Is it difficult to play the bagpipes?

Question

I've been interested in learning to play the bagpipes. I've played flute in the band before and tinkered around with guitar. But, I love the sound of bagpipes and I wanted to know if they were an exceptionally difficult instrument to play. Also, I'm kind of a small person and I know bagpipes are kind of big.
Also, if I were to go ahead, is there a recommended book to learn by and how much does a decent set of bagpipes cost?

Answer 1

Bagpipes take a little bit of time to build up stamina, so are difficult to play physically at first. But I remember a 12-year-old girl winning a local competition one time, so it's definitely possible. Also, kind of exciting, the first woman to ever win one of -the- gold medals occurred in the last year in Scotland, and she is only 16. (Daughter of a multiple gold medal winner.) Reading bagpipe music is relatively easy as it's only one note at a time, much like other wind instruments.



You really should find an instructor, even if it's only via webcam. Bagpipes are very easy to play very poorly. Most pipers out there who are horrible and giving the instrument a bad name are self-taught pipers. And yes, sometimes bagpipe bands will offer free lessons or lessons at a reduced rate, but this is not always the case.



You may wish to read this article:

Learning Bagpipes without an Instructor

http://www.bagpipejourney.com/articles/self_taught.shtml



A decent used set of bagpipes will run between $600-$800. A new set will run $1,000 and up. Bagpipes selling for less than $500 are typically made in Pakistan and are of very questionable quality and should be avoided.



It's best to wait until you have talked to an instructor or at least an experienced bagpiper before buying a set of bagpipes. I imagine buying a new car that won't even run . . . that's what can happen when buying a set of bagpipes without knowing what you are doing. Regardless, you'll start learning on a practice chanter (kind of like a recorder) prior to moving onto the "big pipes."



There are a lot of good articles to read for beginning pipers here and should be very helpful to you:

http://www.bagpipejourney.com/

Answer 2

Play The Bagpipes

Answer 3

I went to a college with a Highlander as the mascot and they always had bagpipe players in the parades & soccer games & stuff. I heard one of them telling a friend how hard bagpipes are to play because you have to coordinate blowing to fill the bag, squeezing the bag and playing the flute like appendages all at the same time. It sure looked tough to me. But I do love the sound of bagpipes and think it would be a cool instrument to learn. I just play guitar though.

Answer 4

It's kind of hard to get everything coordinated. You have to learn to fill the bag and keep steady air pressure coming out of it while playing tunes on the chanter. It takes a certain amount of strength, but there are 9-10 year old kids in some bands.



I don't recommend trying to learn on your own. There's a lot of customary practice-type stuff that you can only get from a teacher. Many bands have free instruction for potential members, so check that out.



If you know where to look you can get a decent set of used pipes for a few hundred dollars. However, you'll need to start with a practice chanter and get pipes once you've learned to play that.

Answer 5

no the bagpipes are extremely easy! i play them all the time! its probably the the easiest instrument ever! try them you'll rock the bagpipes!

Answer 6

It is difficult to play the bagpipes, because people will throw buckets of water at you.

Well, they should.

Answer 7

You gotta start with a practice chanter

Answer 8

Not sure how hard they are to play but it can't be any harder than listening to them.