Moving On From The Pracitce Chanter

This is a huge step up!  You will have reached a proficient level on the practice chanter and now you have to start and tame the Great Highland Bagpipe.  At Bagpipe Specialists we would recommend moving to the 'goose'.  This consists of a bag, bag cover, blowpipe and chanter (not a pipe chanter rather the bottom half of your practice chanter).  If you are in the lucky position of already owning your own bagpipe simply remove the drones from the stocks and cork with Highland Bagpipe Drone Stoppers.  Purchase a practice goose adaptor which will fit into your pipe chanter stock and allow you to fit your practice chanter directly in without having to put vast quantities of hemp on.

We will assume here that you are right handed but lift handed pipers should reverse the left to right instructions.  Hold the blowpipe in your right hand and put your left arm over the bag.  Put the fingers of your left hand on the chanter in the positon for playing High A.  Place blowpipe in your mouth and blow until the bag is inflated.  With your right hand push the bag back and upwards until it is comfortably under your left arm.

Once inflated you blow and squeeze alternately so that the note keeps on sounding continuously.  When you take a breath keep the flow of air going to the reed by pressing on the bag with your left arm (assuming you are right handed).  When you start blowing again gradually release the pressure of your arm on the bag.

Don't be too bothered about playing a tune at this point.  Play a note and listed carefully to it.  You will most likely hear it wavering up and down.  This is due to an imbalance in your blowing and squeezing.  Aim to make the pressure steady and the change of action from blowing to squeezing as smooth as possible so that eventually the sound stops wavering up and down and becomes steady.

Now you can start playing the tunes you have learnt on the Practice Chanter.  Learn good habits here and this will set you up for your Piping lifetime.