Hey guys, I was just wondering…how many of you played the Highland Pipes and then took up Uilleann Pipes later on?
I’m asking because I’ve been playing Highland Pipes for 10 years and have just ordered my practice set. I was hoping to get insight from those members who have done the same thing and perhaps get some pointers - things to watch out for.
I’ve read the article from Mr. Daye - I was looking for some practical advise.
Slainte! 
I took up uilleann after playing GHB for several years, and here’s what I found: First of all, the hand position feels a bit different and takes some getting used to, as well as the fingering. You may find that you get lots of squeaks (particularly going to lower notes) because of not covering the holes quite right. This can be frustrating, but you’ll get it. Also tricky is getting into the second octave consistantly–something you don’t have to deal with at all on GHB. The bag pressure is naturally somewhat different, and a bit more complex. The bellows action takes some getting used to, but becomes natural more quickly than you might think. I hope this helps.
I did… not too proud of it… then again… not too ashamed either…
This is precisely my situation. I still play my GHBs and I like to compete (grade 3). I played for about 10 years and just started Ups last February.
Fingering: I was afraid of it at first, but it worked out fine. This month, I finally had someone tell me to move my high hand inward to play with the second segment instead of the pads on the tips. That was hard, but a few hours later I can play everything again. Last night at band practice, I tried playing a bit using uilleann finger positions and it was amusing… Still going to keep them separate…
I learned NOT to try to play tunes on both instruments. Maybe this works okay for others, but it just ruins both cersions for me. I play a mean Mason’s Apron on GHBs and when I first got my UPs I learned it using UP fingering… what a mistake… I still goof that up now on GHBs.
Bellows: I played bellows smallpipes for several years, so that was not new.
Reed making: ugh… I get one good reed out of every dozen or so, but I understand that isn’t so bad. I have come to enjoy this little craft and hope to be good at it…one day.
I didn’t find getting the second octave too hard, but balancing the chanter so that two octaves are in tune really befuddled me at first.
I think playing both complements both in some general ways: my fingers are stronger and more controlled, I think.
Downside is keeping up practice on 2 instruments. I’m very hooked on these UPs and my band just came out with fall music… hard to tear away to work on GHB stuff.
I am very, very much enjoying this instrument and wonder… much as I still love playing GHBs, would I have ever bothered to learn GHBs if I had learned UPs first?
Of course, another point might be that, since I don;t have a teacher, I could not have made the good progress I have made on UPs had I not already been proficient on the GHB and SSP.
I think I stored some impressions of my experience starting the UPS somewhere on this forum for future reference… try a search under my user name djones…
Have fun!
DJones
IIRC there have been articles about this in past issues of The Pipers’ Review.
Hey guys, thanks a lot. I have been practicing a few light tunes on the uilleann pipe chanter while waiting for my practice set to come in about 6 weeks or so. I was wondering how the transition will be. I appreciate this and any other advise that comes my way.
Djones…I also love playing Mason’s Apron but “only” after warming up for a couple of minutes…otherwise you can hurt yourself!
I was thinking about transposing a few Irish Highland Bagpipe tunes for the Uilleann Pipes; but I think I’ll pass on that for now until I can get a good roll and doubling down pat. 
Slainte!
Almost every GHB player I’ve spoken to has said that the main criteria for finding it easy are being bellows proficient and being a whistle player. Most GHB players who become interested in the GHB do tend to have both of these anyway,. If you don’t have both of these, you’ll find it a longer slog; but hey you’ve already learnt one hard intrument, you’re only learning a second…
Cheers,
Calum
Thanks Calum, I also play a low D whistle which I am using on Clarke’s book on piping. Hopefully that will aid in the learning curve!
Thanks for the words of encourgement!
I have played GHB’s for 20 years now. Uilleann’s for about 15 months. Unfortunately I did not have whistle or bellows experience and have felt that dealing with everything including the bellows has slowed me down.
I have noticed that whistle players pick it up quicker. I think for several reasons. You are used to going into a second octave which requires pressure sensitivity. The fingering is closer and you are probably more used to playing by ear with the whistle.
I sure wish I had taken up the UP’s 20 years ago or more. But it is a great instrument and I am sticking with it.
One thing I have noticed that I have done playing the GHB’s, which is not often these days, I have, subconsciously, turned the chanter to play off my leg, while standing of course.
Playing warpipes for 18 years. UPipes for 3 years. Use the NPU video.
Practice upipes everyday. No problems with fingering. Found easier to replay warpipe tunes on upipes. Practice is everything do the basics everyday.
Good Luck
Have no problem switching between them. Was already playing the Highland Pipes for five years and have now gotten an Uilleann practice set. Getting used to the pressure differences and mastering the bellows took about a month.
Highland tunes fit well and with the wider range of the Uilleann chanter you can play traditional tunes as they were written and not chopped and changed to suit the nine notes
Beware the beast appearing on E-bay - it is NOT an Uilleann or Northumbrian Bagpipe and does not suit the highland or uilleann piper. I know from bitter experience having once owned chanter in this style. It is covered by another thread but here is the link again
Advice for a practice set is to find a maker near to you if possible and check they make all the other parts as like me you will be looking to add drones fairly quickly