Does anyone play Bagpipes?

[hdracer]

This may sound odd but there is a set of bagpipes for sale at a great price and I have terrible GAS to buy them!

I was wondering how hard it is to learn to play them. I played brass
& woodwinds when I was young.

If nothing else I know I could annoy the heck out of my neighbors with them.

[tangentmusic]

Not this West Coast Kid.

I was born in the wrong country

[Blisterfinger]

I play the Uilleann pipes, similar to the bagpipes but with no mouth piece, instead using a bellows strapped to my elbow to force air into the bag.
They were really hard to get going with but if you practice enough they're really not that difficult.
I don't have any experience with the bagpipes however...

[hdracer]

I think finding a teacher would be hard.
It's not like I can go on Ultimate Guitar and find some tabs.....

[Munjibunga]

Lots of people play bagpipes. Here come some now.

[Shakin-Slim]

I think finding a teacher wouldn't be too difficult. Surely there are Scottish heritage groups or something of the like in most places. Not having an easy way out like tabs would be a positive thing too

[chuck3]

I've always wanted to play bagpipes. But I don't want to walk around in a kilt.

[the yeti]

i have a set. i can play the chanter just fine by itself, the whole thing is near impossible (cheap reeds i'm told). i believe it may be the most physically challenging instrument i've ever tried. if it's a decent set i say go for it. i love the sound of bagpipes.

[Blisterfinger]

Well before you buy an actual set you'll have to get yourself a practice chanter. They're generally made with plastic and help you get used to the spacing and notes of the chanter's scale. Look them up, they're surely easy to find.

[Melo]

I used to be in a Pipe band and played them for a number of years. I still have a set.

They only have 8 notes, so learning to play a few songs should not be much of a problem.
The hard part about playing them is developing the required mussles to keep the bag full of air. You would be supprised how quickly your cheeks/lips run out of streight. So, it's like working out - if you do it all the time, no problem.

[elgecko]

Back in college, there was a guy teaching bagpipes. He was wandering around campus in full regalia trying to recruit people for the class. My buddy asked if wearing a kilt was mandatory. Without losing a beat, he replied "no, but it helps you get chicks!"

[hdracer]

Originally Posted by chuck3

I've always wanted to play bagpipes. But I don't want to walk around in a kilt.

But that's the best part!

Originally Posted by Blisterfinger

Well before you buy an actual set you'll have to get yourself a practice chanter. They're generally made with plastic and help you get used to the spacing and notes of the chanter's scale. Look them up, they're surely easy to find.

He said he will throw one in with them along with a box of reeds

[Stickers]

I play now...bass is actually my second instrument, so to speak. The hardest instrument to play, in my opinion. The pipes really can't be learned out of a book or without help, so find an instructor. I would recommend looking up a local pipe band on the net, and finding an instructor there--the bands always have someone to teach; they want you to get hooked and join!

[lunarpollen]

I wish I knew how to play them, I would love to learn....