Tin whistle The whistle's fingering system is similar to that of the six hole, "simple system English flutes" ("simple" in comparison to Boehm system flutes). The six hole, diatonic system is also used on baroque flutes, and was of course well known before Robert Clarke began producing his tin whistles. Clarke's first whistle, the Meg, was pitched in high A and was later made in other keys suitable for Victorian parlour music. The company showed the whistles in The Great Exhibition of 1851. The Clark tin whistle is voiced somewhat on an organ-pipe with a flattened tube forming the lip of the
Tin whistle The most common whistles can easily play notes in the keys of D and G major. Since the D major key is lower these whistles are identified as "D whistles." The next most common whistle tuning is a "C whistle," which can easily play notes in the keys of C and F major. The D whistle is the most common choice for Irish and Scottish music. Although the whistle is essentially a diatonic instrument, it is possible to get notes outside the principal major key of the whistle, either by "half-holing" (partially covering the highest open finger hole) or by