The Bagpipe Store

Bagpipes are the national musical instrument of Scotland and are best represented in the haunting music of the Scottish Highlands.

Scotland has a rich tradition of music, song and dance like the Ceilidh. Ceilidh is the Scottish Gaelic word used to describe a gathering of friends and like minded folks for a festive time. This gathering would be like having 100 of your closest friends milling around your kitchen in an informal evening of dancing, singing and, of course, drinking good whiskey!


A Ceilidh in the Highlands usually involves Scottish Country Dancing, formal or informal, and can also include the more formal Highland Dancing which is often undertaken competitively at Highland Games. These Highland games are where pipe bands are put through their paces to decide championships, numerous dancers defy gravity in the Highland Dance competition and giant men toss telephone poles [cabers] and four stone weights one handed 16 feet over a bar! It is a memorable and incredible event always filled with the haunting sound of the bagpipes themselves.

Many, who hear the bagpipe played, think of Scotland as the true origin of the unique instrument. But in fact, this instrument has been documented throughout most of ancient history. It seems likely that a form of bagpipe was first developed in pre-Christian times, some even say it was started as far back as 5,000 B.C. in Sumeria or China.

And if you look closer, you will see that there are actually different types of bagpipes that show the true cultural variations of its origins.

The basic design of the bagpipes has evolved over the years with the basic design of the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipe being established in the 1700s.

According to many folks today, the best part of any parade still involves bagpipe music. Mention a parade and you think immediately of swinging kilts, drum majors, drums and bagpipes creating a magnificent spectacle.

Despite the jokes made regarding the instrument there are still quite a number of folks who want to learn to play the bagpipes today and that makes us happy. What a great rich tradition to pass on!

Celtic music has even been fused into the Rock and Roll that emerged in the 1950s to create Celtic Rock with a swinging bagpipe!

Note that when you are buying bagpipes for the first time, you will probably want to start off with a second hand set or a lower priced set as the price for a top instrument can be over $1-2,000 very easily.