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Irish Pipes
The Irish or Uilleann pipes have reached quite an advanced state of development. Unlike most other pipes, the reed will overblow, giving them a range of two octaves, and the addition of regulators gives them an extra dimension. The regulators are closed ended chanters each of a different pitch, and speak when a key is pressed, the keys are arranged side by side so chords can be played (this requires great skill).

Uilleann (or Elbow) pipes usually play in D, and the full set has a chanter, three drones, and three keyed regulators. The half set has no regulators, and the practice set has no drones either. All the models we stock are in D, but flat pitch sets can be ordered.

It is best not to use the drones until you have good control of the bellows and bag, as the drones use extra air, and make it harder to keep steady pressure for the chanter. It is possible to add drones to a practice set, and some even come with the main stock fitted and the extra holes blanked off. If you follow this route you will be without your pipes for a while when you upgrade. In my experience, it is cheaper in the long run to either go for the half set at the outset, and just don't use the drones at first, or to trade in when you are ready to upgrade.