So you want to learn the bagpipes? Here's what you need to know.
Many people often think that learning the bagpipes is like learning any other instrument - and they’re right…mostly.
In order to learn, one thing that is always assumed is that you need to go out and purchase yourself a full-blown set of bagpipes. This is simply not true, and actually, I would highly advise against this. Because as a learner, it is not required to learn this instrument…I mean, at all. At least not until you are ready to take the next step.
But before you continue there’s something I have to tell you.
Are the bagpipes right for you?
It is easy to say that you will do something, but another to actually go and do it.
The bagpipes is a very challenging instrument to learn and play.
Learning the bagpipes is a gruelling task. You have to be realistic enough to recognise if you have the grit to take this on. It’s not easy and it takes a significant amount of time and practice to get there.
But, if you do have it in you to take on the commitment, you need to find yourself a solid source of motivation and willpower to continue when it gets tough. Simply because it’s not a matter of if - but when. For me, it was to do my family proud and conquer something I thought I would never be capable of. You have to have something to drive you or you will want to quit. This is the first step.
If you’re determined enough, you will go all the way. But for now, after you have confronted the reality of this challenge, I can tell you where you need to go from here.
Time to get some instruction
Learning this is a tricky thing. Just like the piano or guitar, you will need an instructor, or a tutor is what we like to call them. This is non-negotiable. Youtube tutorials will only get you so far, but to go all the way, you will need somebody who knows what they’re doing to teach you what to do. Ideally, this should be done at least weekly in person. But if limited by distance, via video call (Skype) can also be done.
Under 18 year-olds
If you are located in Brisbane, Qld and you (or your son or daughter) is an under 18, I cannot recommend the Queensland Police Juvenile Pipes & Drums enough. They are a youth competition pipe band and the very same people that taught me how to play. They offer free tuition to any young person who wishes to play the bagpipes or the drums (snare, tenor or bass) and provide all of the equipment you need to get started (more to come). The tutors are phenomenal players and are a great bunch of people who will always go the extra mile every time. Get in contact with me and I can arrange an introduction for you.
Mature Aged (Australia)
If you are a mature aged person in Brisbane, Qld wishing to learn, I can ring around and make a few calls to see if I can source something for you locally. I would be more than happy to arrange this. Most mature aged pipe bands in our area tend to offer free tuition weekly and may provide equipment.
Current Tutors:
Martin Macbeth. A good mate of mine and an exquisite bagpipe-maker and tutor. He currently [June, 2025] has a few spots to take on new learners. Contact via macbethandcobagpipes@hotmail.com
Outside of Australia
If you are in another state or another country, my best advice for you to get started is to do some research in your local area for any active pipe bands. If not, the next best thing is to try the Piper’s Dojo or get in contact with Alec Chisholm or his group Get Bagpipe Ready on Facebook and the kind people there will be able to direct you to somebody that is local to you.
Introducing: The Practice Chanter
This is a practice chanter.
This is basically a bagpipe minus all the hard bits. Simplified down so a learner [you] can learn all there is to know about the technique, finger work and breathing patterns that is required to advance to the complete instrument. All pipers [including myself] continue to use our practice chanters day to day, even now after piping for a while. We learn all of our tunes on this thing and so will you.
Pipers play tunes, and never songs. Tunes are played and songs are sung. Please never forget this.
As I have aforementioned, if you join a local pipe band, there is good chance that you may be provided with one to start off with. If not, practice chanters are not nearly as pricey as complete sets of pipes. You don’t need anything fancy like the one above but you must not buy one that seems ‘cheap’ on Ebay or Amazon. They are not proper instruments. They are often coined as ‘firewood’ by pipers. These are straight-up unplayable. You will be led into a false mindset of thinking that your lack of progression is your own fault, when in actual fact it is the knock-off replica. They don’t sound the same, nor play the same.
They often look like this:
I repeat, do not buy anything that looks like this.
Instead, only buy from the brands in the list below:
I have attached links for your convenience.
Standard Length is going to be more comfortable for smaller hands, whereas the Extended (Long) Length more closely mimics the finger spacing on a bagpipe chanter. I would recommend the extended length, but it won’t matter early in your learning.
When your tutor tells you that you are ready to progress onto bagpipes, they will guide you with purchasing your very own set of pipes. Again, do not prematurely buy the cheap Pakistan replicas, trust your tutor to instruct you on what to buy.
Your tutor will be especially important at this time, because you will have no idea what you’re doing. It will feel foreign and unnatural. They will understand the dynamics of bagpipes and know how to adjust the instrument (weaken it) so it will play well for you. If you are on your own at this point, you will want to give up because you won’t be able to play the thing. The bottom line is make sure you get yourself a good tutor.
What now?
Regardless of the type of tuition that you end up obtaining, you will run through all of the exercises and embellishments that pipers play in every tune and there is a ton of them. This learning period on your practice chanter will go anywhere from 9 to 12 months to complete before you even think about advancing to bagpipes.
Ultimately, this is the catch when starting out. You have to spend a whole year on this other thing that you’ve never even heard of until you have the right skills to proceed. This is because it is near impossible to learn finger work on a bagpipe because of the sheer number of things you have to think about. This is why we learn the technique and fingering on the practice chanter before making the massive jump.
When you eventually get there, it will be overwhelming and it will feel like a completely different instrument. All of a sudden you have a bag to fill with air, the chanter requires significantly more pressure to sound and you have balance three great drones on your shoulder. This is why we don’t start straight on bagpipes, there’s always a catch.
Trust the process
It will be hard and you will feel like you will want to give up. Because I nearly did. I hit wall after wall, but my Mum and my tutors pushed me through it. Once I got there, it was fruitful. You will come to discover that there is no better feeling than to play pipes with other pipers, maybe later even adding drummers - to play as a pipe band is a whole other feeling altogether.
At the end of the day, if you choose to put in the work, then you will be rewarded. Finally, if you have any questions that I can help you with, please use the contact card and I will be in touch. Good luck and happy piping!