The Bagpipe Society

Guide to the Leicestershire Smallpipes

This is a simple English bagpipe with a low rich tone that has been developed by Julian Goodacre. It can be either mouth or bellows blown. The chanter plays a diatonic nine-note scale and is usually played with covered fingering. It has no historical precedent, but is made in the style of early illustrations. In common with most European bagpipes depicted before 1500 these pipes only have one drone. Both the chanter and the drone terminate in distinctive flared bells.

It is one of the most popular bagpipes to be found at the Blowout, and lends itself to ensemble and harmony-playing.