How to Play Amazing Grace on the Bagpipes

No tune is more associated with an instrument than Amazing Grace played on the bagpipes. There is something about the combination that never fails to move the listener. Playing the song is challenging, thanks to the complexity of the instrument.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Fill the bag of the bagpipes by blowing into the mouthpiece.

2. Work on providing a steady flow of air to make sure the four reeds of the instrument stay in tune. The air for the bagpipes comes not just from your lungs and chest muscles, but from the muscles of your arm and shoulder muscles on the bag itself. Alternating the blowing and squeezing is tricky and requires practice.

3. Create the tune for Amazing Grace on the bagpipes through the use of grace notes. Grace notes are embellishments, that help the listener discern the tune from the drone of the bagpipes. Grace notes require a lot of practice and dexterity.

4. Watch professional bagpipers play Amazing Grace on the bagpipes to get a sense of the fingering and how the piece is played.

5. Practice Amazing Grace first on a practice chanter, which is an instrument that resembles the chanter on the bagpipes. It has a single reed, and is far quieter an instrument to play. Because its holes can exactly match those of a bagpipe (as chanters can vary, you have to match a chanter with your bagpipes) it is an excellent way for you to begin learning Amazing Grace on the bagpipes.

Resources

• Bagpipe Journey examines the bagpipes.
• Mike Oberst demonstrates how to play Amazing Grace on bagpipes.