About

About Bagpipes

Bagpipes is an independent educational reference about traditional and folk musical instruments from around the world. Each instrument is presented in seven short sections: an overview, construction and materials, how it is played, sound and tuning, history and origins, its role in traditional and modern music, and a set of frequently asked questions.

The goal is plain language. We write for curious readers rather than for specialists, and we aim to explain what an instrument is, where it comes from, and why it matters to the people who play it.

The catalogue is organised into five broad families — stringed and plucked, wind and reeds, free-reed and bellows, percussion and rhythm, and bowed and regional — so that visitors can browse by category or jump straight to an instrument.

Bagpipes is run independently and does not sell instruments or accept payment for listings. Content is provided for general information and education.