So I have my 1st whistle coming in mail, a freeman tweaked blackbird, and I’m looking for tunes to start learning the second I get the whistle in my hands.
I need some of that real Irish stuff. I don’t really know how to put it into words but I’m sure you guys know what I mean 
Song names and a place where I could find the sheet/score/tab for it ( actualy is there any big website for whistle related stuff?)
Thanks
Do you learn well from videos? Here are two free online video introductions, which teach you Irish tunes as they introduce whistle skills:
Ryan Duns’ videos:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFA9EDE38B53CC6D4
Online Academy of Irish Music
http://www.oaim.ie/free-lessons/whistle
The following is more what you asked for, but learning Irish music purely from sheet music or MIDI files doesn’t tend to end well.
NOVA Irish Session Tunebook
http://www.novasession.org/Bog%20Kit/bwindex.htm
Everything your asking for is at this link http://www.tinwhistler.com/ when you arrive at the “Wandering Whistler Music Archives” click on “the tunes” They are in alphabetical or tune types with printable sheet music and a sound clip.
Brian Prior compiled 3 volumes of tune sets for Comhaltas. The books are known as Foinn Seisiún v. 1-3. Here are the contents & audio files for #3;
http://comhaltas.ie/shop/detail/foinn_seisiun_3/
It has other players too; not just whistle.
For sheet music there are any number of sources, such as Chris Walshaw’s abc pages http://abcnotation.com/search or http://thesession.org/tunes/
Also there’s whistle recordings/tutorials on Michael Eskin’s trad lessons site ~ http://www.tradlessons.com/apps.html
You are on it. The really big one. Search around as “search” upper right is your friend.
Welcome to the whistle forum… stick around. That’s a nice whistle that Blackbird.
The must know tunes… all of them! 
The tunes you must learn to begin with are the ones you enjoy most. I don’t think anybody can tell you what you should learn. When you play with other people, you learn some of the tunes they play and they’ll learn some of what you play. And Ytliek had it, eventually you learn as many as your head can hold on to.
I don’t think it’s a good idea to learn from session recordings, in general there’s little in the way of nuance in them and certainly if you are at the beginner’s stages, you’re better off listening to well-defined playing rather than huge groups plodding along trying to find the common denominator.
But first you should concentrate on getting a decent sound out of that whistle, Blackbirds will be finnicky enough for a total beginner. They can be lovely though, if you handle them gently.
Great advice and resources listed all around. I’ve been playing for 2 years now and the more I learn the more I find out that I don’t know anything!!
I also have a black bird … great whistle. If there is a local session in your area go and have a listen. If you do decide you want to participate at some time you will need to know how they play the tunes … the variations are endless. Develop a bad case of ear worm with the tune you want to learn … if you can hum/whistle it … you can learn it, sheet music is a great aid, but develop your ear.
You’ll pick up some more tunes (and good style) here: http://www.rogermillington.com/siamsa/brosteve/index.html
Here’s a nice collection: http://www.moritz-wulf-lange.de/Flute%20Tunes%20Collection.pdf
There’s gobs of music here: http://thesession.org/ (Some of the settings are questionable, however. Caveat emptor, etc.)
One more point–do lots (LOTS!) of listening (and work on learning by ear). It’s like learning a language–listening to native speakers is the best way to learn the grammar, syntax, and accent. And have fun!
Wow, its harder than I thought and suprisingly the whistle sounds almost identical to my brothers cheap plastic recorder, i thought it should have that different “flavour” even when blown normaly w/o any special technique.
Surely that can’t be right. You must gotten a dodgy one, the good ones all play themselves.
No, they only come unflavoured.
Hello Arunas, and welcome.
Yeah, it doesn’t come easy. If you want to sound good.. You really have to want it.
The Rogermillington site Tin tin suggested helped me out..
So did this site right here: http://praisewhistlers.org/whistleandsqueak/Teaching_Resources.html
I really like how they categorized the newbie tunes to help get you going. Whistle and squeak in my opinion was a fantastic beginner site.
Might I suggest giving Twinkle twinkle little star a go? It uses all seven notes in the lower octave.. If you master all seven notes in the lower ocatave without those wretched squeaks and sqwaks you’ve made progress. Once you get the lower octave down a bit, start on second octave.
Ryan Duns is a real good teacher. But, like you, I don’t have time to listen to him when I started. I wanted to play like RIGHT NOW! But, I eventually went back and watched all he was willing to share..
Another thing to research when starting is how to properly hold the instrument. I saw a video from Blayne Chastain instructing how to properly do this. It really helped me get going as well.
No matter what they tell you, “Danny Boy”, “Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ra” (aka “Irish Lullaby”), or “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” won’t get you there. I know they’re “songs” and all, but probably not what you’re really looking for.
Best wishes.
Steve
Delicate, softly, lightly… its not the whistle. 
Practice, practice, practice, and then some more p…
You can get overwhelmed with all of the info and tunes so just pick a tune (or two) you like and work on it.
Don’t give up its supposed to be fun.
Check the list a little way down this discussion:
http://thesession.org/discussions/13056
Other commonly suggested collections
http://www.ceolas.org/pub/tunes/tunes.pdf/SessionTunes.pdf
http://thesession.org/discussions/33054
http://www.ceolas.org/pub/tunes/tunes.pdf/POB.pdf
For a much more extensive list check this
http://thesession.org/discussions/110
For a list of the most popular additions to individual’s collections on thesession go here:
And look down this page and following pages.
Hi and welcome. You’re in for a lot of fun.
You said that this is your first whistle. Can I assume that you don’t know how to play it yet? If so, some guidance would help you a lot more than just trying to figure out fingerings on your own and trying to play tunes. I’d suggest Bill Ochs’ “The Clarke Tinwhistle” (works with any whistle, not just a Clarke).
As you proceed through the book/cd combo you’ll learn all the basics and hear how they’re to be played. You’ll pick up some great tunes form several traditions along the way too. By the end of the book, you’ll be more ready to tackle the “must know” tunes.
Thanks guys! I’ll try to take my time and have patience with this.
Hard to beat that advice!
I will say that I’m reminded of what happened with an American guy I know who used to have an Irish girlfriend.
He was a very good fiddler but he would only learned tunes he liked. He didn’t care for most of the tunes commonly played at the local sessions. So he would show up at the sessions and sit there and only play a couple tunes the entire night. His Irish girlfriend was disgusted with this and said “give me that fiddle and in a month I’d be playing all their tunes!”
I only learn the tunes I like. Fortunately, I like them all. (Except two.) 
Ha, me too…
Fortunately, I like them all. (Except two.) >
Except I only know two! 
(Joke.)
And, since I generally prefer to spend my time with tunes that grab me* than ones I don’t like (or sometimes just don’t like enough), I’d say there are no ‘must know’ tunes.
*My normal motivation for learning new ones.