I play a right-handed set of pipes and I am experimenting with the use of a shoulder strap.
One thing that I am trying to figure out is where/how I attach the strap to the pipes. Can any one offer up any suggestions?
Also, I always assumed that the strap went over the left shoulder. Yet I noticed on the current issue of Piper’s Review that Wally Charm is using a strap over his right shoulder. Is one shoulder better than the other?
I don’t use the shoulder strap anymore, but when I did I found it ideal to pull it through where the bass regulator is attached to the main stock. Séamus Ennis had a little eye screwed or soldered to the main stock cup, you can see it on the photograph on “The Pure Drop”, or, much better visible, in “Pipes and Piping in Ireland”, if you have it or know someone who has. Both varieties are intended for the bag shoulder. The general idea of the strap is, to make for better access of the regulator keys. By raising your left shoulder only a little bit, you can move the whole “keyboard” up considerably. I found it extremely useful for playing baritone D and tenor F# simultaneously, because my bar. D key hasn’t got a bend like the Rowsome type keys, so I have to play D with the ball of my thumb and F# with the heel of my hand. Besides that, I’m a rather smallish guy so for me, the lower keys are further out of the way than for a taller person.
Using the strap for the right shoulder doesn’t make that much sense to me, but if it works for Wally Charm (whom I don’t know) I’m very sure it can work for someone else, too. If in doubt, just try it out and see what is best for you.
I use a strap. It is especially helpful if you have the Taylor style bass reg as Seth G does on his sets. It hleps to hold the set in place rather than just depending upon the inflated bag (which softens over time) when you don’t have the extended bar. It also can help when playing the regs with or without the bar present. When you need to reach for the lower keys, you can help by pulling your shoulder up which brings the keys up closer to your hand/wrist. Ivan Goff uses this technique, and is especially helpful with larger flat sets. I have a strap attached to the base reg mount, where it connects to the stock. I play a right handed set and put the strap over my left shoulder only (not around my shoulder and neck).
Neil
Sometimes Neil, I feel like putiing the strap around my neck when my reed goes crazy in the winter… 
Shoulder straps is for girls 
what’s Winter?