An introduction to bagpipes of the world.

When one hears the term “bagpipe,” the Great Highland bagpipe from Scotland comes to mind. There are actually several types of bagpipes played across Europe and the Middle East, each with its unique characteristics. This paper classifies bagpipes from around the world based on their construction and acoustic properties. These include: method of filling the bag (bellows versus mouth pipe), bag properties and materials, reeds (single or double), pipes used for chanters and drones (cylindrical or conical), and general characteristics of the instrument. The objective of this overview paper is to provide the background for more detailed papers in the session on bagpipes.