Ahem! Serious question...anyone play the bagpipes? Is it easy to learn?

[cheerycherry]

Thats it really. Just wondering!

[BoysAreLikeDogs]

No they're fecking awkward buggers according to DP (a Scotsman)

You can never get them in tune, and you have to breathe out of sync with the music.

[QuintessentialShadows]

Swoooon..... The bagpipe....

Were driving down a remote valley in Scotland one lovely summers evening, not far from linn of dee, when we heard the bagpipe. There on a hill, a lone scotsman in his kilt playing his bagpipe. We got out of the car and sat down to listen.

We got talking to him after he had finnished, he told us his wife couldnt stand the sound, so he used to come out there to practice, so far from their house she couldnt hear him, lol!

Good Luck!

[Springflower]

I took chanter lessons for a year and still sounded terrible and didnt manage to get near a set of bagpipes. Have now decided I want my children to learn instead>

[cheerycherry]

Well I was wondering about my DS who can play recorder, sax and guitar (tho i know guitar won't help his breathing!)
Is it not an instrument you can just pick up and fathom for yourself a bit?

[Springflower]

Not sure how easy it is just to fathom it out as it is quite different to lots of other musical instruments (although I'm not musical so it maybe doesnt matter). At least if he can read music and sounds reasonably musical it should make it easier though. I like lessons and think they just speed things up so even to have a few to know what you're aiming for would help... It would be great to be able to play though.

[Ledodgy]

I've heard it's the hardest instrument to play. I'm sure there's something you can learn to play before you progress to the bag pipes but can't remember the name.

[Springflower]

Its the chanter - bit like a recorder and when you play the pipes you blow into the bag and play the chanter just with your fingers.

[Ledodgy]

Is the chanter called somthing else as well only I remember a girl in primary used to play something like bag pipes but easier and it wasn't the chanter?

[cheerycherry]

Springflower do you have bagpipe teachers aplenty? Doubt there will be any round Lancs/Yorks. Would be fun (but maybe not for the new neighbours)

[Dragonbutter]

i do.
what do you want to know?

[Dragonbutter]

i started off with the chanter when I was 11. I already played piano and recorder and could read music by then.
I joined in practise sessions with the local band, then once i was in secondary school i had weekly lessons.
I was 14 before i could play the bagpipes and probably 16 before i could play them well.
By 17 i realised it was the uncoolest instrument ever invented and gave it up for the trumpet.

I think it's possible that somebody who can read music would be able to learn the main notes. But there are some fiddly fingering techniques that really need to be demonstrated.

There are some pipe band websites where you can download their sets and some even have midi files so you can listen to how it should sound.

[Springflower]

I'm in Edinburgh so we do have a few teachers - I went to nightclasses and then had private lessons and still failed. They are starting to teach it in some schools now so there should be lots of budding players!

[anonandlikeit]

Ahh the Dagenham girl pipers! They all learnt on the chanter & then progressed to the bagpipes, should be a few bagpipe teachers in East London/Dagenham area I imagine!