I am often asked this question. The simple answer: Years and years and years of practice.

For the Great Highland Bagpipe

First of all, one does not start with the highland bagpipe itself. The learning instrument is known as the practice chanter. The practice chanter is smaller, simpler, quieter and much less expensive. The practice chanter is mouth-blown and resembles a recorder, but it actually incorporates a plastic reed. Novice and experienced pipers alike use this instrument to learn tunes and excercises. Only when a piper has completely learnt a tune and committed it to memory by playing the practice chanter, then a piper can begin to play the tune on the great pipes. New pipers usually work with the practice chanter for one to two years, learning the scale, the grace note figures and doublings, and their first few tunes. After laying that important groundwork a piper is ready to take on the larger instrument.

There are many sources for practice chanters and tutor books, especially with internet shopping. It is quite common now to see them packaged together along with a CD or DVD so you can "teach yourself the bagpipes". These are great tools, but nothing can take the place of real one-on-one instruction from a knowledgeable teacher. The easiest way to begin a piper's journey is to hook up with a band. Most areas of the US, and especially Canada, have at least one pipe band somewhere nearby. In fact, as the Scots have spread (and/or been kicked out of) most parts of the world, pipe bands can be found throughout the world. The internet is an invaluable tool in finding them. Most bands have websites of their own and a simple web search should provide a number of contacts. Check out the Links section of this website.

For Uilleann or Other Varieties of Bagpipe

The philosophy for learning and playing all bagpipes can be much the same, though the mechanics vary. Most notably, in trying to learn the instrument, other types of bagpipe don't allow for the option of just joining a band. For uilleann pipes, a great place to start is the local Gaelic League or Irish heritage organization. In larger cities, these groups often host classes and sessions. At the very least these groups can provide other contacts. One low-cost learning approach for uilleann pipes is to acquire a penny whistle and begin to learn tunes that way. Whistle fingerings are not precisely the same and uilleann chanter fingerings, but they translate with minimal adjustment. Again, the internet is a useful research tool.

For additional information and research check out the Links section of this website.