Small Pipes

[OC Richard]

The matter of Scottish Smallpipes is quite complex and a source of confusion for many.

Firstly it's good to know some of the basic facts

1) "Scottish smallpipes" as they're generally made today owe their structure, tone, and title from the Northumbrian Smallpipes and are not a Scottish invention. Rather, they were first created in Northumberland in the 1970s.

These "Scottish Smallpipes" are nearly always bellows-blown.

2) The leading Scottish Highland bagpipe makers throughout the 19th century made Highland bagpipes in either three, or four, different sizes. The smallest size, what was called "miniature Highland bagpipes, or chamber pipes" are the equivalent to what are called "Scottish smallpipes" today.

These were usually mouth-blown.

3) For no reason that I can fathom, starting around 30 years ago, each maker felt compelled to coin their own name for their Scottish Smallpipes. Thus today you can see a dozen Scottish Smallpipes from a dozen different makers, none of which are called "Scottish Smallpipes" by their maker. The goofy newfangled names include "fireside pipes", "studio pipes", "session pipes", "shuttle pipes", "Highland musette", etc etc. It's important to understand that these are not actually different instruments, but merely Scottish Smallpipes by other names.

These various instruments are seen both mouth-blown and bellows-blown.

All three of the above factors make going down the Scottish Smallpipe rabbit hole quite confusing.

For somebody first getting into these things I highly recommend the John Walsh smallpipes in A. (Not in D.)

They're available mouthblown or bellows-blown or as a combination set that can be configured either way.

Personally I play a c1900 set of "Miniature Highland bagpipes, or chamber pipes" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czNB3DheKg8&t=35s