Not a Smoking Pipe Question

[SmokeyJock]

@bullet08 I understand you're a fellow piper (not the kind that call themselves pipers on here, but the piobaireachd kind) :P
Ever heard of or played an elfsong enchantress? They're not expensive and I'm sorely tempted to buy one, essentially a penny whistle with bagpipe fingering, I live in a block of flats which makes practising my pipes very antisocial, and the chanter just doesn't sound nearly as good. This seems like it might be a happy medium?

Elfsong EnChantress in D - Big Whistle - https://bigwhistle.co.uk/product/elfsong-enchantress-in-d/

 

[BingBong]

Malcolm Jones from Runrig had an electronic chanter; something like that with headphones would enable you to practice in social equilibrium. Next time I chat with him, I'll ask about it.

 

[warren]

It's a dressed up penny whistle. They are versatile and fun to learn. A chanter is simply a step to the "war pipes." Three or so penny whistles, different keys, should be sufficient to handle a get together in any pub. And pub gatherings are a great place to learn from experienced musicians.

 

[bullet08]

Electric chanters are expensive. That one is a penny whistle with GHB fingering. I would rather use my full size PC. PCs are usually quiet enough to play indoor without bothering others. Penny/tin whistle with proper fingering holes are its own sperated instrument. The simple system is same as Irish Flute fingering. And its own list of huge collection of tunes. Since my fingers are no longer fit to play pipes, I do occasionally play Irish whistles. Have collection of them picked up here and there while playing pipes.

*GHB: Great Highland Bagpipes
PC: Practice Chanter

 

[SmokeyJock]

Electric chanters are expensive. That one is a penny whistle with GHB fingering. I would rather use my full size PC. PCs are usually quiet enough to play indoor without bothering others. Penny/tin whistle with proper fingering holes are its own sperated instrument. The simple system is same as Irish Flute fingering. And its own list of huge collection of tunes. Since my fingers are no longer fit to play pipes, I do occasionally play Irish whistles. Have collection of them picked up here and there while playing pipes.

*GHB: Great Highland Bagpipes
PC: Practice Chanter

my practice chanter sounds shiiiiiit (i feel bad saying this bc it's a mccallum i won in a competition when i was 12) so I'm ideally looking for something i can play at home that sounds reasonably decent to listen to. Also I reckon Irish rebel ballads and the white cockade version of the red flag will sound better on one of these penny whistle things. I've never tried an Irish flute, is the fingering different enough for it to be a PITA to learn anew?

 

[bullet08]

That thing in the post is GHB fingering, so you don't need to relearn it.

Irish Flutes are simple system flute with 6 holes all on the top side, same as a penny whistle (not like that thing in the link). Usually two octaves where you blow harder/difference in embouchure to get to higher octave.

 

[SmokeyJock]

That thing in the post is GHB fingering, so you don't need to relearn it.

Irish Flutes are simple system flute with 6 holes all on the top side, same as a penny whistle (not like that thing in the link). Usually two octaves where you blow harder/difference in embouchure to get to higher octave.

if you want some entertainment, here's a video of me busking when I was about 17 (please don't talk to me about the hair, it's almost all gone now and I'm not even 30)

 

[BingBong]

if you want some entertainment, here's a video of me busking when I was about 17 (please don't talk to me about the hair, it's almost all gone now and I'm not even 30)

Bravo!

 

[woodsroad]

if you want some entertainment, here's a video of me busking when I was about 17 (please don't talk to me about the hair, it's almost all gone now and I'm not even 30)

Nice hair.

 

[anotherbob]

if you want some entertainment, here's a video of me busking when I was about 17 (please don't talk to me about the hair, it's almost all gone now and I'm not even 30)

you blasted the hair away, trust us it's almost impossible not to be embarrassed by ones self at 17.
But now I want one of those flute things.

 

[warren]

here's a video of me busking when I was about 17

I usually always enjoy buskers when in the UK and Ireland, lots of talent to watch and listen to. I'm envious of your skill on the pipes. Hair looks fine to me.

 

[sardonicus87]

Have you looked into an electronic bagpipe? I don't know anything about pipes, but when I was in funeral college, there was a guy there that was a piper and he had a thing that was just a chanter but with buttons instead of holes and you plugged headphones into it.

Though that's only good for practice with fingering I suppose.

 

[rakovsky]

It's a dressed up penny whistle. They are versatile and fun to learn. A chanter is simply a step to the "war pipes." Three or so penny whistles, different keys, should be sufficient to handle a get together in any pub. And pub gatherings are a great place to learn from experienced musicians.

That's neat to here. I liked this little introduction to the penny whistle below.

I didn't even know what a penny whistle was- I had to look it up.
All the best.