Do You Have Any Questions About Bagpiping

I can't get the pipe chanter to work 
Dear Bill

I have a set of pipes (probably Pakistani in origin) which I have just moved onto from the practice chanter. I can get the drones to play ...

High A note hangs when going from High A to Low A on Pipe chanter 
Dear Bill,

Thank you first.

I am using an older Hardy chanter (1950s) as I appreciate the lower tone, but maybe because I am using modern reeds, the ...

Can't get sound from the chanter 
I am far enough advanced on the practice chanter to move to the full pipes. While I can get a fairly consistent tone on one drone, I cannot get sound ...

Sound stopping 
Hello, Sir
I have been using your site to learn how to play the practice chanter. My only problem right now is that sometimes when I go from a high note ...

3/4 set of bagpipes 
Hi Bill,

Thank you for you valuable instruction videos, I find them very usefull. I have been receiving lessons on the chanter, but now I want to buy ...

Left Handed Bagpiper 
Hi Pipemajor Robertson
I am learning to play on the practice chanter.
Im left handed and hold the bag under my right shoulder.

I have been told to ...

Piping at functions 
Dear Bill
Could you please help me with this for I am a junior piper aand plan to start playing at weddings and other functions.

When piping guests ...

Hymn music 
I'm wondering if there is a book available that has hymn music for the bagpipes. I'm especially interested right now in finding the pipe music for: How ...

The competition MSR 
I am fairly certain that competition marches, strathspeys and reels have been played together in solo piping competition for longer than they have been ...

Drone Tuning 
Hello Bill,
I am having a problem with my SM 90's especially the Bass drone.

When I blow up the bag and set them off the drone reed screeches and only ...

Adding embellishments (for music Arranger) 
Is there a standard practice for adding embellishments to a tune to be played by pipes. Eg, does each note have the same embellishment added each time ...

doublings? 
This is kinda complicated the way i ask this but, when playing a doubling lets say from low a to b, Does your finishing note have to be low a or can you ...

Fingering 
I find it difficult to learn from frontal images for instruction. Do you have any resources that illustrate instruction from an angle as you are playing(...

Removing Ferrols on Drones 
How can I remove the ferrols from my drones?

I have tried reezing and hot water but no success.

Any info how i can do it would be appreciated?.
Thank,...

Tuning? 
I've had a practice chanter for over a year and purchased my first full set of pipes. No one around here plays so I'm basically on my own, along with websites ...

old learner 
I am 70 and have been on the practice chanter for some months. Have now got a full set of bagpipes but am so disappointed as,I cannot make any sound with ...

Ring finger trouble... 
Hello Mr. Robertson.
I'm a beginning piper and a long time guitar player. One thing I've always had trouble with (especially now on the practice chanter ...

returning to the pipes - having problems 
I know I should go join a pipe band, but I wanted to get restarted on the pipes on my own for now. I've not played in 20 years or so - used to play with ...

which size of bag to go for? 
I am thinking of getting a small bannantyne bag to replace my ageing medium sized one, as fellow band members have said a smaller bag gives more control....

Practice Chanter sounds like a duck!! 
Hello Sir,

Recently I have taken to wanting to play the bagpipe and have purchased a practice chanter to get started.

I received it today and ...

Wm Ross Pipe Major to Queen Victoria 
I was wondering if Wm Ross the Queen's piper and Willie Ross the piper are related. Wm Ross (1823-1891) was my great-grandfather's step brother and I ...

Doublings 
Dear Bill,

Every time I see one of your videos I get impressed not only because your 'pure scottish' musical expression (that is perfect) but the perfection ...

Learning To Play The Bagpipes 
Hi, I live in Central Scotland and have a chanter and wish to learn the bagpipes. I hope that you can help.

Regards

Graham

Problems with my chanter 
Hi Bill!
My friend that just came fron Scotland, bought to me a bagpipe...

After some problems trying to understand how it works, I made the 3 drones ...

Keeping the Pipe Major's stripes 
If a pipe major resigned/retired because he was moving away and then returns, can he keep his stripes?

He is back with the band he once was the Pipe ...

Pipe Major's Commands 
After death of our pipe major of 55 years, command of our band has fallen to elected PMs each year and it's a big learning curve as the rest of the 'old ...

Plastic Reeds vs Wooden Reeds? 
Hi Bill,

Are the plastic synthetic reeds the best reeds to start out with?

I have a set of both and the wooden reeds are very hard to get going ...

Settle a question 
Hello Bill:
As a highly experience piper, I would like to have you settle a question that comes up between me and other pipers-some of whom are highly ...

Chanter Air Leak? 
I've been playing my new set of pipes for about 3 months and find that an unusual amount of air is passing thru the chanter read without engaging it.

And ...

Setting up tube water trap 
Hello

I am after some advice and instructions on how to connect a "Tube Water Trap" to my Canmore Zipper Bag.

I am a complete novice and have just ...

Rarely Used Embellishments 
I recently came across this movement and I'm not sure exactly how to play it, could you give me a note by note runthru. thanks!

Drone Reeds 
Of all the makes and models of synthetic drone reeds, do you have a favorite? Which ones are best suited to today's high pitched chanters?

I wish I would have kept piping 
Its been over 30 years since I was piping,
I have recently began practicing again and I find my breathing is lacking .


Could you recommend any ...

Sound of bagpipes 
What is the technical term for the sound of bagpipes

Blowing into the bagpipes 
My son has been on the pipes for a few months now and he gets very frustrated when his lips seem to just give out and for some reason he constantly drools ...

Bagpipe Manufacturers 
Is there a way of distinguishing various makers of bagpipes by counting the rings between ferrels on the drones.

If not how can you distinguish the ...

Lip and mouth fatigue 
Hello Bill: I have returned to piping after a 15 year absence. I am finding that my mouth fatiques after a short time of playing and that I can't even ...

Blowpipe Problem 
Question:
Hi Sir. I am a beginner on piping which i know not much but to ask the question ........... I Blow into my bagpipes and i read there's ...

Difference between piobreachd and ground??? 
What is the difference between piobreachd and ground? I have just started a ground (Glengarrys Lament) and am a bit confused because it says it is a ground....

Practice Chanter Advise Please 
Mr. Robertson,

Thank you for your very informative website. I have really learned so much from your tutorials by the way you break the tunes down.

But ...

kitchen pipes 
Whats are your thoughts on kitchen Pipes? I was going to use them to help learn proper playing...

Name of Bagpipe Sound 
Could you please tell me what the sound of bagpipes is actually called?

Cost 
How much does it cost?

Purchasing A Practice Chanter  Not rated yet
Where can I buy a practice chanter and how many years can it take to learn how use a bagpipe?

Bills Reply
Hi Dylan,

You can buy a practice chanter ...

Do I need the practice chanter?  Not rated yet
Hello Bill!
I was recently on a vacation to Scotland, and bought myself a bagpipe. The store owner told me that i could use the bagpipe's chanter to practice ...

Cheap bagpipes.  Not rated yet
Hello Mr. Robertson. I have a cheap set of pipes, probably made in Pakistan. But I am learning to play them. I can play 6 tunes from my tutor book. I am ...

Crossing Noises  Not rated yet
Question:
I have a problem with crossing noises, as much time as I spend trying to correct this problem it still occurs. I normally do not hear it ...