How to Learn to Play the Bagpipes

 So, you’ve decided to learn the bagpipes?

Awesome choice! This unique and powerful instrument has been captivating audiences for centuries.

There’s an old saying that ‘bagpipes are the easiest instrument to learn, but the hardest to master’.

This is absolutely true. Bagpipes are arguably one of the most straightforward instruments in the world. They have one key, a scale of (kind of) only nine notes, and a chanter that has no moving parts, so they’re relatively simple compared to other instruments.

But, they have a reputation for a reason. Bagpipes can be a challenging instrument even for experienced musicians to learn, due to the balance of technique, maintenance, physical strength and stamina required to play them well.

Mastering the pipes is a lifelong pursuit, but pipers who take their development seriously see this as a steady, rewarding journey of continuous improvement, rather than a race to a fixed end-point.

That’s part of the fun!

But where do you even begin? Let’s break it down step by step.

Solo, Tutoring or Learning with a Band: Ways to Learn

Learn online

While there are hundreds of YouTube videos with tutorials on how to play the practice chanter, it can be hard to know where to start or how to progress without guidance, and staying motivated to learn is tough when you're doing it solo.

We have online, self-paced courses designed specifically to help brand-new beginners become amazing pipers, supported by an online community of pipers and world-class tutors who can help you stay on track - it costs less than the price of a single private lesson per month, and you'll have fun while doing it! Learn more about joining our online bagpipe and drumming school. 

Private tutor

Many pipers opt to study with a private tutor. While it can be a more expensive way to learn, this is a fantastic option to receive dedicated, personalized feedback as you progress, and many of the great pipers in the world today learned with a personal tutor. Many pipers who regularly perform and play with bands have private tutors for ongoing development well into their piping careers too.

You can find local tutors in your area by searching online or asking your local pipe band or association for recommendations, or you can search for tutors who teach online - many private tutors now give lessons over Zoom, and this opens up options for tutors in places further away than your immediate town or city too! 

Learn with a band

Pipers and drummers are a close-knit group. While the process of learning to play is its own reward, many (perhaps even most) pipers find that joining a local band gives them a social group and musical community who can provide support, tips, and motivation - plus a goal to join and play with the band at parades, playouts, and events.

Lots of bands teach beginners how to play - some will charge a small fee, while others do it for free. Usually, there's an expectation that if you learn with the band, you'll repay their teaching by becoming a playing member and performing with them at events. 

You can either google "bagpipes" and your city or town to see what local teaching bands pop up in the results, or you can contact your local pipe band association who will happily connect you with local bands that teach. 

The Process: How to Learn

Your timeline from complete beginner to performing piper will depend on a number of factors including how much time you have, your musical background, how interested and immersed you are in a piping environment, to name just a few. 

But the process is largely the same. Here's what to expect as you get started. 

Step 1: Start with a Practice Chanter

Before jumping into the full bagpipes (which you won't need for a while when you first get started), you’ll need a practice chanter. It’s a smaller, quieter version of the pipes, perfect for learning finger placement and tunes. Every piper starts on a practice chanter, but we also use them throughout our musical journey as a practice instrument (our neighbors seem to prefer them to the full pipes too!). They're also much more affordable than a set of bagpipes, and much easier to carry around. 

Step 2: Master the Basics

You'll start with the basics: how to hold the chanter, proper finger placement, and how to blow a steady stream of air, before you start to learn grace notes and embellishments - little flourishes add rhythm and style to the music. 

Don’t rush! Good technique early on makes everything easier later. How long it takes to get used to this varies from player to player, but you get out what you put in - and consistent practice will pay off! Even 15 minutes a day will help you improve steadily (and more steadily than a massive hour-long session once a week). 

Understanding basic sheet music is also very helpful. Bagpipe music has its quirks, but we use the same basic music notation as other instruments, so learning how to read music will be essential if you want to learn new tunes or play with a band someday. We have a whole bagpipe tutor course that has dedicated sections to teach you sight reading, and most bands and tutors will teach learners who have no musical background how to read music as well. 

Step 3: Transition to the Full Bagpipes

Once you’re confident on the chanter, it’s time to try the full bagpipes. We recommend you start working on this in tandem with your fingerwork on your practice chanter (check out our Transitioning to the Bagpipes course for an in-depth tutorial on your instrument and how to play it well) but if you're working with a tutor or band they may have different processes or requirements before you transition to the full instrument.

Be patient—learning to coordinate blowing, squeezing, and playing all at once takes time.

Remember, learning the bagpipes is a journey. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it. Stick with it, and soon, you’ll be playing like a pro!

Get started: Join Dojo U Today!

Our faculty of world-class pipers teaches thousands of students around the world how to play good music – mastering the art of learning and playing the bagpipes (and now, the snare drum as well!) in the process – in a highly accessible way that is completely unlike anything else you'll find online or in person, anywhere in the world.

With self-paced courses, 20+ weekly live classes, in person events and online workshops throughout the year, and an active online community of thousands of pipers from around the world, Dojo U is a rich environment to learn to play the bagpipes!

We'd love to welcome you to our community! Join Dojo U today.