Eliot Grasso (uilleann pipes) with Dan Carollo (guitar) at Sammamish Presbyterian Church, June 2007

Eliot Grasso performing "Satin Slipper" followed by "The Humors of Trim". Performed on B pipes.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Eliot
• Grasso
• uilleann
• pipes
• Dan
• Carollo
• acoustic
• guitar
• Irish
• traditional
• music

[lucjyjazz]

Man, that intro was so cool! Thanks for playing.

[j0llygr33ng1ant]

@Dracapalley (the last part, I SWEAR!) as many recordings as you can. I highly recommend "The New approach to uilleann piping" by HG Clarke and "The Master's Touch" by Seamus Ennis.

My apologies for the length of this. The pipes are difficult but very rewarding.

Good luck piping!

JGG

[j0llygr33ng1ant]

@Dracapalley (3 of 3) Blackwood will provide a sharper, crisper tone and so it is favoured by many pipers. If that's what you're after, by all means...

I would STRONGLY urge you to find an instructor in your area. There are several directories on the web where pipers are listed. If you can't, a number of instructors give lessons online over Skype(Eliot Grasso being one of them).

If you STILL want to try it on your own, I recommend picking up several tutors and listening to as many recordings

[j0llygr33ng1ant]

@Dracapalley (2 of 3) When you're first starting out, "D" is probably the best key to start with because most other Celtic instruments tune to D, so you will have an easier time playing with others. Also, when you get drones and regs, there are far more makers that produce drones and regs in D then there are of flat-pitch sets. I chose cocobolo over rosewood or blackwood because it provides a more mellow tone, and since I live in a dorm, noise restrictions had to be taken into consideration.

[j0llygr33ng1ant]

@Dracapalley I would highly recommend learning the tinwhistle if you haven't done so already, as it will help you get used to the characteristics of Irish traditional music, and the fingerings of the notes themselves are very similar to that of the uilleann pipes. My cocobolo D practice set is from C.J. Dixon, and it works great: the chanter reed isn't too hard, his waiting list isn't very long, and he provides very nice handiwork for the price.

[BehorWindpipe]

woops my bad.... but still Bb rocks! And B natural is really beutiful as well!

cheers

[Imal00ter20]

They're actually pitched in B natural, not B flat.

[BehorWindpipe]

trully beautiful... Bb is actually one of my favourites!! i am getting my pipes anytime soon... i guess that when i get better at the pipes i'll buy Bb pipes!

[Dracapalley]

The hairs all over my body are on end. Please can someone tell me where/how to start learning the Uilleann Pipes? I hear a practice set is in order, but where's good to get one, what pitch is best, and how can I teach myself? Very grateful for any help. That was absolutely amazing.

[bcpipes]

Those are B-Pitched "Flat Pipes". Not "Bb" pipes. The chanter is pitched to B Natural. Check it against your tuner or pitch-pipe.