Just got a bagpipe chanter, anyone play?

[James Brown]

Don't know what I got into but the county fire departments want to form a pipe and drum band. Sounds good to me, everyone loves bagpipes! But now I have to learn how this thing works and how to make it sound good. Looks like a long road ahead for me (and everyone else). The chanter and the pipes are from Gibson, were trying to get them to sponsor us, so is everyone else.
I know nothing about this interment and some say that's a good thing. Wish me luck, should take about 2 years to move up to the highland pipes. At least theres lots of beer involved!!

[WolfeMacleod]

I love the pipes. But then again, I'm a Scot.
I've never played, but always wanted to.

If you give up, I'll take it!

I hope you have good breath control.

[James Brown]

The pipes are $1700, the chanter is only $100, but i'll hang on to it. I have some breathing exercises to do.

[s_morrison57]

I love the pipes too but Amazing Grace at a funeral makes me cry like a little school girl. Played well and its beautiful played poorly and its like fingernails on the black board, good luck with'em laddie

[Mothy]

Mate!!!

I play - I'm 50 and I started learning when I was in year 5 - took 2 years to get on the pipes and then another year before I was in a band at school.

However, in the band I'm in now we find that adults seem to be better at learning (more discipline with practise) and usually adult newbies are on the pipes and playing in the band within a year. The quicker you get in a band the better you get at learning new tunes.

One recommendation - make sure you have a good tutor/teacher who takes the time to teach you properly - the fingering can be done well or it can be sloppy - if you learn sloppy fingering it's very hard to retrain yourself to be more precise.

Two thrills you will get - playing at weddings for family and friends, and playing in massed bands like this - ANZAC day parade in Sydney each year - our equivalent of veterans day. Best bit starts about 30 seconds in. 300+ pipers.



Stay in touch.

Tim

[Eric 951]

Love bagpipes. When I got married last summer it was the one thing I insisted upon--having a 'piper outside of the church before and after the ceremony. Everyone loved it. Good luck.

[Jagshund]

Bagpipes are beautiful when played correctly and horrid in the wrong hands. A few weeks ago a friend of mine burst into laughter at a funeral because someone was butchering Amazing Grace on the pipes.

[James Brown]

Hey Tim, is that video anywhere near the Man-O-War hotel? stayed there for a week in 98, great times, don't rember much, it was the XXXX!

[james marriott]

James,
My son is a piper, plays with a local band and has been to the North American championships for the last two years. He spent about 18 months on chanter before starting the pipes. Pipes are a whole new world of equipment, maintenance and $$$. I've become his pit crew for competitions. Bag(s) material and construction, drying gear, reed ( band and solo and practice) sound and quality,and tools all need to be considered. No idea at the first what a committment is required for a seemingly simple instrument. " Nine notes, how hard can it be ?" All the best of luck !

[Looking_for_911]

Back when I got married I had a piper lead us down the aisle. We were married outdoors in a park. The piper lead us to the gazebo, the preacher did his thing up to the "I now pronounce you..." part and then the piper played Amazing Grace. I insisted on this 'cause I don't expect I will hear it at my funeral. Then we said "I do" and the kiss then the piper broke loose with something that'd make a one-legged man dance and away we went.
The piper was the only really great thing about my wedding... that and we used Fleetwood Mac's bus as a "dressing room." Just wish I'd have married someone "sane."

[onlycafe]

pipes always makes me think of "gunga din".

[Paul K]

You're all going to hate me for this, but here goes... I don't think pipes should ever be played indoors. Just sounds wrong. When I lived in the Scottish Highlands, I heard the pipes played on the moors- it was one of the most eerie, moving experiences of my life. I could clearly see the piper, but the sound was coming at us from every direction- very, very cool. I know it's hard to believe, but you can have a conversation with someone up on the moors- at normal speaking volume- when the other person is several hundred yards away. Something about the acoustics. That probably explains why the pipes sound so cool, but also explain why whenever I hear them played indoors (or even outdoors for that matter) I am reminded of the sound of two cats fighting...

That said, I agree with Scott- in the right hands, they do make a great sound.