Alison,

Just to clarify the fingering on the Uilean pipes, are you saying that you close down the chanter, i.e. all holes covered and only uncover the one you want? If this is the case is there not a lot of scope for crossing noises, i.e. not cleanly closing down one note while opening the other simultaneously which, if done incorrectly, results in a momentary closing down of the chanter and a horrible noise (called a blooter in piping circles)?

How many holes are there? The highland pipes and Scottish small pipes have the same fingering; eight holes in all. The top hand highest note is a high A and is located at the back of the chanter and covered by the left thumb. The next three fingers close down on the front of the chanter through high G, F and E. The bottom hand starts through D, C, low A and low G where the right pinky covers the lowest hole. Is this similar?

The Scottish small pipes are belows blown so I'm used to that (there's a knack to it). The drones on the Uilean pipes should be straight forward. I believe you are referring to the regulators which change the note of the drones and are played by the wrist. Are these not optional?

The greatest attraction of the Uilean pipes is that, as with a whistle, you can blow them up an octave giving greater scope.

Do they take a lot of air?

Cheers

Sandy