There is so little direction on the web, however there exist large quantities of information. This can make it very confusing and daunting to get started. The intent of this page is to be briefly provide some clarity via some possible paths and alternatives for those with varying motivations. Luckily, the starting point is the same regardless of your motivation.
You need to know how to read music. Bagpipe music has extra notes from that of normal music but that is easy to pick up once you can read music. My suggestion is to choose either of two paths:
This path assumes that cost is a major issue. You can obtain one for as little as $25 (USD) and there are books to teach yourself music. Also, you may be able to find a teacher in your area. The fingerings on the recorder are similar to the saxaphone, thus you could utilize a saxaphonist to teach you. Really, any musician could teach you to read music. Most of the self teach recorder books have the scale fingerings in the book which you can teach yourself. Also, you can play Bagpipe fingerings on a recorder if you know how to transcribe the music. Many Bagpipe tunes sound good on the recorder.
Now, you can read music and play an inexpensive instrument. If you still have enough interest to continue, purchase a practice chanter and start learning to play the Bagpipes. Practice chanters are the training instrument for the Bagpipes and are used throughout your bagpiping experience.
A good book to start learning the pipes is "The College of Piping Tutor #1". This is commonly called the "green" book as it is green. If you plan to enter bagpiping competitions, you should find an instructor or a Bagpipe band to help you.
Being an experienced musician is a great head start. It is especially so if you play a woodwind instrument (Saxaphone, Clarinet, Flute....). Bagpipe fingers are not too different from other woodwind instruments, thus things will feel a little familiar to you. You will need to retrain yourself on the scales as similar fingerings will map to different notes.
A good book to start learning the pipes is "The College of Piping Tutor #1". This is commonly called the "green" book as it is green. If you plan to enter bagpiping competitions, you should find an instructor or a Bagpipe band to help you.
Now, you decide whether you want to compete or is this for fun/personal enjoyment. If personal enjoyment is your motivation there are many options that are less expensive than the options for competition pipers. If you are not interested in competition, you would not necissarily need to purchase a set of Great Highland Bagpipes (GHB) which would cost between $800 (USD) and $16,000 (USD). A very nice sounding set can be purchased (at the time of this writing (Oct. 2005)) for less than $1,500 (USD). I'll briefly outline some of the options for the two paths.
At this point, there are several options that start at as little as $110 (USD).But don't purchase anything until you've heard it or something similar to it. Find a pipe band and they'll help you. Also, many of the vendors web pages have recordings for click and play just so you can hear the instrument before you purchase. Any of these options could be final bagpipe type instrument for those doing this only for personal enjoyment.
This is the traditional step. It is a bag with a blow pipe and chanter but without the drones. It is easier than the GHB but more difficult than the practice chanter. It allows you to work on steady blowing and bag technique at a smaller expense. Also, it should build up your lung capacity to prepare you for the GHB. However, you might prefer the next and relatively newer option of practice/kitchen pipes.
The practice/kitchen pipes are much smaller, quieter and less expensive than the GHB. But it seems to be a better step up instrument than a practice goose. I've read reviews that range from good to bad. While some say it is a nice instrument with a better sound than a goose and more rewarding to play, others claim they sound like a practice chanter that has an electric shaver running in tune as the drones.
These are neat! You don't blow; you finger a chanter like object like you would the chanter. They sound like the GHB. Some have an adjustable sound for GHB to fireside pipes. The sound comes out of a speaker or amplifier (similar to a guitar amp). You can even use a headset.
Be careful ordering as some of these are bellows blown vs mouth blown. Either is fine but be sure you order the one you want. If you are working your way up to the GHB, then mouth blown is the recomendation. Also, these are tuned to different keys. Some come with multiple chanters so you can change the tuning yourself. The GHB is typically a B-flat instrument.
The amenities of these are a great sound and they are quieter than the GHB. They are good for indoor use and indoor practice. One man tells me he loves to go camping and play his Fireside pipes by the campfire with friends and without disturbing the entire campground.
These pipes are designed for playing with a band but require less air to play. They can be utilized by those with respiratory issues that keep them from playing a full size set of GHB. Thus, older people or very young people may be the primary audience but also people in their prime years with mild respiratory issues might find these useful. At the time of this writing, Gibson makes a set of 3/4 size GHB.
For the competition piper, the path is fairly clear. Get Bagpipe instructor and/or hook up with a Bagpipe band. He/she/they can help you with when and what to purchase. I'll list some possibilities:
This could be the least expensive route but maybe not. Remember, the full size Great Highland Bagpipes are loud. So, you may also invest in another practice instrument that is quieter such as electronic pipes, practice pipes or small pipes. These options are outlined elsewhere on this page.