What's the difference?

Pardon my ignorance but I'm really only familiar with the GHP. Could someone give a break down of some of the different types of pipes? (ie border pipes, reel pipes, Fireside Pipes, Lowland Pipes)
Cheers,

Reid

It's not ignorance Reid, it's what we are exposed to. For most of my life I thought of Pipes as GHB and nothing more. Over recent years I've had the opportunity to listen to Smallpipes, Bellow pipes, and even some tunes on Bulgarian pipes.
I'm looking forward to reading what, someone far more knowledgable than us, has to say about the different style of pipes.

janelle wrote:It's not ignorance Reid, it's what we are exposed to. For most of my life I thought of Pipes as GHB and nothing more. Over recent years I've had the opportunity to listen to Smallpipes, Bellow pipes, and even some tunes on Bulgarian pipes.
I'm looking forward to reading what, someone far more knowledgable than us, has to say about the different style of pipes.

Thanks Janelle and you are abosolutely right. I haven't been exposed but I am interested.

One of the problems is that a term used by one person means something completely different to someone else.

The instrument could be bellows blown or wet blown, could have a different number of drones, and differences in size, key etc etc.

Some drones are tied in with individual stocks such as with the GHB, whilst others may be tied in via just one or two stocks. Some have two drones, others three drones or even four.

To make matters worse, there are certain 'names' which in recent years have become synonymous with specific bagpipe makers, yet in days gone by, the 'name' may have been a generic one.

A typical example would be the term "firesides".....today, there are those who automatically equate this with a product from Gibson Bagpipes, as the company markets one of its products under that name.....and yet twenty odd years ago....."firesides" to me simply meant a set of miniature GHB.....as did "kitchen pipes" as did "parlour pipes".

Again the term "parlour pipes" may have certain connotations, given the number of Pakistani made sets which are sold on ebay under that very name.

Miniature GHB, shuttle pipes, lowland pipes, reel pipes, border pipes, 3/4 GHB....the list of names goes on and on. Then you've got bagpipes associated with Engerlund....such as Northmbrian bagpipes, and others associated with Ireland or continental Europe....

I know absolutely nothing about bellows bagpipes....once tried to play a set and realised quickly that I didn't have that thing called "co-ordination" LOL

I personally have a set of miniature bagpipes which are mouth blown.

The chanter is in Bb and they have three drones.....one tenor, one bass and one alto.
I have to make a wee confession as well.....I have a tupperware bag on them and tupperware reeds !

David "Blue" MacMurchie made them about four years ago.....and they were well worth the money.

Great fun to play....and in Bb....the finger spacings on the chanter are similar to a practice chanter. I gather that with chanters in other keys....the finger spacings may be very different....however perhaps someone else who knows for sure....could better advise.

Nowadays, there is one Edinburgh based company in particular that sells a product marketed as 'practice pipes'. I have seen (but not played) a set. Looked as if they had a practice chanter tied into a bag with three copper tubes as drones. Can't say I was impressed....thought of it more as a gimmick.

Again however, on the pro-side......they are significantly cheaper to buy new, than a 'proper' set of fireside/kitchen/miniature bagpipes.

PipingConnections : - have you played them ? I'm sure you will know the company I am referring to and may have actually seen / played them ?

Stormy : - do you not have a set of bellows blown pipes ? smallpipes ? I'm sure I saw a photo of you playing a set before ?

I don't know enough about it to say any more. There is a Lowland Pipers Society that used to have a website and there was also a webpage on answers.com or wickipedia which made an attempt at describing the various types of bagpipe. Try google-ing !

I think that maybe Stormy could better describe what is commonly known as Lowland Pipes or Smallpipes. If David Hunter (DundeePiper) is around (hint hint).....he may have knowledge on the subject.

(p.s......Janelle......"Blue" MacMurchie is an Aussie...who returned to the land of his ancestors....lol)

Thank you, Ron. I've never been exposed to anything other than GHB either... with the exception of small pipes. Each year at the workshop I attend, the instructors do a lovely concert on Friday night and Jim McGillivray plays his small pipes. Absolutely beautiful!!

Here is a link to one of his performances if anyone is interested.

Jim McGillivray

There are several more... just do a quick search on his name and enjoy! My first year I was right on the front row, not six feet away from him. I was in awe... I just hope I didn't sit there with my mouth hanging open!! :shock:

Just googled.......there's loads of references re. the wide variety of types of bagpipes !

Two that you might want to start with are : -

http://www.hotpipes.com/main.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Types_of_bagpipes

@TBP thanks for the info m8
@Katie Thanks for the youtube clip

TBP has made a very good post.
It is really difficult to answer your question Reid on a forum such as this. I can only suggest that you use the internet or local library and research the history of the pipes.

The first difference is that of a "bagpipe" and a "pipe".
A "pipe" is mentioned in the bible but it did not have a bag.
(See my thread in the history section).


I play (allegedly!) the GHB and Scottish Smallpipes. Note that I call them Scottish. Northumbrian pipes could also be called "smallpipes (I think). Smallpipes can also be mouth blown (wet air) or bellows (dry air).
Lowland pipes (as played by Fred Morrison) are totally different in sound and size fom Scottish Smallpipes. Northumbrian Pipes (which I have tried playing) do not have holes but "buttons" and you only lift one finger at a time.
It's getting complicated isn't it!!

I alo have a set of the "practice pipes" previously mentioned and I personally love them. They are mouth blown but you should however look upon them as a "party piece" kinda thing. They could none the less be used as a "half way" between practice chanter and pipes.

Be careful that you do not confuse a retail name with a particular style of instrument (TBP hinted at this). The true style of different pipes is best discoverd by historical research. There are many books which would be of assistance to you. I am aware of a member of another forum who would disagree with my post in the history area of these forums. It is for you to do your own research and make a decision.

Thanks @reid for this interesting post.
Thanks @TBP for your knowldege on the subject.
Thanks @Stormy for the additional knowledge and posting on the subject.

Thanks girls for your additional info

Thanks for all the input guys, as always you've been most helpful.
Cheers,

Reid

Nowadays, there is one Edinburgh based company in particular that sells a product marketed as 'practice pipes'. I have seen (but not played) a set. Looked as if they had a practice chanter tied into a bag with three copper tubes as drones. Can't say I was impressed....thought of it more as a gimmick.

Again however, on the pro-side......they are significantly cheaper to buy new, than a 'proper' set of fireside/kitchen/miniature bagpipes.

PipingConnections : - have you played them ? I'm sure you will know the company I am referring to and may have actually seen / played them ?

Just noticed this Sorry!!!

I got a set of these when they first came out about 6 years ago didnt think much of them the sound outah the drones were not too bad but the chanter was woefull > I got the drones changed free of charge and a diff chanter, still no improvement the chanter is in between a standard practise chanter and a long practise chanter but is way off on certain notes .
I now use them for the beginners to get the idea of blowing and squeezing as soon as they can, it seems to make the jump easier to understand for them before going on to the big pipe.

I certainly would not recommend them to anyone serious about buying a musical instrument.