Volume 2 of the Highland Bagpipe Tutor Book, published by Scotland's National Piping Centre, is "A Guide to Playing and Maintenance of the Highland Bagpipe." This is an excellent resource for the beginning or intermediate piper, containing important information for selecting and setting up a set of pipes. It can help students transitioning to the bagpipes to understand the parts of the pipe, how they fit together, how to maintain them, and how to keep your new pipes running properly. The layout is very clear and easy to follow, and the crisp color photos are a great feature.
Contents of the Highland Bagpipe Tutor Maintenance Guide:
Chapter 1: First Steps
Chapter 2: Getting StartedContents of the Highland Bagpipe Tutor Maintenance Guide:
Chapter 1: First Steps
- Shows and discusses the basic components of the bagpipe
- The pipe chanter reed
- Seating the reed
- Tuning the chanter
- and more
- Arm pressure
- Posture
- The blowstick
- and more
- How drones work
- Cane reeds
- Synthetic reeds
- Fitting the reeds
- Striking in
- and more
- Adjusting for balance
- Tuning a tenor drone
- Tuning positions
- Tuning with a meter
- and more
- Cleaning, oiling, watertraps
Chapter 8: Pipe Chanter Reeds
- The reed is too easy or too hard
- The reed is too sharp or flat
- and more
- Tuning drones together and tuning with the pipe chanter
- Thorough guide to bringing in and tuning the bass drone
- Tying in a pipe bag
- Tying in a chanter stock
- Understanding bagpipe pitch
- Marching
- Playing with a band
- Playing in public