Expert: Arash Ebrahimi - 9/25/2007

Question
QUESTION: I have been wanting to learn to play the bagpipes for a long time.  I have a chanter, but there is no reed.  Where can I get resources for:
1) reeds
2) a book that will help me learn the fingerings
3) an inexpensive set of pipes that also sound good
I am a professional musician (in the military, as you may have gathered from my name!) and can teach myself, if I get the books!

Thanks,

ANSWER: Howdy TubaSoldier,

Great questions.  It's always great to hear that someone is interested in the bagpipes.

I'll start with your second question, which is the easiest to answer.  The definitive beginning bagpiper's book is called "The College of Piping Bagpipe Tutor 1".  You can usually find these on Ebay for 10-25$ (the more expensive ones come with a CD, and I recommend the CD if you are doing self teaching).  There are other books, but I recommend this one, as if you ever decide to seek instruction, they will more than likely use this book.

Here is a link to the book on Ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/The-College-of-Piping-Highland-Bagpipe-Tutor-Part-1_W0QQitem

Here is a link to the CD on Ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/College-of-Piping-Tutor-1-CD-BRAND-NEW_W0QQitemZ140160156593

Regarding your chanter, do you know if it is made out of rosewood, blackwood, or plastic?  If it is made out of rosewood (sort of a pinkish-redish color and is very light), I would recommend buying a new one.  Rosewood chanters won't last you very long, and the sound quality is poor.  This is important as training your ear to the notes is very important in the beginning stages, so the better the chanter, the better you will be in the long run.

Even after you buy a set of pipes, you will still use your chanter almost half the time you play.  It's a very good investment.

Here is a link for practice chanter reeds:
http://www.tartanthistle.com/Reeds_chanter_bagpipe_cane_synthetic.html

Here is a link if you want to buy a new chanter:
http://www.tartanthistle.com/Practice_Chanter_Learn_to_Play_Bagpipes.html

So your last question is a bit difficult to answer.  If you were learning under an instructor, you probably wouldn't touch a set of bagpipes for at least 6 months - 1 year, and they would help you buy your first set.  You can find good used sets on Ebay, but you really have to know what you are looking for.  Never buy a set from Pakistan or one that is made of rosewood.  Pakistan makes a lot of cheap pipes and they sell them on Ebay.

Be prepared to spend around $900 for a good used set.  Anything significantly more is for bragging rights . . . things like silver or ivory on the mounts.  Your best bet is to find a local bagpipe band (go to Google and type in the name of your city and "bagpipe band") and the pipe major will help you find one.  Usually they will have students selling theirs.

Hope this helps.  Let me know if you have any other questions :)

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks so much for the information!  I don't know what my chanter is made of, it's a light sand-colored wood, I think maple or ash.  The mouthpiece(?) is plastic, and there are silver mounts at the end flare and tenons.

ANSWER: Here is a picture of a rosewood chanter:
http://g-ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/4125VWETJ8L._SS500_.jpg

If it is lighter than that, you should be okay.  You can always buy a new chanter if you are unhahppy with the sound quality.

Good luck on your piping!  Feel free to ask questions anytime.

-A

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yep, mine is lighter - it looks like this, except the ivory bits on this one are silver on mine.  http://www.tartanthistle.com/Generic_PC.html

And, I have yet another question!  Can I use used bassoon or oboe reeds in a chanter?  I have access to a free supply of them, so it would be very economical!

Thanks so much for your time and information!

Answer
I trust tartan thistle, so your chanter should be fine :)

Oboe reeds will for sure not work in the practice chanter.  I'm not sure about whether or not they would work in a set of pipes.  I did a Google image search, and by eyeballing it, it seems they are too slim to work with pipes.

You can always give it a try though.  Good luck!