Sort of a basic question here, but I need the help.
I’d like to learn Tam Lin (Glasgow Reel) to play in our session. I’m not sure what key they were in (Dm or Am, I think). Neither is easy to do on a D whistle or unkeyed flute, due to the need to half-hole or cross-finger a few notes, which I have trouble doing at speed.
How’s it normally played, and should I be playing a D instrument or swapping out for something else?
It’s normally played like crap! 
I’ve yet to hear a good version of it, but even if I had and wanted to learn it, this is one I’d probably leave for the fiddlers. It’s often in some godawful flat key anyway. And of course most of the time the perpetrators go through several key changes.
Um, OK. So, I won’t bother, right?
Well, it works best in Bm fingering, or Am fingering (with F nats). So you can figure out which transposing whistle to use for a given key (usually Dm or Am, as you said).
Em fingering also works … if you reverse the octaves. That is if you play the A part high, and the B part low.
Isn’t a gentleman someone who knows how to play Tam Lin, and doesn’t? 
OK, I’m gettin’ it. This is one where the wind guy sits out. You don’t know if you don’t ask.
So, on to ‘Dinkey’s Reel’, (the next on my ‘to-do’ list --unless, of course…)! Thanks!
By the way, MTGuru. I’ve said this before, but thanks. (Really). This is all great for those of us who really want to learn.
I finger it as if it’s in Bm. When played on
a C whistle it is in Am, which key I’ve seen
used in Raleigh sessions (probably because
Alison can play it on the flute in that key).
Played on an F whistle, it would be in Dm,
which is the key shown on thesession.org
X: 1
T: Glasgow, The
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K:Bmin
F2BF dFBF|G2BG dGBG|A2cA eAcA|dcBA FBBA|
F2BF dFBF|G2BG dGBG|A2cA eAcA|dcBA FBB2:|
|:bf~f2 dfBf|bf~f2 dfBf|ae~e2 ce~e2|ae~e2 abc’a|
bf~f2 dfBf|bf~f2 dfBF|~G3F GABc|dBcA FBB2:|
Thanks, Fearfaoin. Yes, I suspect it filtered over to our session via the fiddlers who play with Alison. I’ll try your suggestions, but it turns out that other regulars are not that keen on it, so I may not invest too much time.
There is certainly no shortage of other tunes I’m still not up to speed on! 
Hey, when are you gonna grace us again on a Sunday afternoon? Do I have to remind you: free beer! 
Sorry crooked, I couldn’t resist!
Not at all. It’s the info I’m after. You were on the money.