Hello,
I have been playing the tin-whistle since I was about 8. I have always played slow to medium songs (airs?) by ear, but never attempted a jig. I play other instruments, I never spent as much time on the whistle as the other instruments. Last week I picked up my old generation D high whistle and set to playing a jig. I learned one called “Lark in the strand” It sounded great! I never knew how much fun the tin whistle could be until this week. I have always been fascinated with fast foot-tapping irish music, but now I can actually PLAY it. I am hooked now! I just was curious what jigs were ideal for beginners like myself? What are some practice techniques to keep my hands fast? I am so excited, and I LOVE JIGS! This is a great board too.
I like Morrison’s Jig.
Jim Ward’s jig is a great little tune which is very approchable and great fun to play.
Shandon Bells
Saddle the Pony
Lilting Banshee
Walls of Liscarroll
j
There are lots. Many I play whose names I’ve forgotten or half-remember as the ‘Boys from Somewhere or other’ or ‘The Maid who Twiddled the Whatsit.’ Two well-known ones that are appealing and not too hard are:
Out on the Ocean
Banish Misfortune
My first four jigs:
- Morrisons Jig
- Lilting Banshee
- Monaghan’s Jig.
- Road to Lisdoonvarna
If I can play them, they have to be easy.
Donnybrook Fair.
Old Joe’s.
Tobin’s Jig.
With regards to playing fast, there’s only one trick I know - be able to play slowly first!
Once you know the tune well, and have it in your fingers, then you can speed it up as much as you want. If you mess up, you didn’t know the tune well enough, and should take it a bit slower.
I mentioned the Kesh Jig once, but I think I got away with it.
My Darling Asleep and Blackthornstick were my first two jigs, which make a nice little set.
Idle curiosity. And how long ago was that? 
I’m 21. Thanks for all the responses, I’ve got my work cut out for me.
Kesh, Morrisons, Lilting Banshee, Banish Misfortune, Lonesome Jig, Calliope House (this not an ancient one, but great and a bit unique).
Regarding Kesh, I recall someone mentioning a while back that this is a good one to start with because it’s “easy.” That made me laugh. Yes, it has a easily recognizable form and lilt to the ear, but it’s replete with difficult (IMHO) various rolls. Once the rolls are properly executed and fit into the proper timing, there is the sophisticated stuff like where to put the tonguing in the rolls and taps afterward, etc.
I guess there are some of us out there for whom this stuff is second nature, but I’ve been toiling (wrong word, it’s been fun) with Kesh for about a month until I now think it’s where I want it. And that’s at between 90 and 100 bps, certainly still far from (most) session speed.
Ya gotsta love it!
Regards,
Philo
Try playing it as a beginner on concertina. I did and it was easily the hardest I played for a while. Pehaps I could have found an easier setting or fingering but I learnt a lot getting it down.
“Smash the Windows” and “Off She Goes” are two great little jigs that are easy to play and go together nicely. (In our sessions, we refer to these as the “vandalism set”!)
I’m too lazy to look it up, but I’m pretty sure that neither Smash the windows nor Off she goes are jigs.
So what are they? Both JC’s and the Session show them in 6/8 time.
They’re slide-y single jig-y sorts of jigs.
Father O’Flynn and The Swallow’s Nest/Swallow Tail Jig.
Swallow’s is easier to learn in D, but from my limited exposure to sessions it seems to get played mostly in G.
O’Flynn is a great tune, despite the fact that I hear it get slagged almost as much as Kesh.
The millers maggot
haste to the wedding
tripping upstairs
ten penny bit
the rakes of kildare
six penny money
father o’flynn
plus all those mentioned
but the important thing is with jigs
the are 6/8
and can be slowed down to 3/4 or waltz time
the vital thing is to keep the bounce / lilt to the tune, then increase speed gradually,
once the basic tune is up to speed,
THEN
add ornamentation and play to your hearts delight, its a matter of discovery, rediscovery, practice, patience, determination, perseverence, and that warm fuzzy feeling when it all comes together.
the best thing is for me when i think i have it down pat, i realize its only the beginning,
good luck
David