Winters are long up north, and I am thinking of taking up a second instrument to go along with folk/fingerstyle guitar. Tin whistles and recorders are certainly non-pretentious, inexpensive, and pleasant folk instruments. I have a good ear for music, and can sight read treble clef on the piano or guitar, at least slowly.

Any thoughts on one versus the other? I would like to play slow, melancholy folk tunes....probably an alto would be better than a soprano for that?

Also, C vs. F recorders? Baroque tunings? Can anyone point me to a FAQ that explains it all?

Thanks.

Lost

From what I know, tin whistle has a shorter range than a recorder. Tin whistle can play songs that have F#,C`,C#` and G#.

C recorders are Soprano and Tenor
F recorders are Sopranino and Alto

I can get 3 octaves out of a tin whistle...and a full chromatic scale throughout the range...the top octave is rather piercing though.