Wrong Handed Piper?

**Chas** · 9th January 12, 02:10 PM

I just watched BBC2's 'An Island Parish'.

Part of the story was a good-bye party for a long serving parish priest. All sorts of entertainments were planned and performed. One of which was a piping display. Three pipers marched in, the middle one piped 'right-handed' or should that be left-handed? I don't know how to explain it. The pipes were under his right arm.

I have never heard of this before. Is it common or even really possible?

Regards

Chas

**piperdown** · 9th January 12, 02:12 PM

If I'm not mistaken, Rufus(?) Harley played the pipes under his right arm.

**rsvpiper** · 9th January 12, 02:18 PM

It's not overly common Chas, I do recall seeing a piper in full No1s with the bag under his right arm, just dint look right but saying that if it works for him I for one would not care to argue with him

**Downunder Kilt** · 9th January 12, 02:20 PM

In the 2010 broadcast of the Edinburgh Tattoo the lone piper on the battlements played his pipes with the bag tucked under his right arm and drones over the right shoulder. At the end of his performance he grabbed the drones with his left hand, swung the pipes over to his left side and gave a salute with his right hand.

**castledangerous** · 9th January 12, 03:14 PM

It is not common, but it is not that strange. A band in Delaware had a pipe major who played that way. The book "Traditional Gaelic Piping" has a photo of three pipers in Nova Scotia. One plays with with the bag under his left arm, one with the bag under his right, and the third with the bag under his left arm, but with the right hand on top.

**piperdbh** · 9th January 12, 08:15 PM

The Wellington, NZ band had a 'piper in the late '90s who played left-handed. The only trouble with playing that way is for whomever has to to tie the stocks in; he has to think backwards. Of course, most stock-tiers are 'pipers, and we tend to think backwards anyway.

**ohiopiper** · 9th January 12, 09:21 PM

Like several have said already, it's not a common thing, but it's not unheard of, either.

There is a piper over on a bagpipe specific fporum that was given a choice by his doctor: Either switch arms or stop piping. He plays with the bag under his right arm and left hand on top.

**piperdown** · 10th January 12, 02:38 AM

Originally Posted by piperdbh

The Wellington, NZ band had a 'piper in the late '90s who played left-handed. The only trouble with playing that way is for whomever has to to tie the stocks in; he has to think backwards. Of course, most stock-tiers are 'pipers, and we tend to think backwards anyway.

Counter-marching with the band could cause some problems as well....

**Bob C** · 30th January 12, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by piperdown

If I'm not mistaken, Rufus(?) Harley played the pipes under his right arm.

Correct. I met him, once, at the Tartan Day parade in New York City.

**Jack Daw** · 10th January 12, 01:53 PM

I'm a southpaw, but I preferred to learn to play wrong-handedly (as you righties do). I know a pipe major/instructor in Houston that plays in the sinister manner, and more power to him!

Frankly for me, I didn't see the need to learn the pipes "left-handed". I would have had to train my left hand to do the A-birl probably as diligently as I did with my right. And, I get to use my stronger left arm to squeeze the bag.