as the title says… I’m looking for recommendations for the easiest tunes for a beginner to learn. thanks all
Foggy Dew
Inisheer
The tune I learned first was Amazing Grace. It’s a pretty song that I could already hum, and easy to play.
Down by the Sally Gardens was the first one I learned. A nice tune (song) and very simple.
You may also find that a lot of Christmas carols almost play themselves.
Jason
Inisheer is a lovely slow tune, and once learnt will give you confidence to learn more. Remember to start slow and easy and not try tunes which are too complicated.
here’s a link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGtHbumI1R4
here’s another http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZKF4SK42v0
Even the best of players are still learning, they are just at another level
Good luck ! and welcome to the forum
Chris 
try the dawning of the day (raglan road). That was my 3rd after twinke twinkle and fray ray jacka!!! Or if ya like the pogues a pair of brown eyes is pretty basic too.
I progressed this way:
Foggy Dew
Inisheer
She moved through the fair
Planxty Irwin
Molly Braun
South Wind
…or any slow tune you feel is approchable. IMO better to play tune you love or at least like a lot, than one that is just “easy”.
Happy daze,
Deisman
cameron highlanders
six penny money
my darling asleeps
Thanks everyone. Keep them coming There are a few that I have never heard. I should mention that I’m not a complete beginner, but should be considered as one. I can play a bit, just not very well.
I’m going to try Inisheer. I’m anxiously waiting for delivery of my first e-bay purchase, a Jerry Freeman mellow dog.
Linda
One of my favourite whistle tunes bar none is also one of the easier ones to play…
Boulavogue
My favourite version of it ever is on this link to Tony Hinnigans site , it is movie number 4…
http://www.tonyhinnigan.com/whistles.php#
It worth having a sniff around the rest of Tony Hinnigans site while you are there..
Also, here is a youtube clip which shows the fingering pretty clearly, should help you learn it…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BITRnUBEd0
Star of the County Down.
I just learned Si Begh Si Mohr.
Check the clips and snips website, and the Irish and Celtic Music podcast.
Slantie also has some free music at archive.org. (including Star of the County Down, She Moved Through the Fair…)
Have fun!
Egan’s Polka
The Concertina reel
Boys of Bluehill
The Lilting Banshee
O’Keefe’s slide
Any tune you have well established in your memory.
That’s part of why it’s so important to listen to what you want to be able to play.
Anything easy and familar is a good start. My recommendations come from a wide list of folk songs and tunes, since I play a lot of different stuff:
Star of the County Down
Amazing Grace
Skye Boat Song
Will Ye No Come Back Again?
Over In the Meadow
The North Wind Doth Blow
Si Beg Si Mhor ( any spelling variant thereof)
The Water is Wide
Whiskey in the Jar, once you’re feeling a little daring- tricky at first but not too hard.
The Flowers of the Forest
I’ve been learning (self teaching with Ochs book and net) for a month or so, and like the OP, was looking for easy, familiar tunes. I’m open to any style music. I’m learing the whistle mostly to amuse myself when my truck is parked waiting for loading/unloading/next dispatch.
Here’s</a](http://www.fullbodyburn.com/files/Set1/AbdulAbulbulAmir-inD.pdf">Here’s</a)> one I found that I learned fairly quickly and was already familiar with. I’ve just started going through the many tunes on this site, and am finding quite a few I’m interested in.
Here’s tab for the Scottish aire Hector the Hero . The tab is for mandolin, but the music should work o.k. for whistle or UPs…I’m a beginner too.
http://www.nigelgatherer.com/tunes/tab/tab6/hector.gif
Also, if you’d like to learn by ear or get the true mood for the piece, I scarcely think you could do better than this:
“lullaby of London” and “I’m A Man You Don’t Meet Everyday” are good choices as well.
I’ve been playing along too with Mary Bergin on “Aisling Gheal”.
The Munster Cloak