posted
So this may seem random and I probably won't get any responses to it but:
Are any of the Hatrackers here by chance also Pipers?
I'm ordering a Practice Chanter tomorrow (the necessary instrument one must learn before learning the bagpipes) for myself and I was wondering if anyone here knew how to play and could give me tips, as I plan to teach myself.
For anyone who wants to know "Why the heck would he want to learn to play the bagpipes?" It's part of my new year's resolution to learn as many new instruments in 2005 as possible. I play the Sax, but there's a list of about eight other instruments I want to learn, and the bagpipes was what I picked first.
Thanks!
(PS - This is the first topic I started, how'd I do?)
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
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Then the piper will lead us to reason/The piper's calling you to join him.
Piper Parebo
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
That's all I can think of.
Dagonee P.S., It's cool you're learning to play the bagpipes. Especially if you don't live in my neighborhood. Can they be played quietly?
Posts: 26071 | Registered: Oct 2003
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They have a Scottish festival down here in McPherson, Kansas each year, and hordes of bagpipers use it as a "convention" of sorts -- sometimes you will have a couple hundred of them gathered to gether all playing the pipes. And you thought one pipe was loud!
So if you ever get so deep into this new hobby to be part of the McPherson festival, stop by and see me!
Farmgirl
edit: Also, as an attendee at many Law Enforcement Memorials at the local, state and national level each year -- there are ALWAYS bagpipes at every one of these, always playing "Amazing Grace". I love to hear it on the pipes, but don't they know any other songs?
quote: P.S., It's cool you're learning to play the bagpipes. Especially if you don't live in my neighborhood. Can they be played quietly?
That's the first question my family asked. I think Forte is the only dynamic marking Pipers understand But the practice chanter isn't quite as loud as the actual bagpipes, it doesn't have a bag on it, so there isn't a drone sound to it. But they sound the same otherwise.
And Farmgirl, sure I'll swing down there in a couple of years after I don't suck. Kansas is a wee bit far away from Detroit (i live in the cozy suburbs), but road trips are always fun!
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
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posted
A friend of mine is a piper... she's really good, but yeah, she can't play softly.
I've always thought it would be fun to play the bagpipes... maybe I'll make that my resolution one of these years. Posts: 3420 | Registered: Jun 2002
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posted
First off, Seven Nations is awesome. Definitely check them out.
Secondly, I think it's awesome you want to play bagpipes. If it weren't for the annoying factor and the cost, I would also consider doing it. When I was in Scotland, I went to a couple bagpipe shops just to look around, and some of those things are impressive. And I don't know if they can be played quietly or not.
Good luck! Let us know how the practice chanter goes and when you move on to bigger, better and louder things Posts: 3932 | Registered: Sep 1999
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quote:Is there any other wind isntrument that can actually play chords?
I know a trombone can (it involves humming harmonics while playing and producing the middle tone - very difficult stuff). I would guess several other brass instruments can as well.
Posts: 3932 | Registered: Sep 1999
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posted
Wow! That's more impressive than the pipes. I had no idea. Is any chord possible, or just ones that involve the right harmonic relation (I know that's not the right techinical wording)?
Posts: 26071 | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
I think it's any chord. In the demonstration I saw (while it was years ago), it was explained that you have to hum the fifth while playing the root, and then you'll get the triad. I don't think it works with proper chords if you try humming a minor seventh, though Posts: 3932 | Registered: Sep 1999
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My cousin married a piper, who played at his wedding in my Aunt's not large house.
They were divorced within 2 years.
However, Charles De Lint's "The Green Country" has a piper as one of the main heroines. I was halfway through the book before I realized when she talked about playing the pipes, she wasn't refering to a pan flute or some such. I think every piper should read it.
Posts: 11895 | Registered: Apr 2002
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quote:it was explained that you have to hum the fifth while playing the root, and then you'll get the triad. I don't think it works with proper chords if you try humming a minor seventh, though
Holy cow, that sounds hard. I'll stick with the guitar, where everything is visually and mathematically apparent.
posted
Wouldnae ye like t' be a piper too? . . . Sorry, I actually have nothing of value to add to this thread. I don't know anything about the bagpipes except that I can only stand them in small doses.
Posts: 1814 | Registered: Jul 2004
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Can they be played quietly?
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But the practice chanter isn't quite as loud as the actual bagpipes, it doesn't have a bag on it, so there isn't a drone sound to it. But they sound the same otherwise.![[Wink]](wink.gif)
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