The iconic Scottish bagpipes have become one of the UK’s worst-selling instruments over the past year, and the demand for lessons has also seen a significant decline.
Margret Juliana Sigurdardottir, CEO of the online lesson service Moombix, expressed concern, stating: “Bagpipes are in the doldrums, and a key aspect of national culture is at risk of disappearing.”
In contrast, sales of electric and acoustic guitars have risen by six percent in 2024, according to data from online supplier Gear4Music, which sold over 63,000 instruments last year.
The Scottish Sun spoke with Professor Hugh Cheape from the University of Highlands and Islands to explore whether the sound of the bagpipes could soon fade into the past.
Professor Cheape acknowledges a decrease in interest in playing the bagpipes but highlights that the instrument had experienced a surge in popularity during the Covid lockdown. With many people at home and looking to learn new skills, bagpipe playing in the UK grew to an estimated 60,000 pipers.
Despite the recent decline in sales and lesson requests, Cheape points to the success of the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, which attracted 35,000 attendees in the summer of 2024. The event, which now spans two days, demonstrates that bagpipes still have a significant following.
Reflecting on his own experience, Professor Cheape, in his mid-70s, recalls attending his first World Championships in 1965 when media coverage was minimal, with even cricket results in England receiving more attention than the competition. He notes that over time, the Championships have grown into a major event, reflecting the enduring interest in bagpipes.
Cheape admits that bagpipes face competition from “cooler” instruments like electric guitars, but he believes this only makes pipers more distinctive. “Yes, of course, instruments like guitars and keyboards are cool, but so many people play them. I’ve always been impressed by young pipers who have heard the pipes through family, local bands, or personal influences. They’re the ones who stand out,” he says.
The professor believes that several popular milestones have played a role in sustaining the popularity of the bagpipes, such as the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards’ 1972 hit “Amazing Grace” and Paul McCartney’s Wings’ “Mull of Kintyre” in 1977. He also points to AC/DC’s Bon Scott, who played the pipes on the band’s breakthrough album High Voltage in 1976.
“These were all significant turning points,” Cheape explains, “as they made people see the bagpipes as more than just a post-war noise. Over time, the quality of playing improved because more people were learning and teaching the instrument.”
Bagpipes have continued to thrive, with modern groups like The Red Hot Chilli Pipers, who collaborated with Brit Award-winning Tom Walker, and internet sensation Ally the Piper, who has amassed millions of YouTube views with her rock renditions, bringing new attention to the instrument.
Professor Cheape notes that Ally the Piper, in particular, has made the bagpipes more relatable to young women interested in learning the instrument. “The Red Hot Chilli Pipers are good fun and have played a huge role in popularizing the pipes,” he adds.
The professor also credits the growth of pipe bands in North America for raising the standards of Scottish piping. “The Americans came along and shook the Scottish pipe band scene. They did it with professionalism, which pushed us to raise our game,” he explains. “This led to an increase in the number of pipe bands and lessons offered in schools across Scotland.”
Professor Cheape believes that the only real “existential threat” to the bagpipes came after the 1746 Battle of Culloden when anything symbolic of Scotland, including tartan and kilts, was outlawed by government forces. Despite this historical setback, he asserts that the bagpipes have remained resilient.
“After Culloden, the Highland bagpipes faced a low point, along with the decline of Gaelic Piobaireachd music, which is considered the roots of Scottish pipe music,” Cheape says. “However, despite recent drops in sales and lesson requests, I would argue that piping is healthier than ever. There are more people playing the bagpipes in Scotland, the UK, and Ireland than ever before, which will help maintain their popularity and standards well into the future.”
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