My new Kinnear SSP arrived

[Edward Bradshaw]

It was just like Christmas morning when the mailman showed up at my door with a large parcel from Scotland. They look great and sound great.... but.... those of you who have said you need time to get the hang of playing them were not kidding. Not that I didn't belive you, but I didn't expect to be THIS bad. It's as if I've never picked up a bagpipe before in my life. I've been on the GHB for a year now and can play fairly steady and I'm used to the light touch needed for my shuttle pipes but add a bellows and I turn into a flailing idiot.

I do have to say that the bag seems small.... but then I felt that way about the GHB when I first started as well.

[Brad Spellman]

Nothing like a new set of pipes to put a smile on the face. Try just playing with the tenor drone and I swear you will have it mastered in no time.
It took me a few weeks to really get the swing of it. Now it is like second nature.
Best of luck,
Brad

[John McCain]

Originally posted by Edward Bradshaw:
.... those of you who have said you need time to get the hang of playing them were not kidding. I'll expect that you've made great progress by now, but here are a few tips:

Use good posture. Avoid "curling" around your pipes.

Check your hand position. They should be out in front in a relaxed state. This usually means angling the bag to get the chanter higher than it would be if the bag were in the same position you use playing the GHB.

Use long deep bellows strokes.

Don't pump in time to music.

Avoid 4/4 marches...

Best, John