The Practice chanter is the practice instrument of the Highland bagpipe. There are various types of practice chanter currently on the market. These range from standard size to long span and also child size chanters.

This page is oriented to the standard "right-handed" hand position.

A: Ensure that the joint between the top and the bottom of the chanter is neatly hemped, prefer with waxed hemp, Moist hemp will swell and the joint may become too tight. 

B: Ensure that the bore and fingerHoles of the chanter are kept free of dirt at all times. The chanter can be kept clean by using a brush or pipe cleaners. 

C: Ensure that the reed is securely fitted in the reed-seat in the bottom half of the chanter. Hemp should be wound neatly around the bottom of the reed to maintain a secure fit in the reed-seat. If it is necessary to handle the reed, do holding the lower part of the reed, and not the blades. (Extreme care must be taken when dismanteling and assembling the chanter). 

D: Be very careful not to touch the reed with the top half of the chanter, as reed are very easily damaged. 

E: Keep your hands close together at the middle of the chanter and turn gently. DO NOT pull, use excessive force, or twist from the bottom of the chanter.

White Holes are CLOSED - Red Holes are OPEN

     Low G         

Finger Position/Note

Hole

Left Thumb (A)

Closed

Left Index (G)

Closed

Left Middle (F)

Closed

Left Ring (E)

Closed

Right Index (D)

Closed

Right Middle (C)

Closed

Right Ring (B)

Closed

Right Pink (A)

Closed

   Low A      

Finger Position/Note

Hole

Left Thumb (A)

Closed

Left Index (G)

Closed

Left Middle (F)

Closed

Left Ring (E)

Closed

Right Index (D)

Closed

Right Middle (C)

Closed

Right Ring (B)

Closed

Right Pink (A)

—Open—

B          

Finger Position/Note

Hole

Left Thumb (A)

Closed

Left Index (G)

Closed

Left Middle (F)

Closed

Left Ring (E)

Closed

Right Index (D)

Closed

Right Middle (C)

Closed

Right Ring (B)

-Open-

Right Pink (A)

-Open-

C          

 

 

Finger Position/Note

Hole

Left Thumb (A)

Closed

Left Index (G)

Closed

Left Middle (F)

Closed

Left Ring (E)

Closed

Right Index (D)

Closed

Right Middle (C)

-Open-

Right Ring (B)

-Open-

Right Pink (A)

Closed

 

D           

 

Finger Position/Note

Hole

Left Thumb (A)

Closed

Left Index (G)

Closed

Left Middle (F)

Closed

Left Ring (E)

Closed

Right Index (D)

-Open-

Right Middle (C)

-Open-

Right Ring (B)

-Open-

Right Pink (A)

Closed

 

 

E           

 

Finger Position/Note

Hole

Left Thumb (A)

Closed

Left Index (G)

Closed

Left Middle (F)

Closed

Left Ring (E)

-Open-

Right Index (D)

Closed

Right Middle (C)

Closed

Right Ring (B)

Closed

Right Pink (A)

-Open-

 

 

F           

Finger Position/Note

Hole

Left Thumb (A)

Closed

Left Index (G)

Closed

Left Middle (F)

-Open-

Left Ring (E)

-Open-

Right Index (D)

Closed

Right Middle (C)

Closed

Right Ring (B)

Closed

Right Pink (A)

-Open-

 

 

High G - Common 

 

Finger Position/Note

Hole

Left Thumb (A)

Closed

Left Index (G)

-Open-

Left Middle (F)

-Open-

Left Ring (E)

-Open-

Right Index (D)

Closed

Right Middle (C)

Closed

Right Ring (B)

Closed

Right Pink (A)

-Open-

 

 

High A -Common 

 

Finger Position/Note

Hole

Left Thumb (A)

-Open-

Left Index (G)

-Open-

Left Middle (F)

-Open-

Left Ring (E)

Closed

Right Index (D)

Closed

Right Middle (C)

Closed

Right Ring (B)

Closed

Right Pink (A)

-Open-

 

 

Natural C and F

The following notes are not commonly used by beginning pipers. Piobaireachd notes are used typically only when playing piobaireachds which is a class of bagpiping tunes. Naturals are found in less than one out of every hundred tunes and naturals, when found at all, are typically seen in modern compositions.

Piobaireachd High G and A

There is no indicated difference on sheet music for piobaireachd fingering, other than they are played for piobaireachd tunes, not marches, jigs or other "light music."

Here some extra Notes setting Used by piobairechd, and Alternate Fingering.

High-G  Piobaireachd

 

Finger Position/Note

Hole

Left Thumb (A)

Closed

Left Index (G)

-Open-

Left Middle (F)

Closed

Left Ring (E)

-Open-

Right Index (D)

Closed

Right Middle (C)

Closed

Right Ring (B)

Closed

Right Pink (A)

-Open-

 

 

High-A Piobaireachd  - Alternate

Finger Position/Note

Hole

Left Thumb (A)

-Open-

Left Index (G)

-Open-

Left Middle (F)

Closed

Left Ring (E)

-Open-

Right Index (D)

Closed

Right Middle (C)

Closed

Right Ring (B)

Closed

Right Pink (A)

-Open-

 

 

  "Natural" C and F

C-natural and F-natural are not a commonly played notes, and in fact, on certain reeds and chanter—typically weaker reeds—cannot be sounded correctly. The bagpipe scale includes two implied sharp notes: C and F. When these notes are played as naturals, they come across as minor sounding notes and can put a real twist into a tune precisely because they are uncommon. Used in Modern type Tunes: Reels Jigs Hornpipes. 

 Natural - C    

 

Finger Position/Note

Hole

Left Thumb (A)

Closed

Left Index (G)

Closed

Left Middle (F)

Closed

Left Ring (E)

Closed

Right Index (D)

Closed

Right Middle (C)

-Open-

Right Ring (B)

Closed

Right Pink (A)

-Open-

 

 

Natural - F   

 

Finger Position/Note

Hole

Left Thumb (A)

Closed

Left Index (G)

Closed

Left Middle (F)

-Open-

Left Ring (E)

Closed

Right Index (D)

Closed

Right Middle (C)

Closed

Right Ring (B)

Closed

Right Pink (A)

-Open-

 

 

Finger Positions:

    

1: The fingers are kept straight and not curled around the chanter

2: The holes should not be covered by the fingertips as the finger must be kept straight.

3: The thumb of the bottom hand should be placed in line behind the second top finger.

4: The little finger of the top hand should initally be placed behind the chanter.

5: beginners should be sit comfortable without slouching and blow the chanter from the centre of the mouth. The sole of the chanter can be rested on table if the beginner finds this more comfortable.

6: Blowing the chanter may be difficult at the first with the lips getting sore after 10 min. or so. This is normal and the beginner should practice for shorts period at frequent intervals during the practice. Also should take breath after every two bars or at frequent intervals.