Quin Herron primarily plays the Irish flute, Irish whistle, and Irish bagpipes.

Irish Flute

The Irish flute is the name for a style of wooden flute that was popular until the invention of the metal flute commonly used today. Due to its construction and quieter, darker tone, it is particularly suited to playing Irish traditional music.

Irish Whistle

The Irish whistle is an end-blown flute similar to the recorder. It is also known as a tin whistle or penny whistle, but neither of these names are descriptive of modern instruments which are often made of brass or nickel, and can cost hundreds of dollars.

Irish Bagpipes

The Irish bagpipes, or uilleann pipes, are the indigenous Irish iteration of an instrument which, like the flute, is found all over the world. The bagpipes use a bellows to fill a bag, which is used to drive air through up to seven pipes to create a rich, powerful sound.

Other Instruments

Bodhrán

An Irish word meaning “skin tray” the bodhrán is a frame drum made using the skin of a goat, developed from the winnowing tray used in Irish households. It gained popularity as a standard instrument in Irish traditional music in the middle 20th century.

Guitar

Quin also plays the guitar as an accompaniment instrument to Irish songs including “Molly Malone” and “The Rattlin’ Bog.”

Concert Flute

The modern style concert flute was developed by Theobald Boehm in the middle 19th century. This was Quin’s first instrument.