Tin whistle fingering chart
On a D tin whistle, covering all six holes gives D, and lifting fingers from the bottom up plays the D major scale: D, E, F♯, G, A, B and C♯. With every hole open the whistle sounds C♯6.
Fingering chart
On a D tin whistle, all six holes covered gives D5, and with every hole open it sounds C♯6.
| Written note | Finger position |
|---|---|
| D5 | Close: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
| D♯5/E♭5 | Close: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; Partly open: 6 |
| E5 | Close: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| F5 | Close: 1, 2, 3, 4; Partly open: 5 |
| F♯5/G♭5 | Close: 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| G5 | Close: 1, 2, 3 |
| G♯5/A♭5 | Close: 1, 2; Partly open: 3 |
| A5 | Close: 1, 2 |
| A♯5/B♭5 | Close: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
| B5 | Close: 1 |
| C6 | Close: 2, 3 |
| C♯6/D♭6 | All open |
| D6 | Close: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
| D♯6/E♭6 | Close: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; Partly open: 6 |
| E6 | Close: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| F6 | Close: 1, 2, 3, 4; Partly open: 5 |
| F♯6/G♭6 | Close: 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| G6 | Close: 1, 2, 3 |
| G♯6/A♭6 | Close: 1, 2, 4, 5 |
| A6 | Close: 1, 2 |
| A♯6/B♭6 | Close: 1, 3 |
| B6 | Close: 1 |
| C7 | All open; Partly open: 1 |
| C♯7/D♭7 | All open |
Clarke Tinwhistle Company — Clarke C & D Basic Fingering Sheet (D Tinwhistle Chromatic Fingering)
How to use it
- Check that the D tin whistle is selected; this page opens with it.
- Choose a staff note, list entry or keyboard key. Filled circles are covered holes; half-filled circles are half-holes.
- Use Hear the note to compare pitches; the microphone switches off before playback to avoid feedback.
- Enable the microphone and play one steady note. The display shows the sounding pitch.
- Use Print / PDF to save the chart and keep it next to your tunes while you practise.
Help and explanations
This chart follows the Clarke tinwhistle fingering sheet and shows sounding pitch from D5 to C♯7. Whistle music is often written an octave lower, with the low D just below the staff. Hole 1 is nearest the mouthpiece and hole 6 is the lowest. The same chart works for an Irish whistle or penny whistle in D.
Second octave, C natural and half-holes
The second octave uses almost the same fingers as the first, blown a little harder. For high D6, leave hole 1 open and cover holes 2 to 6; this helps the note jump cleanly to the upper octave. C natural (C6) is a cross-fingering with holes 2 and 3 covered, or you can half-cover hole 1. High C7 is listed with hole 1 half-covered.
Half-holes give D♯5, F5 and G♯5: for F5, cover holes 1 to 4 and half of hole 5. D♯6 and F6 repeat the lower fingerings, while G♯6 uses holes 1, 2, 4 and 5. B♭ (A♯5) is a cross-fingering with holes 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Key of D, key of G and the C whistle
On a D whistle, the key of G uses the same fingers as D major except C natural instead of C♯. Tunes in D and G therefore sit comfortably on this whistle.
If you searched for a key of C finger chart, you probably have a C whistle: the patterns are the same, one whole tone lower. All holes covered gives C5 and the scale is C, D, E, F, G, A, B, so read the hole pattern rather than the note name on this page. Playing in C major on a D whistle is also possible, but it needs the F natural half-hole and the C natural cross-fingering.
Tips
- Cover the holes with the pads of your fingers, not the tips.
- Blow low D gently; too much air makes it jump an octave.
- Practise the C natural cross-fingering slowly between B and D.
- For the second octave, add a little air rather than pressing harder with your fingers.
Frequently asked questions
Is a penny whistle the same as a tin whistle?
Yes. Both names, and Irish whistle, refer to the same six-hole whistle, so this chart applies to a penny whistle in D.
How do I play C natural on a D whistle?
Leave hole 1 open, cover holes 2 and 3 and leave the rest open. Half-covering hole 1 is an alternative.
Can I use this chart for a C whistle?
Yes, read the hole patterns: everything sounds one whole tone lower, so all holes covered gives C5 instead of D5.
Why is the low D shown as D5?
Whistle music is often written an octave below the sound. The chart and microphone show the real pitch, so the low D is D5.
Can I print the tin whistle fingering chart?
Yes. Print / PDF prints the chart or saves it as a PDF from your browser.