So you want to be a bagpiper: A brief introduction to 4 Irish instruments

Beyond providing an excuse to wear silly hats and get drunk in the middle of the week, St. Patrick’s Day always presents an opportunity to hear some cool traditional Irish music. It’s as distinctive as it is infectious, and for anyone in the general vicinity of an Irish tune, toe-tapping is practically mandatory. But what exactly are all those instruments? How the hell does a bagpipe or bodhrán work? Like most folks, The A.V. Club would rather order another Smithwick’s than try to figure where the melody is originating. So in the interest of being fully prepared, we found three Madison musicians proficient on Irish instruments to provide a tuneful holiday lowdown.

Bagpipes: David Bradley, pipe major of Madison Pipes and Drums
How they work: A bagpipe’s mighty hum is unmistakable, and it may sound primitive to the untrained ear, but there’s actually a whole lot going on in those airtight tartan sacks. In a classic set of Scottish pipes, the three long tubes flopped over a piper’s shoulder are called drones. The single-reed pipes hold the steady low notes. The melody is produced by a double-reed tube held by the piper called a “chanter.” The final element is the blow stick,  which fills the bag with air.
The challenge: Keeping the pressurized bladder full of wind is no easy task. “It takes a lot of breath-support to play,” Bradley says. “Most people who pick up the pipes for the first time often come close to passing out.”
Betcha didn’t know: Almost every culture has some version of a bagpipe. The most familiar is the great highland bagpipes, commonly played in parades. In the grand scheme of things, they’re babies—the great highland pipes date back only to the mid-1800s. Other versions include two-drone Celtic French pipes, traditional Irish uilleann pipes, and many others. “What we think of as bagpipes is really only a narrow slice of what’s out there,” Bradley says. “It’s much less common for people to play the other types simply because the great highland pipes are so versatile.”
Cost: A starter set runs around $700, while a good set of wooden pipes can set you back the same amount as a small car: $15,000.

Harp: Chelcy Bowles, Professor of Music, UW-Madison
How they work: Harps come in a vast number of sizes and shapes, but they all work the same way: The air inside the hollow body (the soundboard) vibrates and resonates as the strings are plucked. On simpler folk harps used in Irish music, the strings function as diatonic notes, just like the white keys on a piano. For instance, to play an F-sharp, a harp has to be re-tuned.
The challenge: From a distance, playing a harp looks like a relatively dainty and precious enterprise, but harpists have to develop the same calloused fingertips as guitar players. Also, there’s little to prepare a person for the physical demands. “You’re constantly holding up your arms,” Bowles says. “You have to develop muscles you’re not used to using, and for a while you end up pretty sore.”
Betcha didn’t know: These days, harps are generally strung with nylon, but many harpists prefer the mellow, middle octaves produced by “gut” strings, which are exactly what the name suggests: strings made of animal entrails. Going back hundreds of years, harps were strung with metal, which meant folks had to grow out their fingernails if they didn’t want bloody fingertips. Also, as intimidating as harps might appear, they make it relatively easy for beginners to sound competent. “It’s rewarding because a harp sounds beautiful right away,” Bowles says. “You can strike the harp with any finger in any way, and play immediately. It’s different than having to blow into something. But like with any instrument, the longer you play it, the harder it gets.”
Cost: “Pub harps” start around $800, and prices can go up to $8,000 or more for a pedal harp.

Tin Whistle: Craig Heilman of Rolling Wave
How they work: Tin whistles are often thought of as kid’s instruments, and with good reason. They’re inexpensive, easy to learn (they actually have fewer holes than a recorder), and they're often used as starter instruments for people who ending up playing bagpipes or bodhrán. “It’s easy and fun,” Heilman says. “And a big advantage is that you can just throw one in your pocket.”
The challenge: In reality, the tin whistle isn’t terribly difficult to play, but as with any instrument, it is hard to play well. “It is simple, but difficult to get good at. You really have to practice,” Heilman says.
Betcha didn’t know: As logic would dictate, tin whistles were originally made out of tin. Now they’re made from damn near anything: aluminum, steel, wood, plastic, brass, and even wood.
Cost: Roughly $10.

Bodhrán: Craig Heilman of Rolling Wave
How they work: With its single drumstick, a bodhrán (pronounced bow-rahn) looks more basic than a tin whistle, but it’s exponentially more complex. The size can be anywhere from 14 to 20 inches in diameter, and it’s played with a person’s left hand tucked inside the drum. The drumstick (a “tipper”) is held like a pencil, and the bodhrán is struck with a motion similar to turning a key in a lock—think of your arm rotating around your elbow.
The challenge: First off, the bodhrán doesn’t set the beat, it follows the fiddle or whistle. Beyond that, the time signature depends on the type of song being played—jig, reel, polka, etc.—and with them come different emphasized downbeats. “It looks easy, but you can mess up a session if you don’t know what you’re doing,” Heilman says. “A bad bodhrán player can destroy the music by wanting attention or playing too loudly. You don’t want to be overpowering.”
Betcha didn’t know: Bodhráns are traditionally covered by goatskin, though they can be made out of nearly anything. “I had a friend in Ireland whose favorite dog died. He had him made into a drum,” Heilman says.
Cost: A crappy starter bodhrán can be had for $50, with decent drums running about $400. However, a good one will cost a cool $1,000.