How to Make Bagpipes Work

Series Summary

Bagpipes are a musical wind instrument that has a set of enclosed reeds. The different parts of the bagpipes are the air supply or blowpipe, a bag, a chanter and a drone. The pipes are a common instrument in Irish and Scottish cultures, but are believed to have been created in the area that is present-day Iran. There are dozens of different types of bagpipes including an electric version. Bagpipes are symbolic of many types of festivities including St. Patrick’s Day, funerals and weddings. The popularity of the bagpipe seems to have encompassed the entire world, and today they are changing accordingly.

In this series of expert video clips, learn more about the history and setup of the bagpipes. See our expert describe beginner basics to playing this musical instrument. Get a solid education on reed variations and instrument types. See our expert’s explanation on the importance of finger posture. In these demonstrative videos, you will learn about the different parts of the traditional bagpipe as well as the notes and scales used to warm up. Get tips for left and right handed practice. Learn more about the chanter, throws, drones, birl, and shuttle pipes. In these informative clips, you will perhaps even learn to play the traditional tune of “Amazing Grace.”

Video Transcript

" This next segment will be about the function of the bagpipes, just how to make them work. What you need to do is hold the bagpipes on your left arm with all three drones placed over your shoulder and your arm. What you are going to need to do is put the blowpipe in your mouth, hold the chanter with your left hand and fill the bag with air… If the drones chime in then you will know your bag is getting pretty full. What you are going to want to do then is once the bag is completely full with the air that you need you are going to what we say tap the drones in which will give them a good tap. Sometimes it takes 2 or 3 tries at first, but once you get to be experienced, you should be able to tap them right into the spot that they need to be. When the drones are tapped in, the three drones will be running and they will be constantly blowing through the pipe, filling it with the same air pressure that you will be able to feel after a while with your arm and with the sound that is coming through the drones. After enough air is in, you can tap then into the chanter. It takes a little bit more air pressure than the drones to tap the chanter in, but you will be able to feel that out too. It is a big process as you can tell but when you want to stop playing you will let the air go out as much as you can. Then remove your arm from the bag releasing what pressure is in there and you should get a good clean stop. If you try to stop your tune with the maximum amount of air pressure in the bag, you will have a squealing tone and not a nice fresh stop."