Should I or Shouldn't I (Advice Requested from this Forum)

[Joseph_E_Smith]

@josh perkins

As old as my tongue and a little older than my teeth, as my great-grandmother, Harriet Tubman, used to say.

That’s exactly what my Grandmother used to tell me.

[upiper71]

@KDMARTINKY

I have played whistle for a little over three years now, specifically low whistles. For some strange reason I find myself drawn to the Uilleann Pipe and I love the sound (some call it noise, but not I).

My question to the forum is: Would it be foolish for a guy my age (41) to invest in a set of pipes and I need to know how hard are they to play. I know that they are much more difficult than the whistle, but considering I play the lows about 1 to 2 hours daily…I would have time to practice.

If I were convinced that they would be worth the investment, I would at this point sell all my whistles (except a couple) to gather the funds needed.

So should I or Shouldn’t I?

Thanking you inadvance for the advice.

Well after 3 years making noises, and 5 yrs of playin the tunes, I still have lots to learn but if you’ve got patience, and an eagerness to learn Uilleann pipes, my hat is off to you.

What an interesting beast to master the uilleann pipes are…good luck to you and I hope you do very well.

upiper71

[eoin]

Hi to all. I’m another one thinking about getting my hands on a set (age 25 in case that matters) and I was wondering the same things as KD so thanks for all the advice given to him.

Little bit of background now - I’m Irish and moving back there in December from abroad. When I was younger I played the scottish bagpipes (started aged 11 and kept up for a few years) and although I let it lapse, I was roped into playing for a friend’s Burns night recently and was still able to knock out a tune (severe lack of puff notwithstanding - I had to close off one of the drones). However, I always liked the mellower more melodic sound of the uilleann pipes.

Therefore I hope people can let me know more about the transition from lung power to elbow power, and how difficult it might be. Anybody out there made the same transition? What sort of variation in the chanter configuration is there etc..

[upiper71]

@eoin

Hi to all. I’m another one thinking about getting my hands on a set (age 25 in case that matters) and I was wondering the same things as KD so thanks for all the advice given to him.

Little bit of background now - I’m Irish and moving back there in December from abroad. When I was younger I played the scottish bagpipes (started aged 11 and kept up for a few years) and although I let it lapse, I was roped into playing for a friend’s Burns night recently and was still able to knock out a tune (severe lack of puff notwithstanding - I had to close off one of the drones). However, I always liked the mellower more melodic sound of the uilleann pipes.

Therefore I hope people can let me know more about the transition from lung power to elbow power, and how difficult it might be. Anybody out there made the same transition? What sort of variation in the chanter configuration is there etc..

Hi Eoin,

I am a transitioned Highland Piper to Uilleann Piper. The chanter config. is somewhat different I’d have to say by way of lower hand finger spacing, playing the chanter off the knee skill (including blocking the hole). But the transition at least for me was and still is somewhat a challenge. Certain cuts,rolls,and triplets are similiar but other things are not. It is harder to re-learn a sturdy method of playing than to begin a learn to play( at least from ) highland to uilleann…but is possible.

I still own my Dunbar & Eller’s but rarely take them out since my neighbours don’t think too kindly of me when I do take them out for a spin.