The Bagpipe Chanter
The chanter is the melody pipe of the Great Highland Bagpipe. It is the part you play the tune on, and it is what you focus on almost entirely while learning.
Structure
The chanter is a conical-bore pipe — wider at the bottom than the top. It has eight finger holes: seven on the front and one thumb hole on the back (used for High G and High A). The chanter reed inserts into the top of the chanter, inside a small socket called the reed seat.
The Notes
The bagpipe chanter plays nine notes: Low G, Low A, B, C, D, E, F, High G, and High A. That is the extent of the instrument's range — no sharps or flats, no chromatic scale. This limitation is part of what gives bagpipe music its characteristic sound. See the bagpipe scale page for the full finger chart.
High G and High A
The top two notes — High G and High A — require specific technique. High G involves lifting all fingers and the thumb. High A involves lifting all fingers but keeping the thumb down. The change between these two notes is a common stumbling block for beginners.
The Chanter Reed
The sound of the chanter depends heavily on the quality of the reed. A good reed is easy to blow and produces a full, even tone across all nine notes. A poor or worn-out reed is one of the most common causes of tuning problems and playing difficulties. See the chanter reed page for more.
Practice Chanter vs. Pipe Chanter
The practice chanter is a separate instrument used for learning and practicing away from the full bagpipe. It is smaller, quieter, and easier to blow than the pipe chanter. All beginners should start on the practice chanter.