Pipes for late Xmas gift

**kevinkinney** · 17th December 07, 08:51 PM

Hello Pipers,

I've been pondering the purchase of pipes for a late Xmas/40th birthday gift. My father gravitated to the pipes during college, and I've managed to avoid their pull until now.

This question is for the experienced members out there: Where would you recommend shopping for a beginner set and a chanter?

Cheers,

Kevin.

**Tattoo Bradley** · 17th December 07, 08:54 PM

www.toneczar.com

Dunbar Polys

**TheKiltedWonder** · 17th December 07, 09:10 PM

I'm no great piper myself but I dabbled in it 5 years ago. I need to get back into it but I just don't have the time to make the commitment to it.
Ok, so now that we've established my limited credentials, let me suggest that you start with a chanter alone. Save the money you would have spent on the beginners pipes till later. Or use it to get some lessons if you don't have a pipe band nearby to learn from or you don't wish to play in a pipe band.
I know several talented pipers and all of them still have their chanters. They're dead useful to practice on, because they're easier to carry around, there's less going on with them and they're quieter (believe me, that's important when you're making your first squeaks). Let other more qualified members weigh in, but I'd say to just start with the chanter.

**beloitpiper** · 17th December 07, 09:43 PM

I think there should be a sticky somewhere about learning pipes, because it's getting tiring to repeat this over and over.

Buy a chanter.

Don't even THINK of bagpipes until you've mastered that. Find an instructor, buy a chanter, and practice every day.

**Tattoo Bradley** · 17th December 07, 09:47 PM

Originally Posted by beloitpiper

I think there should be a sticky somewhere about learning pipes, because it's getting tiring to repeat this over and over.

Buy a chanter.

Don't even THINK of bagpipes until you've mastered that. Find an instructor, buy a chanter, and practice every day.

Hey now. Then just pass the thread by and don't reply if it's that tiresome.

**Thunderbolt** · 17th December 07, 11:29 PM

Originally Posted by kevinkinney

Hello Pipers,

I've been pondering the purchase of pipes for a late Xmas/40th birthday gift. My father gravitated to the pipes during college, and I've managed to avoid their pull until now.

This question is for the experienced members out there: Where would you recommend shopping for a beginner set and a chanter?

Cheers,

Kevin.

Ahh, something I know well...

Many of the top pipemakers would be a great start. Naill, Dunbar, Shepard, Kron to name a very few.

By chanter, I assume you mean a practice chanter. Don't bother with a blackwood PC. They require more maint. than a poly chanter. It took me splitting two PC tops before I learned my lesson. That being said, there are some blackwood PC's out there that are much older than I am and are in no danger of splitting anytime soon. I've been through 4 PC's, the poly ones are still with me.

Also, get a PC with counterbored holes. They give a better feel and are a bit less forgiving, making you position your fingers better. Also, they are closer to a pipe chanter therefore making the crossover easier.

Don't worry about pipes right now. Get a good instructor, a good PC and good book to study, in that order. Most likely your instructor will have a huge influence on your choices.

I spent better than a year on the PC before making the move to the pipes. You will likely do the same. If your instructor pushes to get you on the pipes faster, question the reason. This is not only tradition, but also the amount of time needed to learn the fingering, learn tunes, learn to listen and strengthen your lip. There'll be plenty of time. Don't rush it.

Much of this has already been mentioned. I hope it all makes the point.

Last piece of advise: Make the commitment to practice everyday. A minimum of 15 minutes, with most of my sessions ending around an hour. If I was gearing up for a competition, I'd push it to two hours or more a few weeks before and backing off just before the comp, say, four or five days before only playing 15 to 30 minutes a day.

Sorry for my ramblings. I just realized that this is more info than you asked for but I hope it helps. Please ignore anything you aren't interested in.....

And, welcome to the brotherhood.

T.

**Mike S** · 18th December 07, 04:06 AM

As my fellow pipers have sagely recommended (this isn't really a suggestion, but de rigeur. Trust us, it is virtually written in stone.) Practice Chanter first, then after a year or so depending on your progress and the INSTRUCTOR (You would be very ill advised to attempt to teach yourself...this "ain't" the tin whistle), you will progress to the pipes.

Attempting to alter this standard and essential order will result in much frustration, and eventually a very expensive and unused set of pipes shoved into the back of your closet or for sale on Ebay.

As far as recommendations, I have quite a selection of PC's in my collection, and very much favor the Gibson Long Poly Chanter for feel, tone, and construction.

Best of luck my friend, and be glad you don't have the bug to maser the Uilleann pipes (those who also play know of what I speak.....whew).

**haukehaien** · 18th December 07, 07:12 AM

Originally Posted by beloitpiper

I think there should be a sticky somewhere about learning pipes, because it's getting tiring to repeat this over and over.

Seconded. This question comes up all the time, so clearly it would be useful to have a sticky for it.

As far as the chanter goes, ask your instructor what type he if he's got no preference, then Dunbar, Gibson or Walsh long poly chanters are good; poly because it will survive better, long because it makes it easier to transition tunes to the pipes.

Originally Posted by TheKiltedWonder

I know several talented pipers and all of them still have their chanters. They're dead useful to practice on, because they're easier to carry around, there's less going on with them and they're quieter (believe me, that's important when you're making your first squeaks). Let other more qualified members weigh in, but I'd say to just start with the chanter.

The chanter isn't like training wheels; that is, it's not something you use for a while and then put away. It IS the first step on learning the pipes, but you'll continue to use it throughout your piping lifetime. In general, when you learn a new tune, you learn it first on the chanter, and then, when it's solid, transition it to the pipes. I would be very suspicious of any piper who claims not to own or use a PC; that's why it's a good idea to spend some money and buy a good one when you start out.

Good luck!

**kevinkinney** · 18th December 07, 07:14 AM

Thanks for the quick advice.

I should have been more specific. I meant *New* Chanter with a set. I've already been playing the chanter on my own for years.

Cheers,

Kevin.

**pipesndrumsnun** · 18th December 07, 07:23 AM

Originally Posted by kevinkinney

Thanks for the quick advice.

I should have been more specific. I meant *New* Chanter with a set. I've already been playing the chanter on my own for years.

Cheers,Kevin.

If you are already well versed and proficient on the PC, I'd suggest the Dunbar P1s as a great and relatively inexpensive (as compared to the others out there!) set of nice pipes. I know that the black wood purists would faint over this, but it is true no less!