Learning the bagpipes begins with the practice chanter, a recorder-like instrument. A piping student, whether beginner or seasoned veteran, will always learn new tunes on the practice chanter.

The diagram, seen right, explains all the notes of the bagpipe - proper fingering for each note, and where the notes are located on the scale. You can reverse the hands, making the right hand the top hand, if you wish to play left handed! It is recommended that if you are teaching yourself, it is best to check in with an experienced piper occasionally to correct bad technique that you may not know you have developed.