Whether you want to play in a military funeral in Scotland—or just annoy your neighbors—mastering the bagpipe takes a lot of dedication.

Step 1: Get a chanter

Get a practice chanter—the flute-like part of the bagpipe that contains the finger holes—and learn how to play notes.

Step 2: Learn the pipes

Familiarize yourself with the bagpipe. There are several pipes, including the mouth pipe, which allows you to blow air into the bag, the melody pipe, which has finger holes, and the drone pipes, which make the instrument’s characteristic long, sustained pitches.

Step 3: Arrange the drones

To put the bagpipe on, arrange the pipes so that the drones are on your left shoulder.

Step 4: Tuck the bag

Tuck the bag securely under your left arm.

Step 5: Place the pipe

Place the mouth pipe in your mouth and blow into it until the bag is full of air. When the bag is almost full, tap it a few times to distribute the air to the pipes.

Step 6: Grab the melody pipe

Hold the melody pipe with both hands. Put your fingers near the holes, but not covering them.

Step 7: Squeeze

Squeeze the bag with your arm. This will cause the pipes to make noise.

Step 8: Change pressure

Change the pressure with which you squeeze the bag under your arm to modulate the pitch.

Step 9: Cover the holes

Move your fingers over the holes, making different notes. Remember, the bagpipe is always making noise, so there will be no silence between notes—but you were never going for quiet!