buying a chanter kit

**porrick** · 23rd May 06, 01:09 PM

I've got a long chanter with countersunk holes from Kilberry, and a dvd called "Bagpipe Teacher" (got it from Amazon.com), which I enjoy. There is no music to read, simply follow the instructor. Messing around with the scale before I got the dvd, I had no idea what the chanter should sound like...

**jjoseph** · 26th May 06, 09:16 AM

Originally Posted by JayFilomena

... but as I surf the web, I find differnet notes, scales, prices, wood vs. Plastic etc. ...... Also, do we have any advertisers on XMarks, or members that sell Chanters that I can keep business in the community?

I dunno about keeping business w/ an Xmarker, but plastic (DELRIN) is a better choice for PRACTICE CHANTERS. I normally go for all natural stuff (would that be au naturel?), but the plastic is BEAUCOUP easier to keep clean and assemble (o-rings instead of waxing and winding thread). Keep that in mind when buying.

Good luck!

**cavscout** · 26th May 06, 09:58 AM

Are they making quality Bagpipes with O-rings? If not, I'd suggest a chanter which requires sealing the chanter with some kind of thread. It will be easier to learn how to prepare the seal on a chanter than to have to learn on a set of pipes.

**jjoseph** · 26th May 06, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by cavscout

Are they making quality Bagpipes with O-rings? If not, I'd suggest a chanter which requires sealing the chanter with some kind of thread. It will be easier to learn how to prepare the seal on a chanter than to have to learn on a set of pipes.

I found that the o-rings on the practice chanter were a blessing. The delrin is easy to keep clean as well. I think Dunbar has some decent ones like that with countersunk holes to boot. As for learning how to prep the seal... that's just as easy on the bagpipe chanter as the practice chanter, and when I want to practice on the chanter, I just wanna whip it out an give it a go without having to fiddle with the other stuff... (just re-read that.... down, boys. No laughter from the cheap seats)

**porrick** · 26th May 06, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by jjoseph

I dunno about keeping business w/ an Xmarker, but plastic (DELRIN) is a better choice for PRACTICE CHANTERS. I normally go for all natural stuff (would that be au naturel?), but the plastic is BEAUCOUP easier to keep clean and assemble (o-rings instead of waxing and winding thread). Keep that in mind when buying.

Good luck!

Agree, go plastic! Mine is made from polypenco (various names) and has wound thread - which is no hassle at all.

Main reason for plastic: it won't crack when the PC is dropped - and you will drop it; or fling it at the wall :rolleyes:

**Kiltedfirepiper** · 26th May 06, 01:41 PM

toneczar.com is a great site! Chris hamilton i believe is the owner of that site, and he will talk with you to find out exactly what you want to get, and the best way to do it.
I will also recommend the website
Bob Dunsire Bagpipe Forums

it is a huge wealth of info on bagpipes,piping,tips and tricks....and the best pipers in the world go here and offer advice to lowly pipers like us

i hope its not a problem mentioning another forum here.....but i DID find out about X-marks on Bobdusire so.......

Scott

**scoutniagara** · 19th February 07, 11:01 AM

"I'd suggest you get a full size chanter and hammer the scale grace notes and doublings until you can do them cleanly from every melody note, then you've made a start; it's not like a guitar where you can whack out a tune immediately." I fully agree!

I have two Dunbar practice chanters, a full size and a smaller size (finger spacing) that's pitched the same as the pipes. I use the full-sized one for playing/practice solo, and the smaller size for playing with the band members.

You should be on the chanter for about three years before you actually play the pipes.

I don't play my pipes much anymore, 'cause as said above, it takes over your whole life (14 to 20 hours practice per week). You can't let the pipes collect dust for a year, pick them up and expect to play them as well as before. Your breathing and fingers won't be in shape. If I'm asked to play at a funeral, or at a curling bonspiel, I need a couple of weeks to get in sufficient shape to play; but only a piper could hear that I'm not good. ;) I have a trained ear for musical pitch, and I have good pipes (Dunbar Polypenco) and artificial drone reeds.

Scottish regimental pipers went to school for seven years in order to be a piper.

With all this rabble, I think I'll go have a blow.

**scoutniagara** · 19th February 07, 11:11 AM

To keep the seal with plastic pipes, I use hemp coated with black wax. The wax heats up, makes a good seal, and sticks to the plastic. I never have a problem seating my chanter reeds to the chanter.

**wgority** · 19th February 07, 11:22 AM

FULL SIZE CHANTER - Check, I agree completely (I recommend the Walsh Full Length Blackwood)

COLLEGE OF PIPING GREEN BOOK - Check, I completely agree

TEACHER - Check, I more than completely agree. I know others have directed you to Andy Lenz's site and agree completely with that recommendation too. I want to amplify this. It is of *dire* importance that you have a teacher and not be self taught. Unless you are already an accomplished musician, teaching yourself piping is a pointless exercise in futility. Your ear is not attuned to the gracings or tonalities of the instrument. You aren't familiar enough as a beginner to know what you're doing right or wrong or how to correct what you're doing wrong. The tape/CD that comes with the College of Piping's tutor is good (very good actually), but it doesn't give instant feedback - something intrinsic in the teacher/student relationship. Don't try to teach yourself and wind up with bad habits that you'll have to unlearn in the future.

Porrick's and Daz's advice on early points of concentration are right on. Listen and live by them!

Bill

**AndrewLenzJr** · 24th February 08, 03:35 PM

Originally Posted by scoutniagara

You should be on the chanter for about three years before you actually play the pipes.

This is a very late response but the above statement is definitely open to debate. There's no hard and fast rule. I was on the practice chanter for about six months prior to starting on the full set of pipes . . . that's fairly common. Some instructors even start older students on blowing and building stamina immediately (no tunes) and work on learning fingering concurrently. I know of a 12-year-old (second generation piper) who went from zero to winning entry level competitions in six months. What's required varies greatly from student to student.

Andrew
(Piping over 10 years, Grade III competitive piper)