Modified bagpipe?

[saxandpipes]

Please don't hate me for even asking about this!.


Would it be total heresy to make something to play that would not use a bagepipe chanter but still have a "chanter" and "drones"? Would I be chased down and stoned?

My beloved has tried to get me to learn the fingering on a bagpipe chanter but my fingers just do NOT like playing straight. They cramp, ALOT!
I have some background in playing a recorder, and when playing around with youtube I came across several references to people creating bagpipe like instruments with recorders as the chanter and drone(s). Perhaps a tin whistle would work. I also saw some that made them with straws as the chanter and drones! to my untrained ear they did not sound so bad.

My other problem is I take 3 deep breaths and I get light headed. May need to get a bellows system going.


What do you think? Would it be possible? Would it even sound good? If I DO manage to make one, what key should it be in?

Julie

P.S. he does not know I am even trying to make this thing yet. I wanted to supprise him.

It would not be heresy, although some might look at you as if you were going to cause the sky to fall.

The (GHB) bagpipes are a very old instrument, but they are still developing. They are not this great mythological beast which appeared in the 16th C. and hasn't been changed since. As with all other instruments (even saxophones, which were "invented") the pipes have undergone many changes over the years.

I know an excellent piper (PM) who had problems with focal dystonia- a devastating neurological disorder especially for a musician of any kind, let alone one at the top of their field. I suggested adding a few keys to the chanter, covering the tone-holes relevant to the fingers in question. While the problem wasn't solved completely, there was enough of a change in the sensation of the fingers, to provide something new for the fingers to learn. He went from not being able to play at all, to being able to manage perfectly well, as long as it was with the new chanter. (note: he was not an amateur with bad technique)

People don't always see a problem with something, until it really makes a problem, and is sometimes too late. However, when people see that there might be something better, then things start getting invented...

For the breathing: try swimming, or running, and the other suggestions mentioned- trying to breath as normally as possible, until you just have to inflate the last little bit. (great tip).

Recorder thing- well, indeed, as mentioned above- a recorder itself won't work with the bag (not enough resistance without a reed), however, there might be something in the recorder fingering- (although, to me its really the same concept)- perhaps add something around the holes, so you can feel them more easily- of course the finger-tips are much more sensitive than the middle joint- something to consider? If you want to make something yourself- you might need to know some acoustical principles- for pitch- with regard to open and closed pipes, conical, etc... That is to say, a recorder or flute, with a reed will not produce the same pitches if it has a reed (as it becomes a closed pipe).

In general, why not experiment, just don't do anything drastic... (chopping, drilling, filing, gluing) unless its with bits of plastic pipe from the hardware store.

Good luck!

Cheers,

Michael