Bobs Songs

This book will teach you more than you imagined possible: very quickly: and it works with any tin whistle, flageolet or Indian flute in any key. But you do need to start off with an open mind.

As you will see there are two editions of the book: one with tunes for adults, the other with tunes for children.

First it shows you a notation with the tin whistle that is very simple but new to you.  When you change from whistle to whistle the notes change, but the finger positions don't.  So it makes more sense talking in finger positions with this instrument.  It also tells you where to pause instead of telling you how long the notes are: just go with it: it works. You will learn to play tunes straight away: that is not the point for you, although this is a delightful and very portable instrument.

The instrument itself is tuned to 2 overlapping keys and as such it makes playing by ear and composition very easy indeed. If you want to, it then puts the notation back into notes and then sheet music for you in any key to play on any instrument: or at least the melody line.  It can also be used for rewriting tunes you already have in notes, to different keys quickly.  There is no need to bother with the tin whistle - you just pick up a whistle in a different key: you'll soon find that you have lots of them.

The book will also show you the ornamentation techniques for these instruments.  

And, as a bonus, the tunes in the book have lyrics: so it doubles as a song book

Bob Campbell wrote the first edition of this book in 1996. It evolved as he spoke to more musicians and beginners.  These editions were written in 2011.