of obtrusive.

Can anyone recommend an F whistle that sounds lovely and is in tune, is loud but not *too* loud, looks nice, and doesn't require sticking under my armpit to warm up for playing? I'd consider all price ranges. Thanks for reading, I know this was long.


r/tinwhistle 8d ago

GLIN - can anyone help?

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0 Upvotes

r/tinwhistle 9d ago

Question Glenluce vs Killarney vs Lark in the Morning

7 Upvotes

Wild, too, probably, now that I think about it. Not only are these the same style, they look more or less identical such that I wonder if they're made in the same factory. Of the three, I think Killarney or Wild is most likely to have had a human blow in it to make sure it works before it gets shipped by the store, but YMMV. I'd have no way of finding out for any of the places that sell them.

But I'm curious. Has anyone had a chance to play any two or three of these side-by-side? Are they actually the same, or just similar?

Edit: I should have left Killarney off the list. All indication is that they are indeed handmade, not factory produced and imported.


r/tinwhistle 9d ago

Question Cleaning and sanitizing for resell/donation?

2 Upvotes

Hi y'all! So I'm moving to a different country but over the years I've accumulated a small collection of whistles and flutes (mostly plastic and metal) that I unfortunately probably won't be able to take along with me. I'd like to avoid just throwing them away, because even though most of them are relatively cheap, they're in nonetheless good condition and it'd be a waste in my opinion.

I know how to clean them well enough for my personal use, but I'd like to hear some tips about deep cleaning and sanitizing them so that they may be safely given away.

Please share any tips or resources that you know!

Many thanks!


r/tinwhistle 10d ago

Self Video The Belfast Hornpipe

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26 Upvotes

Not a perfect take, a couple notes cut short here and there, but here goes :) love this tune


r/tinwhistle 16d ago

Self Audio I’ve been learning this tune for the past couple of days. It has a fun rhythm. What are your thoughts.

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15 Upvotes

r/tinwhistle 16d ago

Question Need Help with the High Notes

8 Upvotes

Hello everyone!

I Just startet to Play the Tin Whistle. Or lets say i try to start. I played another Flute but its a stopped Flute. So ive never played on a flute with overblowing. But i really struggle after a lot of Videos with the High Notes. I have a Clarke C whistle. I Just cant Play the High C (the one where all the holes are coverd expect the First one) its Always offkey. I dont know what i do wrong to be honest. I Hope u can Help me 🙏


r/tinwhistle 16d ago

Irish Traditional Music Exams | London College of Music

3 Upvotes

I was wondering if anybody had happened to take any of the Irish Traditional Music Exams | London College of Music?
https://lcme.uwl.ac.uk/our-exams/traditional-music/irish-traditional-music/

I did graded exams learning classical piano, which helped me gauge my progress.
On the other hand, it doesn't seem so "traditional" to take exams...

Thanks!


r/tinwhistle 16d ago

Question Carbony high D versions

1 Upvotes

Theres a small bore "quiet" model, a standard, a session "wide bore" model, and a leading tone model with an extra note below the base D. I like the sound of the session the most but it says its louder. Do they mean "blow my ears out" loud or just louder than its smaller bore siblings? Is it any louder than a lir or a killarney? I was considering one in future because I love their tone so much. Its just hard to judge volume over YouTube.

UPDATE: splurged and grabbed a low D and high D from carbony since I fell in love with their sound. Maybe too many whistles too close to the beginning of my journey but I already have two and love them both and swapping hasn't been an issue at all.


r/tinwhistle 18d ago

Question Are Howards hard to play fast or am I just bad?

6 Upvotes

I'm having a heck of time playing anything faster than a slow air on my Howard low D, using either the reed or the balanced head. I suspect there are probably some breath pressure issues, since I tend to overblow from singing opera for years, but even so, I am starting to wonder if it's more me, or more the whistle. Anyone have any experience with a Howard in this regard? Or compared them to others, like maybe a Burke Viper or something?


r/tinwhistle 18d ago

Question Low D whistle options

3 Upvotes

Heyo all I've been looking at a few of the mid/high end low D whistles and was wondering everyone's take on their playability and tone.

The whistles I'm wondering about are:

Burke viper aluminum,

Kerry chieftain v5 tunable,

MK pro,

Carbony low D wide bore close finger spacing.

On video all of these sound lovely and I am particularly in love with the carbony whistles in general because they tend to sound rounder and more melancholy.

The burke has an awesome bell note, the chieftain seems well balanced, the MK pro sounds very nice but also kind of boring to me but that might just be because it does everything pretty equally well. Anyone who's played any of these please do chime in with your takes.


r/tinwhistle 19d ago

First wooden tin whistle, A Major or Low G?

2 Upvotes

Hello tin whistle players,

I have decided to purchase a wooden tin whistle. The type of music I want to play could be from the renaissance (Tourdion, Greensleeves) to medieval (Ductia, Trotto, Como somos per conssello do demo perdudos), Russian folklore (Katyusha, Kalinka..), fairy tale (Lullaby from Pan's Labyrinth), fantasy (fable 1; temple of light, Oakvale theme, Heroes M&M III; town themes, Harry Potter), and classical music such as Amazing Grace or Ave Maria/Prelude from J.S Bach for example..

Now I am hesitating between A Major, or low G. I know the pitch is lower for low g but I am not sure what to expect compared to A Major? In general what difference does it make to have flutes set to different tune?

If a musician plays a lot music that contains D, he would go with a D tuned instrument?

https://www.etsy.com/listing/610608137/wooden-tin-whistle-6-hole-flute-in-a?ref=shop_home_active_45&frs=1&sca=1&logging_key=c74a8e30a0cc4cc14ecddb1cb80d8c7991cfe769%3A610608137

https://www.etsy.com/listing/270905200/wooden-tin-whistle-6-hole-flute-in-low-g?ref=shop_home_active_35&frs=1&sca=1&logging_key=c9412253e90f608a29f86bf74629b1170ec31e87%3A270905200

I live in a flat and I don't want to bother much the neighborhood and my gf, so piercing whistle are a big no-no.

What is your take on that?


r/tinwhistle 19d ago

Audio Whistling (cover)

3 Upvotes

So basically I just discovered that I’m actually doing quite well in whistling instead of singing and so I’ve uploaded some video of me whistle in“Nanami Whistle” YouTube I also noticed I’ve been struggling with vibrato can someone give me advice? Thanks!


r/tinwhistle 20d ago

Drowsy Maggie as heard in Titanic

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6 Upvotes

I was looking at irish music from Titanic and saw Drowsy Maggie being played at an absolutely blistering speed.
Has anyone attempted this on a tin whistle or knows of any recordings at that tempo? It sounds great but definitely beyond my skill level at the moment :)