# They came! They came! My bagpipes came! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 2, 2002, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-came-they-came-my-bagpipes-came/101343 "2002-04-02T05:07:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-came-they-came-my-bagpipes-came/101343/1 "2002-04-02T05:07:12Z")
They finally arrived, courtesy Canada Post - my bagpipes! They play! they make noise! they need tuning! But they’re bagpipes! [happy hamster dance] 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Palve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a698b9/32.png) [@Palve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palve)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-came-they-came-my-bagpipes-came/101343/2 "2002-04-02T05:09:15Z")
Ahh, bagpipes. I love the sound but hell if I’m gonna learn how to play them. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-came-they-came-my-bagpipes-came/101343/3 "2002-04-02T14:55:18Z")
Is it just me, or did anyone else immediately think “One time, at band camp…” upon reading this title? ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-came-they-came-my-bagpipes-came/101343/4 "2002-04-02T15:18:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Northern Piper \* > **They finally arrived, courtesy Canada Post - my bagpipes! They play! they make noise! they need tuning! But they’re bagpipes!** And the neighbors are buying earplugs by the carton-load… 😛 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Odieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@Odieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odieman)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-came-they-came-my-bagpipes-came/101343/5 "2002-04-02T15:30:39Z")
You can practice all you want, my GF is out of town this week. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![sidle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@sidle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sidle)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-came-they-came-my-bagpipes-came/101343/6 "2002-04-02T15:36:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Olentzero \* > \*\*Is it just me, or did anyone else immediately think “One time, at band camp…” upon reading this title? \*\* Nope. I’m thinking… "A set of **naughty** bagpipes _INDEED_! Seriously, though, I just love love love bagpipes. (no not in the bliblical sense.) Enjoy them! ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-came-they-came-my-bagpipes-came/101343/7 "2002-04-02T15:40:33Z")
More bagpipe MIDI files than you probably wanted to hear. 😃 [http://www.bagpipesatbest.com/](http://www.bagpipesatbest.com/) Send them an e-mail, ask them if they know Wolfe’s Lament? I don’t see it on the list under “W”. ---
**Author:** ![Gregor\_Samsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@Gregor\_Samsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gregor_Samsa)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-came-they-came-my-bagpipes-came/101343/8 "2002-04-02T15:41:48Z")
May God help us all. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-came-they-came-my-bagpipes-came/101343/9 "2002-04-02T16:36:34Z")
Good for you **Northern Piper!** A serious question: How does one tune bagpipes? What part(s) are adjustable? (No I don’t have bagpipes, although I do have a practice chanter. Unfortunately, as it turns out, I have absolutely no musical talent whatsoever. ☹ ) BTW, thanks for the link **Ducks,** (may I call you Ducks?) Now I can terrorize my coworkers more efficiently. ---
**Author:** ![stargazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@stargazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stargazer)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-came-they-came-my-bagpipes-came/101343/10 "2002-04-02T18:48:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sidle \* > \*\* > > Nope. > I’m thinking… > > "A set of **naughty** bagpipes _INDEED_! > > \*\* I was thinking, “Ewwwww!” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-came-they-came-my-bagpipes-came/101343/11 "2002-04-02T20:10:48Z")
1. Is your life insurance paid up? 2. Does it cover homocide? [sub]jes’ thinking down the road a ways…[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-came-they-came-my-bagpipes-came/101343/12 "2002-04-02T20:43:38Z")
Aaaarrggghhh!!! Not the screamin’ handbags, no please anything I’ll talk, just don’t turn them on!!! ---
**Author:** ![miamouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ad7895/32.png) [@miamouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miamouse)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-came-they-came-my-bagpipes-came/101343/13 "2002-04-02T20:52:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bumbazine \* > \*\*Good for you **Northern Piper!** > > A serious question: > > How does one tune bagpipes? What part(s) are adjustable? \*\* And how can you tell when they’re OUT of tune? (not kidding, I really wanna know) ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-came-they-came-my-bagpipes-came/101343/14 "2002-04-02T22:01:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by stargazer \* > \*\* > > I was thinking, “Ewwwww!” > > 😃 \*\* I was thinking “there’s a dirty joke in there somewhere” and I was _right!_🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-came-they-came-my-bagpipes-came/101343/15 "2002-04-03T02:13:31Z")
First, I am shocked, shocked! that SDMBers would turn an innocent expression of joy into a lewd jest. It’s just not like you guys to do that! 😉 **DDG** Thanks for the website. I’ve also found something called [ViperPiper](http://viperpiper.hypermart.net/) which has a similar service - I’ll try posting the inquiry there as well. Thanks for your continued interest! 🙂 **Bumbazine** and **miamouse** - first, you make sure that the chanter has a good reed in it. (The chanter is that part that sticks out of the bag that has the finger-holes on it.) Then, you tune the three drones to match the chanter. I think that all three drones are tuned to the note that pipers call “A” (but which other, more hide-bound and conventional musicians call B flat). The two smaller drones are the tenors, and play high A, the taller drone is the bass and plays low A. (I may have this wrong - I just got them, after all!) The way you adjust the tuning is that the tenor drones are actually made up of a couple of pieces, while the bass is made up of three pieces. To adjust the notes, you slide the pieces apart a bit, and listen to see the effect it has. If you see a piper blowing into the bag and twisting the drones a bit, he’s tuning them. For more information than you would ever need, go here: [Tuning Bagpipes](http://www.mmpb.on.ca/tuning.html). **Odieman** and **Pipeliner** : I’m going to see if I can find an arrangement of “Green is the Colour” for the pipes. Then I’ll rock at Taylor Field! ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-came-they-came-my-bagpipes-came/101343/16 "2002-04-03T02:25:36Z")
Oh, and I also came across this [site](http://www.bobdunsire.com/CGI-BIN/ultimatebb.cgi) - a bulletin board for pipers - almost a parallel SDMB universe! ---
**Author:** ![Odieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@Odieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odieman)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-came-they-came-my-bagpipes-came/101343/17 "2002-04-03T02:26:04Z")
Well you could join the pep band, I do know the person in charge of it… ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-came-they-came-my-bagpipes-came/101343/18 "2002-04-03T02:26:45Z")
Ahem. [requisite piper jokes] Bagpipes-(noun)-I understand the inventor of the bagpipes was inspired when he saw a man carrying an indignant, asthmatic pig under his arm. Unfortunately, the man-made object never equalled the purity of sound achieved by the pig. ## -Alfred Hitchcock Q. How do you get two bagpipes to play a perfect unison? ## A. Shoot one. Q. What’s the difference between a bagpipe and an onion? ## A. No one cries when you chop up an bagpipe. Q. What do you call bagpiper with half a brain? ## A. Gifted. Q. What did the bagpiper get on his I.Q. test? ## A. Drool. Q. Why do bagpipers walk when they play? ## A. To get away from the sound. Q. What’s the definition of “optimism” ## A. A bagpiper with a beeper. ---
**Author:** ![kuroashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e9a140/32.png) [@kuroashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kuroashi)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-came-they-came-my-bagpipes-came/101343/19 "2002-04-03T03:29:16Z")
I’ve been interested in gettnig pipes someday. I don’t think it’s reasonable to consider getting 'em while I’m in Japan (absolutely no place to practice), but some day soon…so, how much did they set you back I’m wondering? ---
**Author:** ![orion007](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@orion007](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orion007)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-came-they-came-my-bagpipes-came/101343/20 "2002-04-03T03:52:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by beagledave \* > \*\*----------------- > Q. Why do bagpipers walk when they play? > > ## A. To get away from the sound. > > \*\* This one is my favorite 😛 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-came-they-came-my-bagpipes-came/101343.md?page=2)