About Bagpipes

(For Beginners)

The great highland bagpipes shown at left are the standard pipes that most people think of when pipes are mentioned today. This is because the Scots have done such a wonderful job at making these pipes famous all over the world. However there are other kinds of pipes as well: halfsize highland pipes (called session pipes by the Irish) miniature highland pipes, antique-design pipes in full, half and miniature size (these are regular bagpipes, but with a simpler design); Scottish smallpipes, Uilleann (or Irish) bagpipes, Northumbrian smallpipes, medieval smallpipes, medieval bagpipes, and Mediterranean bagpipes. Then there are early bagpipes, and folk bagpipes from around the world, some of which are Biniou, Gaita, Flemish, Bulgarian, etc. Bagpipes have been around for thousands of years, and their history is very interesting.

At left are the reeds for standard bagpipes. From left to right:
       Chanter reed: made of two thin pieces of wood held together by string wound around them. About  1 3/4" long.
        Tenor drone reed: a cylindrical cane piece with a tongue slit on one side. This tongue vibrates and gives the sound. About 3 1/2" long.
        Bass drone reed: a cylindrical cane reed with a tongue, like the tenor drone reed above. About 4 1/2" long.

Miniature and halfsize pipes have smaller reeds, and medieval pipes sometimes have quite different-looking chanter reeds.

Practice chanters use plastic reeds, not shown here. These are pictured on the reeds page.

We now get down to the nitty gritty.

If you wish to learn to play the great highland bagpipe and its relatives, you will first have to learn to play the practice chanter. This is because it is a lot easier to learn the finger positions on a practice chanter. Also, you will play the practice chanter all your life, even when you have pipes, because you will learn your new tunes on it; besides, it isn't always convenient for you to play the pipes (if you get our drift). The best bagpipers in the world do most of their practice on the practice chanter.

Although the tutor (instruction) books for learners are quite good, there is no substitute for going to a piping teacher for lessons. If you don't know of any teachers, make inquiries of the nearest bagpipe band; most of them have a piper who gives lessons. (The bands are always on the lookout for new members to keep their ranks filled, and where better to find them than from students who diligently work to become proficient.)

For information on practice chanters, and a listing of the ones we carry, see our page on practice chanters.

Eventually your teacher will decide that you are ready to acquire a set of pipes, although, as mentioned above, you will continue to play the practice chanter forever. Well, as long as you play pipes. And you're never going to quit, are you?

There are perhaps as many opinions as bagpipers as to what kind of pipes you should get. Made in Pakistan or not? Leather or synthetic bag? Kind of wood? Price?

The main thing to remember is that, no matter what set of pipes you buy, if you are a beginner you will need help from an experienced piper in adjusting the pipes and reeds and actually making them play. Pipes are not the same as other musical instruments in this regard.

Good luck! We wish you many happy hours learning to play this old and honored instrument.

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