Digital bagpipes
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Wheestle
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Digital bagpipes
I’m an ‘improving beginner’ with whistle and I’m thoroughly enjoying playing. Are art from High D I have a Low D and Low G whistle and I’m learning to use the ‘Piper’s Grip’ Whilst watching YouTube videos for learning and inspiration I found an intriguing video about the ‘Blair Digital Chanter’. Bagpipes without a bag and obviously the origin of the Piper’s Grip! My question is, how easy would it be to apply skills I learn on the whistle to a digital chanter? Are they similar or are they a world apart? Christmas is coming and I have a very generous wife…
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stiofan
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Re: Digital bagpipes
Probably worth posting your query over on Non-Uilleann Piping forum the as well. I imagine some folks on that forum, particularly GHB players, would have some feedback for you. Looks like there was one sold on the forum in 2020.
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pancelticpiper
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Re: Digital bagpipes
Stiofan's correct, this is a GHB matter rather than a whistle matter.
The Blair digital pipes, and many others, are specifically designed to use GHB (Great Highland Bagpipe) fingering.
However there are digital pipes designed for uilleann fingering, Spanish gaita fingering, and so forth.
Whichever of these a whistle player gets, it will involve learning some bagpipe fingerings. The gaita is the closest to the whistle, using "open" fingering, unlike the GHB and the Uilleann pipes.
Irish flute and whistle players might feel more at home with an ordinary MIDI Wind Controller. These can often be set to recognise Boehm flute fingering, sax fingering, and clarinet fingering. I don't know if there are Wind Controllers that can recognise Baroque flute, Recorder, Irish flute, or whistle.
The Blair digital pipes, and many others, are specifically designed to use GHB (Great Highland Bagpipe) fingering.
However there are digital pipes designed for uilleann fingering, Spanish gaita fingering, and so forth.
Whichever of these a whistle player gets, it will involve learning some bagpipe fingerings. The gaita is the closest to the whistle, using "open" fingering, unlike the GHB and the Uilleann pipes.
Irish flute and whistle players might feel more at home with an ordinary MIDI Wind Controller. These can often be set to recognise Boehm flute fingering, sax fingering, and clarinet fingering. I don't know if there are Wind Controllers that can recognise Baroque flute, Recorder, Irish flute, or whistle.
Richard Cook
c1980 Quinn uilleann pipes
1945 Starck Highland pipes
Goldie Low D whistle
c1980 Quinn uilleann pipes
1945 Starck Highland pipes
Goldie Low D whistle