Learn to Play Bagpipes in 2019 With This 7 Resources

If you are trying to learn to play bagpipes, then this is the article for you!

Contents:

Learn to Play Bagpipes

The bagpipe is a unique wooden instrument that uses a combination of air and reeds to produce music. When the player blows, air goes to the bag which serves as a reservoir for the received air. To produce different notes and sounds, one must use the chanter.

The chanter is played with two hands and has at least one reed attached to it. As you will see, learning to play the chanter successfully is one of the first steps if you want to learn to play bagpipes.

With a history beginning in Western Europe, the popularity of this instrument was spread when it was mentioned in the popular literature The Canterbury Tales written approximately in 1380. Even though original bagpipes have not survived, pictures and sculptures of these have helped to reconstruct how they initially looked like.

What most people think of when they hear the word bagpipe is the Scottish culture. It was actually in a French writing where it was first pointed out that the Scottish used the bagpipe rather than a trumpet while in battle. This writing was referencing The Battle of Pinkie Cleugh which occurred in 1547.

In the Irish culture, the bagpipe made its first known appearance in 1581 in The Image of Irelande by a famous artist John Derrick. Following these occasions, the presence of the bagpipe can be seen in literature, artwork and even within sheet music.

Following its initial popularity, which can be seen through its presence in different aspects of culture, the bagpipe’s popularity declined in the 2oth century. Other instruments were found to be more versatile and flexible than the bagpipe. However, popularity for the bagpipe started once again to grow in World War I and World War II. Many of the members of the armed services were actually trained to play the bagpipe.

With the surge of popularity in modern times, the bagpipe began to evolve as most instruments do to meet more modern tastes. Through this evolution, a variety of different types of bagpipes were developed. The one that is most recognizable is the Great Highland Bagpipe which can be played as a solo instrument or as part of a group.

The electric bagpipe, a modern version of the traditional instrument created in the 19603, has added a new sound and versatility to the instrument. Bagpipes can now be heard in rock, jazz, hip-hop and punk music with popular bands such as AC/DC incorporating its sound into their music.

Now, knowing a little bit more about the basics of the bagpipe’s structure and the history, you are ready to learn how to play bagpipes. Below is a list of 7 practice chanters, bagpipes, and books that will help you learn to play bagpipes.

1) Gibson Practice Chanter Kit

Step one is to get familiar with the different parts of a bagpipe which can be achieved by using the Gibson Practice Chanter Kit. The bagpipe parts include the:

(1) Gibson Long Practice Chanter;
(2) Padded Chanter Sleeve;
(3) One Gibson Reed
(4) College of Piping Vol. 1 Bagpipe Book
(5) College of Piping Vol- 1 CD

Utilization of these bagpipe parts allows a beginner piper to familiarize itself with the different parts of the bagpipe and how they work. For anyone that has no clue where to begin, this kit also comes complete with College of Piping Vol. 1 Book and College of Piping Vol- 1 CD.

This kit has been praised by the users as being the best kit for anyone who is seeking to start learning the bagpipe. Not only has it been commended by those using it to learn but also instructors who use it to teach.

Specifically, the Book and the corresponding CD are one of the most popular teaching tools for beginners. These instructions along with being able to utilize a practice chanter are sure to leave any beginner confident that they will be able to master the art of playing the bagpipe.

2) College of Piping Highland Bagpipe Tutor Part 1 Book and CD (Green Book)

Remember above when the Highland Bagpipe was credited with being the most popular? Well, this bagpipe book is sure to help you better understand this type of bagpipe and how to play it. Consisting of 64 pages, 26 lessons and 14 tunes, the College of Piping Highland Bagpipe Tutor Part 1 can be found for a very affordable price on Amazon.

The accolades received by this book are being acknowledged as one of the most used books to help beginners learn the bagpipe. The creators of this book, Seumas Macneill and Thomas Pearson, set up this book so that the learner first starts by using a practice chanter and then slowly builds up until the learner is playing an actual bagpipe.

One lesson slowly builds upon the next allowing the novice musician to advance as quickly as possible. Starting with the fundamentals of the bagpipe this book and CD walks the beginner through each of the nine notes ensuring a basic understanding and comprehension before moving onto the next.

This is the perfect beginner’s book to incorporate into the learning process which is sure to leave the beginner not only with the better ability to play but also better equipped with fundamental knowledge.

3) Bagpipe Practice Chanter Kit with Threaded Chanter 8. Book 8. DVD & Sleeve

Another great option for any beginner aspiring bagpipe player, the Bagpipe Practice Chanter Kit with Threaded Canter & Book 8. DVD & Sleeve. In this five-piece kit are included the following items:

(1) a Rosewood practice chanter with threaded reed seat and black mouthpiece;
(2) one reed;
(3) a Hal Leonard Bagpipe Tutor Book;
(4) a DVD to accompany tutor book; and
(5) a protective embroidered sleeve.

The advantage of this chanter kit over the Gibson Practice Chanter Kit is obviously its price with savings of almost $70.00. However, there have been some questions as to whether the pieces from the kit are sturdy and durable. Another unfavorable comment about this particular kit is that the sound that the reed produces is not of good quality and the accompanying practice chanter is cheaply made.

For every new beginner who wants to learn how to play bagpipes, this bagpipe starter kit is probably adequate, and the price for the beginners is absolutely suitable. However, the kit with the claims of being cheap and lacking durability might not be suitable for more advanced bagpipers.

4) Rosewood Practice Chanter

The Rosewood Practice Chanter comes complete with the practice chanter, one read, a book along with an accompanying CD. This beginner bagpiper kit can also be found at Amazon. The chanter measures 19 inches long, handcrafted in solid rosewood in black and is tuned to the key of B flat.

The exercises within the included book specifically address important fundamental lessons in bagpipe playing such as the correct placement of fingers. Once again, be wary of the quality of this kit. While you are getting a bargain price, the quality is not as high as some higher priced kits.

Reviews seem to be mixed about this kit with some praising it for being a great beginners’ kit and others complaining about the quality. In the end, what matters is what you are looking for, how much you would like to spend, and the overall musical experience of the person who is going to learn from it. For beginners, this kit is likely to be just fine. And the price is just fine, too.

5) Rosewood Practice Chanter with Free Reeds

The Rosewood Practice Chanter with Free Reeds contains just the practice chanter and free reeds. It does not come with any instructional books or a CD as most kits do. This is a great option for someone who just needs the practice chanter but already owns the books or has a specific book in mind that would like to use.

For this price, this beginner’s kit comes with an assurance that the reeds come ready to play, tested and balanced. Reviews have specifically stated that it is a good purchase for that the reeds do not last that long, for the price, this is certainly a good deal.

The reeds have been noted for their good tone producing a decent sound, especially for the price. Again, this is an excellent bagpipe starter kit for someone who is a novice and less experienced musician. This kit allows for the opportunity to try out playing the bagpipe before completely committing and investing a lot of money.

Again, this is an excellent bagpipe starter kit for someone who is a novice and less experienced musician. This kit gives you the opportunity to try and learn to play bagpipes before completely committing and investing a lot of money in more advanced bagpipe.

6) Roosebeck Sheesham Practice Chanter Book and CD

The Roosebeck BAGL Sheesham Practice Chanter with Book and CD includes:

(1) practice chanter
(2) reed
(3) instructional book and
(4) CD

At a price of $39.95, this particular beginner chanter and reed come tuned to the key of B-flat. With pretty good reviews, this beginner bagpipe kit has been applauded for the sound of the reed, as well as the ease of use of the instructional book.

Once again, at this bargain price, this kit is great for a true beginner but may not meet the needs of someone more advanced. It should, however, leave the aspiring bagpipe player with a basic knowledge of the fundamentals including the notes, the position of fingers and how to read the music notes.

By the end of the lessons, the bagpiper should be able to play some simple melodies. This alone makes this kit worth the money of $39.95 even if it is not used for an extended period. Remember, such kits are generally just for beginners.

7) Full-Size Scottish Great Highland Rosewood Bagpipe Complete Wooden Set (Beginners Starter Package)

Finally, the last product being reviewed is the Full-Size Scottish Great Highland Rosewood Bagpipe Complete Wooden Set (Beginners Starter Package) is more of an investment than the other products reviewed above. This set comes complete with:

(1) Highland bagpipe;
(2) seven different reeds;
(3) practice chanter;
(4) instructional book;
(5) carrying case;
(6) airbag

This is the ultimate bagpipe starter kit and is likely more suitable than the ones discussed above for someone who has musical experience but is still a beginner at learning to play bagpipes.

While some reviews have indicated problems such as cheaply made reeds and leaks in the airbag, the overall score is good, a reasonably priced starter kit.

With three synthetic drone reeds, two pipe chanter reeds and two additional practice chanter reeds, the variety will allow the beginner player to learn and understand the different types and what works best for the bagpiper.

While this kit may not be completely perfect or considered as the best, it does have a lot of positive features that make it certainly worth the investment for any beginner. It is good for the buyer to remember that this is not a long-term investment, this is a starting bagpipe kit.

When you are looking for any beginner bagpipe product, the buyer must realize that if he/she successfully starts to learn the instrument and chooses to continue, then a bigger investment of a high-quality bagpipe will be required in the future.

Summary

The seven bagpipe product reviews above can definitely help a beginner bagpipe player to begin learning this incredibly traditional but interesting and unique instrument. While many people are very interested in learning to play the bagpipes, only a few have the resources such as a local instructor to help them start.

The products, CDs, books and the learning tools above will help you with the first crucial steps in learning to play bagpipes. Remember, the best way to learn any instrument is through patience, perseverance, and determination.

Be patience with the process of learning to play the bagpipes, and you will have to see the progress from a beginner bagpiper to being a master!