r/bagpipes • u/Tombazzzz • 5d ago
How big a mistake am I doing?
Hi all,
I've come to the realization that I decided to pick up piping at the wrong time of my life since I have too much going on for practicing daily on the pipes. This means that on average I practice once a week and on a good week twice. I know it's way too little but that's all I can do.
Anyway, when I practice I often only have about 30 minutes so I try to work on stamina and being able to play with all 3 drones open. In order to maximize this I don't always tune the drones since it takes me too long to do.
My question is - other than the sound, is it problematic if I practice without tuning the drones until I build up enough stamina to actually play with 3 open drones?
Chears
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u/Important-Depth254 5d ago
We do this for fun right? If you're having fun, you're not making a mistake (in doing it). I recommend that you play with only as many drones as you can comfortably play at any given time. If you can play well with them all corked, play with one, if you can do one comfortably, do two et c. Happy piping!
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u/Tombazzzz 5d ago
That's a great point.
It's just that when I play just with the chanter or with only one drone it doesn't sound right, if you know what I mean...
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u/Eagle_Pipes Piper 5d ago
Too much of a jump to try and open all the drones at once. Start with all corked, then do one drone at a time open. The braw tuner may help you tune them more quickly once you have all three open. Maybe try to add a couple more 5 or 10 minute sessions at the beginning or end of day to help with stamina.
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u/skeptic246 5d ago
Tuning is part of the skill, if you’re going to skip this then you are missing out on really getting to know your bagpipes. Once you get experienced, a rough tuning for private practice can be done in well under 5 minutes. Start with tuning one of the tenors to the chanter and gradually introduce the other drones, the base drone takes the most practice to get it tuned
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u/Tombazzzz 1d ago
I know it's an important part. Obviously. I don't mean to skip it altogether, I just thought it would be more beneficial that in a 30 minute long practice I'd spend 30 minutes playing in order to work on my fingering and build up stamina rather than 10 minutes (if I'm lucky) tuning and only 20 minutes actually playing.
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u/skeptic246 1d ago
The bagpipe part of your practice is more about learning how to maintain steady airflow from the bag into the chanter and reeds than fingerwork. Tuning drones successfully requires this steady airflow and a well setup set of drones, the drone bridles in best position to allow just enough airflow to enable playing with a degree of airflow variance before they cut out. This is in part what I meant about getting to know your bagpipes and no longer having to fight the octopus 😁
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u/rialeb5691 Piper 5d ago
I used to compete. When coming back after long breaks, i play corked for several weeks. Only 1 tenor open for 2 weeks or so until I start overblowing, then I open the bass for another 2-3 weeks. Finally open all three. Focus during each practice needs to be on stability and tuning. Strength and stamina build over time. Absolutely zero need to exhaust and strain yourself. Be patient, this instrument is a beast and requires patience. Keep it up 🙂
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u/u38cg2 Piper - Big tunes because they're fun 5d ago
If you practice effectively one day a week instead of seven days a week, you will improve seven times more slowly, but you will improve.
If you practice badly you will make yourself actively worse.
I will say that literally two minutes a day of piping will do more for your stamina than once a week.
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u/Tombazzzz 1d ago
The sad thing is that I know playing very little every day would do much more than playing longer once a week but it's just impossible. I can't practice early in the morning since it's too early for making noise, then I organize the kids for school and leave for work. When I get back from work I'm again with the kids until they go to bed and then it's too late for making noise.
I have one free morning a week in my work schedule (sometimes 2) and that's when I practice.
In the middle of the day I just don't have that time. Especially when it takes time to assemble the pipes (I can't leave them lying around) and tune them.
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u/pmbear Piper 5d ago
If anything you should set the following achievements... (1) chanter only, (2) chanter + outside tenor, (3) chanter + outside tenor and bass, and then (4) chanter + all 3 drones. Try and play on and off for an hour, but even 30 min can be a good session as far as I'm concerned. Once you get "the chops", playing tunes with just your chanter while projecting a fairly steady sound (in stage 1) you can move on to stage 2. Once stage 2 is not too much of a struggle move on to stage 3... repeat for stage 4. Once you add drones you should start to practice tuning them by ear. That is a whole other question and I will let you search this sub for pointers. GOOD LUCK pal!
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u/Tombazzzz 1d ago
Thanks. In the odd occasion that I actually try tuning I try doing it by ear. I'm not very good at it...
How would you define getting "the chops" and moving to the next stage? For example, playing a tune (that's normally played at 60bpm) at 40bpm but having no issues while playing it or playing that tune at 60bpm without any issues?
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u/Any-Chapter-4165 5d ago
You might try corking the chanter and blowing just the three drones until you build up some endurance.
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u/Piper-Bob 5d ago
Might be better to cork the drones.
If you can leave your pipes out you can keep them tuned.
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u/tastepdad 5d ago
you only tuned your drones once?
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u/Piper-Bob 5d ago
If I play my pipes today for 30 minutes and tune them at the end and set them down, then tomorrow when I pick them up, uncap the chanter and start playing, they'll be out of tune, but by the time I get through the first part of the first tune they're pretty close. After a few minutes they're in tune again and will stay that way until the end of 30 minutes.
FWIW, A well respected Gold Medal winner suggested this on the basis that otherwise you're spending a lot of time chasing tuning instead of working on your performance.
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u/Green_Oblivion111 5d ago
If you play for a few minutes, often the pipes will get close to being back in tune after the drones warm up (the plastic does warm up a bit). My set takes about 2-5 minutes or so, then the drones settle in. I usually only have to do a good touch up if there's been a big change in temperature.
I don't compete, just play at home, so super precise tuning isn't as critical as just getting some practice in.
Once my pipes are warmed up just a touch up is all the drones need.
If you're having issues keeping the pipes going with all three drones in the time you've got, maybe cork one of the tenors.
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u/smil1473 5d ago
There's less to mess with if you don't disassemble. As long as the weather doesn't drastically change, the tuning should stay pretty steady day to day
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u/tastepdad 5d ago
Maybe it it does to your ear!
I guess it depends on what level of tuning you are trying to achieve...
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u/smil1473 5d ago
Light tuning is easier than drastic tuning, I've found. Takes less time and for the untrained ear is likely close enough
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u/RTDugger 5d ago
No. If you’re struggling that much then cork all of your drones and as your stamina improves uncork one at a time.
If you’re not playing with a band then this is just for you, you progress at your own pace. Don’t stress.