Bagpipes
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 8,238
Likes: 3
From: Oregon
Bagpipes
Being a full blown Scot, let me first congratulate you on your choice Ryan! While I don't play them myself, I have friends that do and what I've been told is that they are a fairly easy instrument to learn to play. Playing them well takes a little more time...but many people without discerning musical tastes can't tell the difference between badly played and well played pipes anyways 
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,236
Likes: 2
From: Vancouver Island
Bagpipes
You can start off by getting something called a "practice chanter" to learn the basics. Do a google search and it'll turn up many useful links.http://www.google.ca/search?q=%22pra...-8&hl=en&meta=
This place has an electronic practice chanter, so you can learn wearing headphones:
http://www.celticobsessions.com/Bagpiping.htm
This place has an electronic practice chanter, so you can learn wearing headphones:
http://www.celticobsessions.com/Bagpiping.htm
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 8,238
Likes: 3
From: Oregon
Bagpipes
I've never seen an electric practice chanter, good link Angus. I was going to name my first born Angus. I won't stoop to respond to Racerguys feeble attempt at humor, he is clearly an English oppressor, or maybe Welsh
The Pacifier
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,245
Likes: 7
From: Cloverdale, BC
Bagpipes
I'm half a Scot and am always looking into getting closer to it. I don't even know what a chanter is but ... anyway, bagpipe music is good for the soul. If you don't have a soul, it's good for that too. Good on ya for wanting to learn.
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Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 12,679
Likes: 15
From: BC, Canada
Bagpipes
nein!
Ich bin deutsch
ok,ok...my last name is german but I've never even been there. Actually my parents havent either.
It was a Scottish guy i work with that told me that joke...so there!
And if I must, I'll admit that sometimes bagpipes sound ok
Did you hear the one about the bagpiper who parked his car with the windows open, forgetting that he had left his bagpipes in the back seat?
He rushed back as soon as he realized it, but it was too late--someone had already put another set of bagpipes in the car.
Ich bin deutsch
ok,ok...my last name is german but I've never even been there. Actually my parents havent either.
It was a Scottish guy i work with that told me that joke...so there!
And if I must, I'll admit that sometimes bagpipes sound ok
Did you hear the one about the bagpiper who parked his car with the windows open, forgetting that he had left his bagpipes in the back seat?
He rushed back as soon as he realized it, but it was too late--someone had already put another set of bagpipes in the car.
Last edited by Racerguy; Sep 12, 2003 at 12:21 AM.
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Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
Bagpipes
I have a chanter that I have never played. My son picked it up (Sax player) fingered it for a moment, then in less than 30 seconds was playing "pink panther" on it... Do you have any idea what pink panther sounds like on a bagpipe???
Basically the chanter is the reed and finger portion of a set of pipes without the bag and drone pipes.
Basically the chanter is the reed and finger portion of a set of pipes without the bag and drone pipes.
Postmaster
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 1
From: Annapolis, Maryland
Bagpipes
Originally posted by Racerguy
why do pipers walk while they play?
to try to get away from the noise
why do pipers walk while they play?
to try to get away from the noise
Somewhat off topic, but - What do you call the lackey that hangs around musicians all the time?
The drummer.
XXL
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 8,238
Likes: 3
From: Oregon
Bagpipes
Originally posted by Racerguy
but it was too late--someone had already put another set of bagpipes in the car.
but it was too late--someone had already put another set of bagpipes in the car.
Tell ya what, how about I give you a decent Scottish joke: What does a Scottsman wear underneath his kilt? On a good day, lipstick. 
I lack the moral character to determine whether or not that joke is too off color for this site, but I guess I'll find out soon. Its one of my favorites. Besides, whats wrong with a joke about lipstick on your, errr, mmmm, leg?
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,818
Likes: 3
Bagpipes
while we're on the subject,
Estes Park, CO, near Rocky Mtountain National Park, hosts an annual Scottish Rites Festival. At this year's parade among the many bagpipe marching bands(?) were a group in full regallia - kilts, pipes, tartan plaids - of Japanese pipers. Double takes from everyone. I suppose if we have American sumo wrestlers.....
along other lines,
While sailing with friends in the Carribean, we pulled into a small bay to anchor for the evening. 10 minutes before the sun set, a whistle blew on a nearby large, old, wooden three mast schooner. Naval cadets of unknown origin rapidly assembled on deck in formation. As the sun began to set, an excellent bagpiper played a haunting rendition of Amazing Grace. At the final note, the cadets quickly hoisted sails and off they went. A very simple yet moving experience to behold. There is some kind of magic in bagpipes and the stranger the locale the stronger the effect.
Estes Park, CO, near Rocky Mtountain National Park, hosts an annual Scottish Rites Festival. At this year's parade among the many bagpipe marching bands(?) were a group in full regallia - kilts, pipes, tartan plaids - of Japanese pipers. Double takes from everyone. I suppose if we have American sumo wrestlers.....
along other lines,
While sailing with friends in the Carribean, we pulled into a small bay to anchor for the evening. 10 minutes before the sun set, a whistle blew on a nearby large, old, wooden three mast schooner. Naval cadets of unknown origin rapidly assembled on deck in formation. As the sun began to set, an excellent bagpiper played a haunting rendition of Amazing Grace. At the final note, the cadets quickly hoisted sails and off they went. A very simple yet moving experience to behold. There is some kind of magic in bagpipes and the stranger the locale the stronger the effect.