Learning to play the Chanter and the Bagpipes

We are often asked about the approach to learning the bagpipes, and we hope this quick overview of the subject can provide some useful information.

As with most musical instruments, it is possible to learn to play the pipes yourself but easier again when you have the support of a tutor or specialist tutor book and CD/DVD to help the learning process. Here at Bagpipe Specialists we have a selection of time-proven bagpipe learning accessories which will help you learn to play the bagpipes quickly and easily.

Considering there are only nine notes on the bagpipe chanter and 4 reeds in the instrument, it may surprise people how complex the instrument and music can be. The Highland Bagpipes are actually very easy to play.... poorly! and it is important to learn the correct technique from the start so you can then make fast progression rather than un-do poor technique and learning habits.

The Drones and Melody Notes

A quick breakdown of sound created by the bagpipes is 1) The Drones, and 2) The Chanter which creates the melody notes. There are only 9 main notes on the bagpipe chanter (besides a few rarely played ones), so learning the scale and reading bagpipe music is quickly achieved compared to some other instruments.

The Practice Chanter

Trying to balance a set of Highland Bagpipes on your shoulder, inflate the pipe bag, activate and play the reeds, think about playing a tune... running out of breath... etc is not the way to learn the bagpipes. Instead you use a Practice Chanter. These are available in a range of materials will be the pipers main tool for practicing the highland bagpipes. Not only when learning initially, but from then on when you want to learn and practice new tunes.

Bagpipe Practice Chanters are the perfect instrument to play indoors so you can learn the scale, practice your technique and learn new piping tunes before you take your practiced technique over onto the instrument.

Bagpipe Specialists supply a range of professional and high quallity bagpipe practice chanters, allowing you to start learning the chanter and bagpipes easily. Our products are not for tourists, but are of professional quality to help you learn to play the bagpipes.

Tutor Books

Besides your Practice Chanter, one of the best accessories you can get will be an interactive tutor book, containing exercises for learning, simple tunes and a CD or DVD disk to help you hear and sometimes watch a tutor playing the material along with you. It is a great way to learn to play the chanter and if you cannot find a local bagpipe tutor it is the next best thing to have.

Bagpipe Specialists supply a range of Bagpipe Tutor books for beginners through to advanced players.

If you require any more information about learning to play the bagpipes or if you want more information on how to play the chanter, please feel free to contact us.

Regards, Bagpipe Specialists