The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #26151   Message #312586
Posted By: Barry T
05-Oct-00 - 02:02 AM
Thread Name: Bagpipe tutor
Subject: RE: Bagpipe tutor
There's not much difference in the actual sound of the practice chanters, so it doesn't matter a whole lot what you buy. Most folks choose the heavy plastic over wood. I myself use the Tuck chanter, available from the link you identified. It's as sturdy as a rock and offers countersunk holes to simulate the feel of the actual pipe chanter.

As for tutorials I have but one piece of advice... find a band or find a tutor. This is one instrument that is impossible to learn on a self-teach basis. There are so many little techniques that are critical to success and progress. If you don't get those correct from the start you will surely develop and perfect bad habits that will be difficult or impossible to undo.

As was mentioned in another thread, count on being on the practice chanter for at least a year before starting on the pipes. And plan on about two years to get to the level where you could play basic tunes solo or with a band. Both of these rules of thumb assume a practice dedication on the order of 20 quality minutes per day.