Hello, I am a whistler of about 6 years, the last 4 taking the instrument seriously avidly studying scales, modes, ornamentation etc. Im not meaning to boast but i can play quite decently and play whistle in a local group alongside a good fiddler. Im quite capable of playing many tunes on whistle. Im wondering how difficult/different the transition is from whistle to the pipes. Im seriosuly considering a set of smallpipes in D. I do have a practice chanter but find it quite boring to learn using it. I play whistle with my fingertips instead of pads, and rather than resting my pinky on the whistle, I use my bottom “d” finger to cover the hole most of the time instead of my pinky. If anyone has any advice on going from whistle to pipes, stories, experieneces I would LOVE to hear them!
thank you for your time
This has come up a few times before, and like everything else here, is a bone of contention. You have mentioned small pipes. Which type of small pipes? I’m not sure, but I don’t think they all have the same fingering as each other, let alone whistle.
Some people find the differences significant, others don’t see a big deal. The back d hole on a UP chanter is different from whistle. Keeping the chanter down on the knee is different, as is keeping the tone holes covered when not being played. Having an Eb hole is different. Closing all the tone holes to jump the octave is different, and the whole physical gamut of pumping bellows and controlling pressure with the bag will be new.
For all that, the scales are essentially the same. I guess its really up to the individual as to whether or not these things are all that significant to your ability to making the music.
djm
I don’t think transitioning from whistle to pipes will a real big deal. Given time, you won’t even have to think about differences in fingering - you’ll just do it.
If you are sessioning with folks who play a lot of Irish tunes, I wouldn’t even consider playing smallpipes - and I assume you’re talking Scottish smallpipes here. With just nine notes on the chanter you would have a limited repertoire at best. At worst, you would end up cobbling up a tune so badly that it wouldn’t be worth playing. You could do better on Northumbrian smallpipes pitched in concert G or D, but again, if your interests lie with the Irish tunes, you might as well get an Uilleann pipe chanter since NSP aren’t particularly cheap. That’s just my opinion.
Gotta use your finger pads on any pipes I play GHBs and plan to start on SSPs to bring to my session I know a few who play SSPs at sessions it isn’t that bad the “restrictions” on the smaller scale is complete crap made up by UP players (no offense). The fingerings for SSPs in D are the same as in A or Bb just sound different notes for different fingerings it would really be a learning curve for adding the extra fingers on certain notes that you would not be used to adding. I say go for the UPs because you can’t learn Scottish pipes wihtout a Practice Chanter it is not possible the embellishments (grace notes, cuts, etc.) are too hard when you have bag control to worry about I say don’t even think about it. If you really wnat to learn SSPs I say find a GHB teacher and have him/her help you and they will tell you when you are ready for the pipes. 
Hope this helps.
The SSP uses half open fingering as does the GHB and only plays 9 notes total, so you either have to learn new tunes or learn how to “fold” them into 9 notes.
To match the D whistle, you would need a set pitched in A as D is so tiny that unless you have very slim fingers, you will make lots of mistakes.
The fingering of the whistle in A mixolodian is completely different than the fingering on the SSP.