First I recommend that you find a teacher.First I recommend that you find a teacher. Its much easier to learn that way. The reason being that looking at a video or listening to a cd to learn the note, is not going to show you how to place your fingers correctly or if the sound is correct. My pipe teacher could tell when i was taking a breath of blowing too hard by the pitch of the note, helping me to recognize when the reed is off or too much liquid in the chanter.

As for Chanters i have had 3. The 1st one was cheap one,very cheap, wood split. 2. Was a Shephard, holes were not countersunk could not feel the hole , was good (it was stolen, when my car was stolen--got the car back but not the practice chanter) 3. is a Dunbar -practice chanter holes are counter sunk, much easier for my fingers-still learning it..