Frequently asked questions
About Tin Whistle Trainer — the free, browser-based tin whistle coach.
- Is Tin Whistle Trainer free?
- Yes. Tin Whistle Trainer is a completely free web app at tinwhistletrainer.com. There is no paid tier and no account required.
- Do I need to create an account or sign up?
- No. You can open the site and start playing immediately. Your progress (personal-best scores and practice history) is saved locally in your browser, not behind a login.
- What instrument is it for?
- The tin whistle — also called the penny whistle or Irish whistle — specifically a whistle in the key of D, the most common beginner whistle. It is a single treble-clef instrument with six finger holes.
- Do I need to install anything?
- No. It runs entirely in a modern web browser. There is nothing to download or install.
- Does it need microphone access?
- It needs your microphone to grade your playing and to move the live cursor as you play. Pitch detection runs locally in the browser, so audio for the live cursor is not uploaded. You can also turn the mic off and just play along with the on-screen score.
- How does the grading work?
- As you play, the app follows you on the staff in real time. When you finish, we line the recording up with the score to check how in-tune you were, how long you held notes, and whether the beat stayed steady. The live cursor still counts which notes you reached — even if the recording only hears part of the run.
- What tunes can I play?
- Over 300 public-domain tunes. The collection is mostly Irish traditional music — jigs, reels, polkas, hornpipes, and slow airs — alongside Christmas carols, hymns, and simple nursery tunes for beginners. Every tune has its own page with the notes, a fingering chart, and the sheet music.
- Is it good for beginners?
- Yes. It is built for adult beginner and intermediate players, with a short tutorial (first note, tonguing, slides) and a difficulty-graded library from training exercises up to advanced tunes.
- Is it open source?
- Yes. The code is public on GitHub at github.com/celtiberi/tinwhistletrainer. It is a Next.js web app with a Python grading server.