What is the difference between bagpipes

Read also: A Brief History of Bagpipes. Instead of being blown by the mouth, the instrument is inflated by bellows. Most bagpipes can only play one chromatic octave but the Irish bagpipe can play more than two chromatic octaves. It is a relatively quiet instrument being equipped with the loudness of only two fiddles.

The Irish Bagpipe comprises of three drones. Perhaps the most noteworthy characteristic of the instrument is its three or more oboes, shaped in the form of one octave, four to five harmony pipes with keys that are operated by the wrist which allows for several chords to be played in accompaniment. This means that you have to have strong lungs to be able to play the instrument constantly. This instrument is mostly played standing or marching in a marching band. Irish bagpipes, on the other hand, are inflated by the bellow, which is then contracted by the hand of the player to create the wind needed for the instrument to work.

They are usually played with the player sitting, as they need to get a better hold of the instrument to be able to control the bellow. Because of the more octaves the instrument can play, Irish bagpipes play a larger variety of chords and more elaborate melodies than their Scottish counterpart. Scottish bagpipes are much louder. Because of the way their chanter is built from the inside, they have a more intense and percussive sound. Irish bagpipes have an internal bore shape that is cylindrical.

This gives the Irish bagpipes a much softer and quieter sound. Irish bagpipes are a bit younger than their Scottish counterparts. Because of this, they are a bit more complex in their build and have several key differences.

The chanters of the Uilleann Pipe are double reed. This, together with the bellow part, means that this bagpipe is intended to be played while sitting and not standing or marching, as is the case with the Scottish bagpipes. The range of the chanters is wider—they can fit two octaves instead of one. Pipe chanters can also be shut down, as well as drones, so you can have much more control over the sounds that you play.

The main difference, though, is the regulators. Regulators are the unique feature of the Irish bagpipes. This means that you can play chords and more elaborate melodies on Irish bagpipes than you can on the Scottish ones. The Irish bagpipe is not blown by mouth but is inflated by bellows. Its most distinct characteristic, however, is perhaps its chanter which is capable of playing more than two complete chromatic octaves while most bagpipes are only capable of playing one.

It is somewhat quiet with the loudness of about two fiddles. Irish bagpipes also have three drones, but the most remarkable characteristic of the instrument is its three oboes or more, shaped in the form of 1-octave, 4- or 5-note harmony pipes with keys that are operated by the wrist which allows several chords to be played in accompaniment.

It is typically played seated with one leg lowered. It possesses one high-pitched chant which is capable of playing a small fixed scale of about 9 notes and three large drones all of which are connected to the bag held under the ram that contains the air which is blown by mouth through the blowpipe.