Beginners
We are excited that you have an interest in learning the bagpipes. This information is aimed at helping beginners and advanced beginners to get the information they need to start learning and continue learning how to play the Great Highland Bagpipes. If you need help please use the "Contact Us" link to send us an email.
Good luck to you all!
Step 1. Find a reputable supplier. You can use Henderson's Pipes, Drums, and Uniforms at http://www.hendersongroupltd.com/.
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Step 2. Buy your reading material. 'The Highland Bagpipe Tutor Book' and is produced by the National Piping Centre in Glasgow and was published in 2001. The list of contents include a CD with instructional video clips for the PC. The video is of Pipe Major Gordon Walker, ex Royal Highland Fusiliers and Piobmaster player, which plays all the exercises and tunes in the book. The output can be made to sound like a chanter or the bagpipes. Twenty audio tracks that can be played on your computer or standard CD audio player are included. There are teacher and student worksheets and records that you can print out so you can keep track of progress. All the exercises and tunes can be printed out.
Step 3. Purchase a Practice Chanter. There are two different styles of practice chanters, short and long.The short chanter has the holes spaced fairly close and it is easy for small hands and beginners to manage. The holes are very small and it takes some time to get the feel for where they are. The long chanter has the holes the same spacing as on the bagpipes. Further apart and larger than on the small chanter.
There are a lot of instructors who recommend that you use the large practice chanter to give you experience with the larger hole spacing. As long as you use a reputable dealer, you can always ask if you can return it, if it is wrong for you, or even try one out.
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Two Example Practice Chanters The image on the left is of a Gibson Long Practice Chanter made in Polypenco. Sometimes referred to as "Plastic". The Practice Chanter on the right is the Shepherd Regular Chanter. Also Polypenco. See the difference in the hole spacing between the two chanters? I mention that these chanters are "plastic" or Polypenco, to give the material its correct name. The other material that is used is African Blackwood. This is what the most bagpipes are made from. Polypenco is the modern material used to make chanters, and recently complete bagpipes. Which is the best then, Polypenco or African Blackwood? I have to say that it is a personal preference. Remember, even when you move onto the Great Highland Bagpipe, you should be spending a lot of time practicing and using your practice chanter. Make sure you buy one you will be happy with and feel comfortable playing. It is very important that you realize, that the sound is made by a reed in the top of the chanter. See both the pictures. The white bit sticking out the top. That's the reed. When you purchase your practice chanter, make sure you ask for a suitable reed. No, they don't all come with one. |
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DO NOT PURCHASE Pakistani made practice chanters or even consider Bagpipes. The wood will just soak up the moisture and crack. You will find these Bagpipes and Chanters very cheap. They are cheap because they are rubbish.
Advanced Beginners: Most who can read the tunes and exercises in any beginners tutor, and feel comfortable with playing the chanter could be considered an advanced beginner.
One resource that you may want to explore would be James McGillivary's book "Rhythmic Fingerwork".
It comes with a CD and you can hear exactly how the exercises should sound. There are no tunes to learn just exercises and lots of them. 141 to be exact. I have started to see improvements already by "going back to basics".
Don't rush anything. If you read both these books and follow their instructions and practice a great deal you can become a great player.