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Bagpipes History

Bagpipes are found in the folk traditions of many parts of the world, and their origins are quite old. We sometimes can obtain other kinds of Bagpipe, such as Biniou, Gaita, Flemish, Bulgarian, Northumbrian half-long, etc. Please enquire.

Bagpipes of the British Isles

HIGHLAND BAGPIPES

The Great Highland Bagpipes are the best known of several types of Scottish Bagpipe, and are very loud instruments best played outside! The bag is inflated with the mouth, and there are 2 tenor drones, 1 bass drone and an open chanter usually pitched in Bb, but the music is written in A.

It is usual to use a Practice Chanter when learning the Highland Pipes. The practice chanter has a narrower bore than a pipe chanter, and is cheap and quiet enough for use in the home. A practice Chanter is the best way for a beginner to learn tunes, this lets you concentrate on the notes without having to worry about keeping the bag full and steady pressure going. I think you need to practice both jobs separately before you try to put it all together. So as soon as you are sure you want to continue you will need a set of pipes.

It is a different story for Irish and Northumbrian pipes. Normally you would start with a practice set of Irish, and jump straight in with a normal 7 key set of Northumbrian.

SCOTTISH SMALLPIPES

The Scottish Smallpipes are bellows blown, with three drones, bag, bellows and chanter. The fingering is the same as the Highland Pipes., and in Bb, the spacing is the same too, but this is a sweet sounding quieter alternative which is very popular with Scottish pipers. They are a versatile folk instrument too, and a set pitched in D, is an ideal session instrument.

Northumbrian Smallpipes

The Smallpipes are probably the quietest of the Bagpipes, and have a closed chanter which basically plays one octave. The keys are used to extend the range. Smallpipes pitch is generally nearer F than the nominal key of G. We can not supply Northumbrian smallpipes in concert pitch G. If you can't cope with playing in F, then we would recommend a concert D set!

There is no practice set available for the Northumbrian pipes. Beginners can get a simple 3 drone set without keys, but the best option and most popular one is to get a regular 7 key set, and not use the drones until you are ready. If you buy a simple set, you will lose out on trading up, and the saving at the outset is not huge anyway.

Irish Pipes

The Irish or Uilleann pipes have reached quite an advanced state of development. Unlike most other pipes, the reed will overblow, giving them a range of two octaves, and the addition of regulators gives them an extra dimension. The regulators are closed ended chanters each of a different pitch, and speak when a key is pressed, the keys are arranged side by side so chords can be played (this requires great skill).

Uilleann (or Elbow) pipes usually play in D, and the full set has a chanter, three drones, and three keyed regulators. The half set has no regulators, and the practice set has no drones either. All the models we stock are in D, but flat pitch sets can be ordered.

Recently the first practise chanter for the Irish pipes was introduced. Previously beginners would usually start with a practice set, and later trade in for a half set with drones. However it is now possible to learn the fingering before you learn to operate the bellows. It is best not to use the drones until you have good control of the bellows and bag, as the drones use extra air, and make it harder to keep steady pressure for the chanter. It is possible to add drones to a practice set, and some even come with the main stock fitted and the extra holes blanked off. If you follow this route you will be without your pipes for a while when you upgrade. In my experience, it is cheaper in the long run to either go for the half set at the outset, and just don't use the drones at first, or to trade in when you are ready.


Bagpipe Reeds

The drones, and Scottish chanter reeds generally don’t give much trouble, but Northumbrian, and particularly Irish chanter reeds can be a real pain. You should take great care with a good reed to make it last. You must also expect to do work on a new Irish reed to get good results in your chanter.

Bagpipe Makers

GREMLIN

Pipes from Pakistan have earned a previously deserved reputation for being unplayable. The Gremlin sets are from a manufacturer who understands the meaning of quality control, they have clean bores, decent materials and they really do work.

Gremlin Irish pipes are made with the best quality blackwood from Africa, turned in Pakistan, They have good intonation, the chanter is well designed.

The Pakistan made Pipes usually come with the blowpipe valve tied down to keep it well seated. This makes it very difficult to inflate the bag! Remove the blowpipe and remove the cord that secures the leather flap. Make sure the flap is still well seated, then carefully re-insert the blowpipe.

VIGNOLES

Michael Vignoles (who despite his name is a true Irishman) works in the Galway area making excellent pipes and also has a Bodhran workshop. Michael is a good player of the pipes too, and knows the subject thoroughly.

BURLEIGH

David Burleigh works in Northumberland, and has many years of experience in making Smallpipes. The instruments are accurately turned from African blackwood, with brass keys and mounts, imitation ivory end caps and a velvet covered bag.

HARDIE

R.G Hardie & Co are one of the best known makers of Scottish pipes. The Glasgow based company has a long and distinguished history. Hobgoblin sources all its requirements for Scottish pipes through Hardies.
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