10 Tin Whistle YouTube Channels Worth Following (Lessons, Tabs & Inspiration)

From absolute-beginner lessons to tabbed movie themes and blues phrasing—these 10 YouTube creators will level up your tin whistle playing.

Written by Orki

Tin whistle YouTube is way bigger (and better) than most people realize.

Some channels are perfect for absolute beginners. Others are amazing for tabs + play-alongs (movies, anime, games). And a few will open your ears to what’s possible beyond Irish trad—like blues phrasing and low whistle tone.

Below are 10 tin whistle YouTube channels I recommend following—organized so you can quickly find the style you want.

Tip: When you find a tune you like, grab the matching tabs on TinWhistleTab.com and use Practice Mode to learn it note-by-note.

Quick list (so you can subscribe fast)

1) WhistleTutor (Sean Cunningham)

Best for: clear trad fundamentals, tasteful ornaments, learning tunes “the session way”.

WhistleTutor is one of the most consistently helpful trad-focused channels out there—especially if you want lessons that feel musical (not just “press these holes”).

Start here: pick any tune lesson that matches what you’re currently learning, then mirror the phrasing + breathing.

2) Online Academy of Irish Music (OAIM)

Best for: structured beginner path, “lesson series” momentum, strong fundamentals.

OAIM is ideal if you want a guided progression: posture, tone, finger technique, then real tunes—without guessing what to learn next.

Start here: their tin whistle beginner playlist/series and work through in order.

3) Ryan G. Duns, SJ

Best for: an old-school “course feel” that’s surprisingly effective.

Ryan Duns has a long-running tin whistle lesson series that many players still reference. Great if you like a steady weekly-lesson vibe: learn a bit, practice, come back for the next step.

Start here: his early “Week One” / “Week Two” lessons and build the habit.

4) CutiePie

Best for: friendly beginner tutorials, lots of tabs, and recognizable tunes (including movie/game themes).

CutiePie has a huge library of approachable tutorials and playlists (including beginner course-style collections). If you like learning songs you actually recognize, this is a fun one to binge.

Start here: choose a tune you already know by ear—progress is faster when you can “hear” the goal.

5) Learn Tin Whistle

Best for: technique tips, exercises, and beginner-to-intermediate skill building.

This channel is great when you feel stuck and need a practical unlock: tone, articulation, finger efficiency, practice structure.

Start here: look for “tips”, “tricks”, “beginner guide”, or “breath control” videos—then apply the idea to one tune.

6) Orki The Whistler

Best for: tabs + play-alongs for games, movies, cartoons, and modern melodies.

Orki The Whistler is excellent when your motivation is “I want to play THAT theme.” The tabs format is clear and the repertoire is huge.

Start here: pick a short melody you love, loop the first 4 bars until it feels effortless.

7) Tin Whistle Traveler (Finn)

Best for: short, easy-to-follow tabbed tutorials across pop culture (shows/anime/movies/games/pop).

Finn’s channel is built for momentum: short lessons, fast wins, and lots of variety.

Start here: find a tune that’s under ~60 seconds and get it performance-ready in one sitting.

8) Happy Whistling

Best for: beginner-friendly Irish tunes with tabs, presented in a very “learn along with me” style.

If you want something calm and encouraging (without feeling overwhelmed), Happy Whistling is a great subscribe.

Start here: pick one classic session-friendly tune and polish it for clean rhythm and steady tone.

9) Chris McMullan

Best for: solid fundamentals + inspiration from a strong traditional player (and lots of whistle-related content).

Chris has great beginner lessons, but also plenty you can grow into—especially if you’re aiming for a more “authentic trad” sound over time.

Start here: his beginner basics lesson(s), then move into jigs/reels once your tone is stable.

10) Blues Tin Whistle (Kimwei)

Best for: blues phrasing, groove, improvisation ideas, and a totally different take on “what the whistle can do”.

If you’ve only heard tin whistle in Celtic contexts, this channel is a breath of fresh air. Even learning a little blues language will improve your timing and expression in every genre.

Start here: any “why blues on tin whistle” / basic blues form video, then try 12-bar over a backing track.

How to use these channels without getting overwhelmed

Pick 1 “core teacher” (OAIM / WhistleTutor / Ryan Duns) for fundamentals.
Pick 1 “tabs channel” (Windy Whistle / Tin Whistle Traveler / CutiePie) for fun tunes.
Pick 1 “style expander” (Blues Tin Whistle / Chris McMullan) for inspiration.

That’s it. Three subscriptions can take you really far.

Your turn: want a “starter playlist” for your level?

If you tell me your current level (brand new / can play a few tunes / comfortable in both octaves), I’ll make you a 7-day YouTube + TinWhistleTab practice plan with specific videos and tunes.