Proceeding to Flute or Low Whistle
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As you gain proficiency, you may want to think about moving on to flute, low whistle, or even uilleann pipes. Tin whistle is a good way to get a head start on these instruments, because the fingering is not very different.
If you are interested in learning flute, first you must decide what type of flute to play. A "normal" silver classical flute is probably not the best choice for Irish music, as some fingering and ornamentation are awkward on it, and its tone is better for classical music than for Irish music. Most Irish musicians play wooden flutes (the type that was played before the modern ones were invented); they have a better tone for Irish tunes. Wooden flutes come with varying numbers of keys, from none to eight or more. If you plan to eventually play one with keys, you will need to change the way you hold it so that your fingers are arched instead of flat, because the keys will get in the way of flat fingers. I personally play a keyless flute (I got a keyless one because they are cheaper), and keep my fingers flat like a piper, though I understand that this is not the normal way to do it. Most flute players use arched fingers. The fingering for one of these flutes is essentially the same as a tin whistle. For more information, check out the Ceolas Flute Guide, at http://celtic.stanford.edu/instruments/flute.html.
You will also need to learn a good embouchure (the way you hold your lips to get a tone). This will drastically affect your tone, volume, and endurance, as well as your ability to even get certain notes. A more in-depth discussion of this is beyond the scope of this manual.
You can think of a low whistle just like an endblown keyless flute. It requires precise breath control - most low whistles I've played don't require much air and are very sensitive to changes in breath pressure. Also, fingering is a bit difficult because the holes are large and are spaced widely. The best technique, I have found, is to keep your fingers flat and spread so that your third and sixth fingers cover the holes with the end joint, while the rest use the middle joint of the finger.