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  • Lessons
    • Beginner >
      • Lesson 1: Introduction and History of the Uilleann Pipes
      • Lesson 2: Parts of the Uilleann Pipe Practice Set
      • Lesson 3: Uilleann Practice Set Fundamentals
      • Lesson 4: UIlleann Pipe G and Metronomes
      • Lesson 5: Uilleann Pipe F#
      • Lesson 6: Uilleann Pipe E & Half Note
      • Lesson 7: Uilleann Pipe D​, Whole Notes & 3 Blind Mice
      • Lesson 8: UIlleann Pipe A & Legato
      • Lesson 9: Uilleann Pipe B & Tied Notes
      • Lesson 10: Uilleann Pipe C# & Dots
      • Lesson 11: Uilleann Pipe C and the Key of G
      • Lesson 12: UIlleann Pipe Back D & 8th Notes
      • Lesson 13: Easy Songs and 3/4
      • Lesson 14: Uilleann Pipe High E
      • Lesson 15: Uilleann Pipe F#
      • Lesson 16: Uilleann Pipe High G
      • Lesson 17: Uilleann Pipe High A
      • Lesson 18: Uilleann Pipe High B
      • Lesson 19: Uilleann Pipe Tunes Using Both Octaves and 2/4 Time
    • Novice >
      • Lesson 1: Tuning Uilleann Pipe Chanter
      • Lesson 2: Uilleann Pipe Low Hand Strikes
      • Lesson 3: Uilleann Pipe High Hand Strikes
      • Lesson 4: Uilleann Pipe Songs with Strikes
      • Lesson 5: Uilleann Pipe Cuts on Bottom Hand
      • Lesson 6: Uilleann Pipe Cuts on Top Hand
      • Lesson 7: Uilleann Tunes with Cuts and Strikes
      • Lesson 8: Uilleann Pipe Slow Airs and Slides
      • Lesson 9: Uilleann Pipe Vibrato
      • Lesson 10: Repeats, Intro's and Endings
      • Lesson 11: Uilleann Pipe Polkas
      • Lesson 12: Ascending Uilleann Pipe Cuts
      • Lesson 13: More Ascending Uilleann Pipe Cuts
      • Lesson 14: Descending Uilleann Pipe Cuts
      • Lesson 15: More Descending Uilleann Pipe Cuts
      • Lesson 16: Uilleann Pipe Marches
      • Lesson 17: Uilleann Pipe Triplets and Staccato
      • Lesson 18: Uilleann Pipe Hornpipes
    • Advanced >
      • Lesson 1: Uilleann Pipe Rolls in Jigs
      • Lesson 2: Uilleann Pipe Jigs
      • Lesson 3: Uilleann Pipe Rolls in Reels
      • Lesson 4: Uilleann Pipe Reels
      • Lesson 5: Uilleann Pipe Hard D
      • Lesson 6: Uilleann Pipe Ghost D
      • Lesson 7: Uilleann Pipe Short Rolls
      • Lesson 8: Uilleann Pipe Popping
      • Lesson 9: Uilleann Pipe F Natural
      • Lesson 10: Sessions and Variations in Irish Music
      • Lesson 11: Uilleann Pipe D Crans
  • Tunes
    • Airs >
      • Dawn of the Day
      • South Wind
      • Sally Gardens
    • Marches >
      • Mairi's Wedding
      • Song of the Chanter
      • Brian Boru's March
    • Polkas >
      • Britches Full of Stitches
      • John Ryan's Polka
      • Maggie in the Woods
    • Jigs >
      • Garrett Barry's Jig
      • Sporting Pitchfork
      • Kesh Jig
      • Donnybrook Fair
      • Morrison's Jig
      • The Butterfly
    • Reels >
      • Mountain Road
      • The Ships Are Sailing
      • The Morning Star
      • Merry Blacksmith
      • Cooley's Reel
      • Drowsy Maggie
    • Hornpipes >
      • Harvest Home
      • Off to California
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Lesson 2: Parts of the Uilleann Pipe Practice Set


Part of the practice set

When first learning to play the Uilleann Pipes you will learn how to play on a practice set. A practice set is comprised of a chanter, a bag and bellows. Later on, you will add drones to this practice set and maybe even bellows, but not for at least a year. Watch the videos below to get a better understanding of how a practice set works.

* If you are taking these lessons you should already have a practice set. However, if you don't have a set yet please send me an email and I can help make a few recommendations about where to buy your set.
​

​Parts of A Practice Set


The Bag

Picture

​The bags purpose is to provide a continuous flow of air to the instrument so that there can be a continuous sound. They are usually made of leather but from time to time you will find a bad made of synthetic material.  Into the bag are tied the blowpipe for the supply of air, the chanter and a stock into which the drones and regulators are inserted.


​The Bellows

Picture

​The bellows are tied around your waist and arm and  push air into the bag. The Uilleann Pipes are not mouth blown like their louder cousin, the Highland bagpipes. This allows the reed to stay dry which in-turn allows the reed to be shaved thinner producing a more mellow sound and allows the instrument to play in 2 octaves compared to the  mouth-blown Highland pipes that only have a range of  9 notes. It also allows the player to do some really cool embellishments that you will learn about later in your lessons.

The Chanter

Picture

​​The chanter is the part of the instrument upon which the melody is played. It has a double cane reed inside that produces the sound.  The reed is covered by what is called a reed cap usually made of either metal or wood. They have a conical bore and ten note holes, nine on the front and 1 at the back that is covered with your thumb.  It is open at the bottom, and the note sounded with the bottom open and all the finger holes closed is the keynote of the instrument.




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  • Home
  • Lessons
    • Beginner >
      • Lesson 1: Introduction and History of the Uilleann Pipes
      • Lesson 2: Parts of the Uilleann Pipe Practice Set
      • Lesson 3: Uilleann Practice Set Fundamentals
      • Lesson 4: UIlleann Pipe G and Metronomes
      • Lesson 5: Uilleann Pipe F#
      • Lesson 6: Uilleann Pipe E & Half Note
      • Lesson 7: Uilleann Pipe D​, Whole Notes & 3 Blind Mice
      • Lesson 8: UIlleann Pipe A & Legato
      • Lesson 9: Uilleann Pipe B & Tied Notes
      • Lesson 10: Uilleann Pipe C# & Dots
      • Lesson 11: Uilleann Pipe C and the Key of G
      • Lesson 12: UIlleann Pipe Back D & 8th Notes
      • Lesson 13: Easy Songs and 3/4
      • Lesson 14: Uilleann Pipe High E
      • Lesson 15: Uilleann Pipe F#
      • Lesson 16: Uilleann Pipe High G
      • Lesson 17: Uilleann Pipe High A
      • Lesson 18: Uilleann Pipe High B
      • Lesson 19: Uilleann Pipe Tunes Using Both Octaves and 2/4 Time
    • Novice >
      • Lesson 1: Tuning Uilleann Pipe Chanter
      • Lesson 2: Uilleann Pipe Low Hand Strikes
      • Lesson 3: Uilleann Pipe High Hand Strikes
      • Lesson 4: Uilleann Pipe Songs with Strikes
      • Lesson 5: Uilleann Pipe Cuts on Bottom Hand
      • Lesson 6: Uilleann Pipe Cuts on Top Hand
      • Lesson 7: Uilleann Tunes with Cuts and Strikes
      • Lesson 8: Uilleann Pipe Slow Airs and Slides
      • Lesson 9: Uilleann Pipe Vibrato
      • Lesson 10: Repeats, Intro's and Endings
      • Lesson 11: Uilleann Pipe Polkas
      • Lesson 12: Ascending Uilleann Pipe Cuts
      • Lesson 13: More Ascending Uilleann Pipe Cuts
      • Lesson 14: Descending Uilleann Pipe Cuts
      • Lesson 15: More Descending Uilleann Pipe Cuts
      • Lesson 16: Uilleann Pipe Marches
      • Lesson 17: Uilleann Pipe Triplets and Staccato
      • Lesson 18: Uilleann Pipe Hornpipes
    • Advanced >
      • Lesson 1: Uilleann Pipe Rolls in Jigs
      • Lesson 2: Uilleann Pipe Jigs
      • Lesson 3: Uilleann Pipe Rolls in Reels
      • Lesson 4: Uilleann Pipe Reels
      • Lesson 5: Uilleann Pipe Hard D
      • Lesson 6: Uilleann Pipe Ghost D
      • Lesson 7: Uilleann Pipe Short Rolls
      • Lesson 8: Uilleann Pipe Popping
      • Lesson 9: Uilleann Pipe F Natural
      • Lesson 10: Sessions and Variations in Irish Music
      • Lesson 11: Uilleann Pipe D Crans
  • Tunes
    • Airs >
      • Dawn of the Day
      • South Wind
      • Sally Gardens
    • Marches >
      • Mairi's Wedding
      • Song of the Chanter
      • Brian Boru's March
    • Polkas >
      • Britches Full of Stitches
      • John Ryan's Polka
      • Maggie in the Woods
    • Jigs >
      • Garrett Barry's Jig
      • Sporting Pitchfork
      • Kesh Jig
      • Donnybrook Fair
      • Morrison's Jig
      • The Butterfly
    • Reels >
      • Mountain Road
      • The Ships Are Sailing
      • The Morning Star
      • Merry Blacksmith
      • Cooley's Reel
      • Drowsy Maggie
    • Hornpipes >
      • Harvest Home
      • Off to California
  • Blog
  • Links
  • Contact