Tin whistle part of several folk traditions. Whistles are a prevalent starting instrument in English traditional music, Scottish traditional music and Irish traditional music, since they are often cheap (under US$10), relatively easy to start with (no tricky embouchure such as found with the flute), and the fingerings are nearly identical to those on the traditional six holed flute (Irish flute, baroque flute). The tin whistle is a good starting instrument to learn the uilleann pipes, which has similar finger technique, range of notes and repertoire. The tin whistle is the most popular instrument in Irish traditional music today. In recent years
Tin whistle arrangements of both traditional and original material. Icelandic post rock band Sigur Rós concludes their song "Hafsól" with a tin whistle solo. Barry Privett of the American Celtic rock band Carbon Leaf performs several songs using the tin whistle. Lambchop uses the tin whistle in the song "The Scary Caroler." The Unicorns use the tin whistle in the song "Sea Ghost". Steve Buckley, a British jazz musician is renowned for using the penny whistle as a serious instrument. His whistle playing can be heard on recordings with Loose Tubes, Django Bates and his album with Chris Batchelor Life As We