Anyone play the Bagpipes?

[Tinijocaro]

I've had one lesson so far and am loving the bagpipes. I feel it will take me a full two years until I am ready to try the actual pipes. I'm a violinist so can read well but this business of moving multiple fingers at the same time in various patterns is new to me. Also, all the embellishments are going to be the hard part. If it weren't for them, I could play things just fine!

Any great tips for a newbie?

 

[Kellykins1218]

Our friend's son has been playing since he was 13. He got a college scholarship out of it, too.

 

[elphaba91]

I used to! I played for over 6 years from the age of 12 through to 18, all through high school and then for a few months after. I loved playing, loved my band and was even pipe major in my final year at school. Ultimately I only quit because I was struggling to find a band that was the right fit for me location and skill-wise and for monetary reasons (all caused by very complicated stuff!). However recently a player from a local band came into my Mum's work and after they chatted about pipes he invited me to come and join them so we will see what the future holds!

Some tips:
- Take your time with progressing. It probably won't take 2 years until you're on pipes (it took me less than 1 and I was a 12 year old girl!) but it will take time. You'll progress from practice chanter to goose (a bag and chanter but no drones) to pipes with drones blocked off then unblocking the drones 1 at a time. This is mainly about building up your strength; it takes a lot of hot air to get those pipes going! Even as you continue playing your strength will get better and you'll be able to switch out your chanter reed for harder ones which will produce a louder and fuller sound. I think that's one of the great things about learning pipes: you can really see the steps in your progression.

- Practice your fingering CONSTANTLY. I haven't touched a set of pipes in almost 8 years but I still find my self playing tunes on pens, tables, even my own hands (index and middle fingers on the thumb and the other two fingers on the palm). With time it'll feel like the most natural thing in the world!

- There are different techniques to doing certain grace notes and embellishments. For example, to do a birl (which is when you're playing a low A and do 2 taps on the low G) I did the 'cobra' motion where I bend the pinky, shoot it forward over the hole then pull it back over the hole back to the bent position. Others prefer to swipe up and down, or down and up or do a '7' movement. So if you're struggling with a certain movement that ask around or look online for different ways of doing it and find what works for you. Remember though, it's always best to minimise the number of movements so it's as quick as possible so it's best to avoid moving your finger twice in the same direction (e.g. in a birl it is better to swipe down then up than to swipe down twice).

- As I'm sure you did learning violin, practice your exercises. Do your scales with grace notes in between, practice D throws from every note, etc.

- I'm not sure what you're planning on doing as a piper (band competitions, solo competitions, purely recreational, etc.) but I would highly recommend you find a highland gathering in your area (likely over the summer months). They are a lot of fun and you'll get to hear some great piping and see what a large, friendly community you're now a part of!

- The Bob Dunsire forums used to be really good for advice. I'm not sure how active they are now, but definitely worth checking out.

All the best with your piping endeavours! Let me know if there's anything else I can help with!

 

[Tinijocaro]

Our friend's son has been playing since he was 13. He got a college scholarship out of it, too.

Hmm...my dd15 is an excellent clarinet player-probably could pick up the pipes too. Still time left!

 

[Tinijocaro]

- As I'm sure you did learning violin, practice your exercises. Do your scales with grace notes in between, practice D throws from every note, etc.

- I'm not sure what you're planning on doing as a piper (band competitions, solo competitions, purely recreational, etc.) but I would highly recommend you find a highland gathering in your area (likely over the summer months). They are a lot of fun and you'll get to hear some great piping and see what a large, friendly community you're now a part of!

- The Bob Dunsire forums used to be really good for advice. I'm not sure how active they are now, but definitely worth checking out.

All the best with your piping endeavours! Let me know if there's anything else I can help with!

I am currently attempting the scale with G grace note-really hard at spots. Much easier coming down the scale than going up with grace notes. I have to really stop and think about each fingering and plan it out before I execute the move. I don't know how I'll ever be able to do it naturally and quickly!

My only plan is to be able to march in a few parades a year. I have no aspirations of ever getting really good but I'd like to try.

Funny you should mention the Bob Dunsire forums. I've been on there the past couple days due to problems with my new practice chanter. I started last week on one I borrowed (can't tell which brand) and am doing well. I ordered a Gibson long and the sound is just terrible, even with a different reed. Do reeds need to be broken in? It just sounds like a sick cow and the sound stops and starts-all holes completely covered. I ordered a McCallum standard size so we'll see if that's any better.

 

[kimblebee]

I am currently attempting the scale with G grace note-really hard at spots. Much easier coming down the scale than going up with grace notes. I have to really stop and think about each fingering and plan it out before I execute the move. I don't know how I'll ever be able to do it naturally and quickly!

My only plan is to be able to march in a few parades a year. I have no aspirations of ever getting really good but I'd like to try.

Funny you should mention the Bob Dunsire forums. I've been on there the past couple days due to problems with my new practice chanter. I started last week on one I borrowed (can't tell which brand) and am doing well. I ordered a Gibson long and the sound is just terrible, even with a different reed. Do reeds need to be broken in? It just sounds like a sick cow and the sound stops and starts-all holes completely covered. I ordered a McCallum standard size so we'll see if that's any better.

Doesn't it sound like a sick cow all the time?

I actually like the sound of bagpipes

 

[elphaba91]

I am currently attempting the scale with G grace note-really hard at spots. Much easier coming down the scale than going up with grace notes. I have to really stop and think about each fingering and plan it out before I execute the move. I don't know how I'll ever be able to do it naturally and quickly!

My only plan is to be able to march in a few parades a year. I have no aspirations of ever getting really good but I'd like to try.

Funny you should mention the Bob Dunsire forums. I've been on there the past couple days due to problems with my new practice chanter. I started last week on one I borrowed (can't tell which brand) and am doing well. I ordered a Gibson long and the sound is just terrible, even with a different reed. Do reeds need to be broken in? It just sounds like a sick cow and the sound stops and starts-all holes completely covered. I ordered a McCallum standard size so we'll see if that's any better.

A practice chanter reed doesn't need to be broken in, although the sound definitely is never great, simply because it's just made of plastic. Nobody would ever go to a practice chanter concert! However, if you do think there's another issue it could be:
a) Your blowing strength (I remember I just about passed out the first time I blew a chanter!).
b) The chanter is out of tune (fixed by carving out holes more for flat notes and covering them up a bit with tape for sharp ones).
c) The mouthpiece is a bit loose and letting out too much air, which can be fixed with hemp or with plumber's tape.
d) A case of a crappy reed and you might have to play around to find one with a sound you like.

Have you heard other pipers play the practice chanter? Do you think yours sounds significantly worse? As I said, it may just be an issue of it being a plastic instrument that is definitely meant for practice rather than performance!

I do like McCallum chanters personally. I can't remember exactly what I played in my early years (it was supplied by the school) but the one I bought (and still have) is a McCallum. When I was looking at buying pipes I was leaning towards McCallums. Although I believe Gibsons are meant to be good too.

 

[Kellykins1218]

Hmm...my dd15 is an excellent clarinet player-probably could pick up the pipes too. Still time left!

The College of Wooster

 

[mjkacmom]

Ds14 and a few friends got free lessons for a couple of years at a local organization (there are several here). Unfortunately soccer got in the way.

 

[BunsenH]

Be patient. And you'll go from this......

to this......

 

[7165red]

My nephew plays the bag pipes, he's very good at it. I love the sound of the pipes.

 

[Tinijocaro]

Ds14 and a few friends got free lessons for a couple of years at a local organization (there are several here). Unfortunately soccer got in the way.

That's how I'm doing mine. Through a local police and fire dept-they have a band and give free lessons each week. It's a neat setup.

Be patient. And you'll go from this......

to this......

lol honestly, not sure how i'm going to survive since I want to be able to play them NOW!

 

[Tinijocaro]

The College of Wooster

I'll keep that in my back pocket for dd!

 

[RowdyPiper]

Sorry I haven't been following my post. I have been playing for 11 years with the Bergen County Firefighters Pipe Band (www.bcfpb.org) and have been a Pipe Sergeant for about 6 years at this point. I relish in learning Disney-based tunes and enjoyed reading all your responses...elpha--> what did you do with your stand? I look forward to hearing more on this discussion.