Why are Uilleann Pipes difficult?

[QWERT]

Hi!

I wanted to ask you something. After playing Swedish bagpipes for some time, my wife has bought me a half-set of Uilleann Pipes. I've always love the sound, but never decided to learn to play them. The thing is that I've been looking on the internet and lots of websites say that it's very difficult to play them, but they don't explain why.
As first sight, it doesn't seem very difficult but I'm sure it is. What I wanted to ask is if someone could give me an explanation of why is it so hard to learn to play them.

Thanks!
Q

[Mr.Gumby]

They are not extremely difficult overall although the devil is in the detail. Keeping them going well can be a bit of an issue at times. That said and done, a well set up set of pipes does not present more difficulties than most other instruments.

[john]

they're no harder/easier than any other instrument - sometimes making out that they are uniquely challenging adds to the mystique of piping - pipers are usually held up in their development because of playing an unreliable instrument not because the instrument is objectively any more difficult than another one that is less troublesome to keep in working order

[Steve Pribyl]

They are difficult by design-to keep the wimps away!

[rorybbellows]

I think they are a harder instrument to make sound good and I also think progress is slower than with other instruments.

RORY

[CHasR]

most other bagpipes require one, maybe two difrent levels of air pressure.

the UP chatner alone requires differing pressures for each tessitura; add drones & regs & youre talking multiple layers , almost, of different pressures.

the required co ordination, involving bellows, bag, regs, plus a chanter with a unique fingering method, is considerable.

the fact that double reeds are particularly subsceptable to slight changes in temperature & humidity requires additonal knowledge about how to optimize the instrument ,INTERNALLY, for performance in varying conditions. It's kind of like tuning a small pipe-organ every time one plays.

lastly, few other musicians quite grasp what we go through to coax the UP into singing "just so".

plus there all these other, surly,( & even surlier), pipers to deal with

[Johnered66]

my 2 cents is that it's tough to learn in isolation, but it's kinda cool that there aren't all that many pipers all over the place...it's not an overly exposed instrument...it's just right...anyone can learn it, in the right setting.

[MTGuru]

They are difficult by design-to keep the wimps away!

Say, that works for me!

- MTGuru, non-piper

[CHasR]

where the heck is Uilliam , at this point in the thread, is what I want to know

[Hans-Joerg]

I think it is because they are so extremely different from any other instrument.
- they are comparably difficult to tune
- you can´t influence the loudness when playing - it is either on or off (no quiet hiding "in the background of a session")
- unlike other bagpipes they have a range of 2 octaves (which can be a nightmare for the reed [and therefore for the piper])
- they allow for the shortest (and easyest) staccato I ever heard (which makes a rich demanding [and pleasing] palette of uilleann pipes - typical ornamentations possible)

[QWERT]

I think it is because they are so extremely different from any other instrument.
- they are comparably difficult to tune
- unlike other bagpipes they have a range of 2 octaves

How do you tune the Uilleann Pipes?
The Swedish bagpipes were tuned by moving a bridle that was tied around the reed. Is it in a similar way?

How do you play the second octave? Why is a nightmare for the reed?

[Hans-Joerg]

Tuning is done by setting the chanter-reed a bit further in or out.
(and thats only the chanter - BUT the drones have tuning slides). The bridle is for opening or closing the reed a bit and thus adopting it to changing humidity conditions - a little drawback of bellows-blown bagpipes.

I meant comparably difficult in view of instruments with pegs or tuning slides.

You get the 2nd 8ve by raising the pressure a little. It is a bit difficult to get a good reed going. After a while you´ll have a go at making your own. You´ll find out then why .

Read the FAQ thread!

[maki]

FAQ pages;
Chiff and Fipple
Uilleann Obsession

[irishpiper]

Hi!

...my wife has bought me a half-set of Uilleann Pipes.

Wow..I can’t even get my wife to stay in the same room while I’m playing my pipes let alone buy me a set. You are one lucky man!!

[Nanohedron]

Hi!

...my wife has bought me a half-set of Uilleann Pipes.

Wow..I can’t even get my wife to stay in the same room while I’m playing my pipes let alone buy me a set. You are one lucky man!!

Yeah, about that...QUERT's case is a bit before the fact, isn't it.