Four drones. Nearly three octaves. A complete Lindsay System voice.

Lindsay System Scottish Smallpipes are built around Donald WG Lindsay's fully tuneable, keyless extended-range chanter and a drone system designed to support its musical range.

Included with every set

A complimentary orientation course of up to five online lessons with Donald. We can cover setup, bellows control, tuning, maintenance and a clear starting path for technique and repertoire.

A practical chanter range of almost three octaves, without keys.
Familiar Scottish smallpipe fingering across the traditional nine-note range.
Fully adjustable chanter intonation and a stable, even response.
Made in Scotland and individually set up before dispatch.

The Standard Set

The complete Lindsay System set combines the extended-range chanter with the full four-drone system:

The complete Lindsay System

Standard Set

£2,440

Chanter, bag, bellows and the full four-drone system: Bass A/B, Baritone D/E, Tenor A/B and Alto D/E.

Includes extended drone-tuning facilities, drone shutoff and flow control.

Already have a chanter or bellows?

If you already own a Lindsay System Chanter, choose a configuration marked “no chanter”. If you have suitable bellows you would like to use, choose “no bellows”. Options without either component are also available.

If you are unsure whether your bellows are suitable, please enquire before ordering.

How to order

Pay in full on this page. Choose the complete Standard Set, or select the appropriate deduction if you already own a Lindsay System Chanter, suitable bellows, or both.

If you prefer not to pay in full when ordering, you may place a 50% deposit. The remaining 50%, shipping and any agreed extras are payable before dispatch.

All orders placed before 1 October 2026 will be built for dispatch by 1 December 2026.

Hear the pipes

Jigs — Donald WG Lindsay & Roo Geddes

A Port — Donald WG Lindsay & Roo Geddes

The four-drone system

The Standard Set's four drones are arranged along the lines of an A/D combination set:

Bass A/B
Baritone D/E
Tenor A/B
Alto D/E

The Alto D/E drone gives stronger support for second-register playing and for music in D and G. Secondary telescopic slides and longer principal slides extend the available alternative tunings.

Materials, reeds and construction

Eezedrone synthetic drone reeds by Pipe Dreams and a cane chanter reed.
Canmore hybrid bag, available in large, medium or small.
Fully brass-lined drone tuning chambers for a clear, stable and resonant tone.
O-rings in dovetail grooves for airtightness, screw-threaded drone-stock tenons and traditionally hemped tuning slides.
Screw-threaded clamps at the main stock and blowpipe stock; replacement Canmore bags supplied through Lindstruments can be prepared to fit.
Four decorative double-seal drone stop caps with hand-twisted cords on the Standard Set.

Bellows, bag cover and finish

Complete sets are supplied with suitable bellows, selected and set up for the instrument.

The standard bag cover is teal velvet, made to measure by Debbie Covers and Crafts in Glasgow, with patterned gold-coloured trim and matching drone cords. Alternative colours and materials are available by enquiry.

Fingering charts

The familiar nine-note Scottish smallpipe range uses standard fingering. The additional notes are introduced one at a time.

Lindsay System Chanter fingering chart 1

Lindsay System Chanter fingering chart 2

Lindsay System Chanter fingering chart 3

Background and recordings

Donald developed the Lindsay System Chanter in Scotland between 2006 and 2018. The work was documented in Piping Today, featured on Scottish television and is represented by prototype sets in The National Piping Centre's museum collection.

The Lindsay System has also been heard on recordings and in film, including The Outrun and My Old School.

Hear the pipes on Honeymoon Bridge by Donald WG Lindsay & Roo Geddes, Welcome Home My Dearie by Donald WG Lindsay & Alasdair Roberts, and History of Sleep by Donald WG Lindsay & Richard Youngs.

Shipping

Shipping is arranged when your pipes are ready and charged before dispatch. UK orders use a tracked, insured service suitable for a high-value instrument. Overseas orders can be sent by fully insured courier, or we can provide the packed weight and dimensions if you prefer to arrange your own courier. The available options and price will be confirmed before dispatch; import taxes and local charges are not included.

Questions and player support

Email lindstruments@gmail.com or join the Lindsay System Chanter player group. Regular one-to-one lessons are also available.

More tunes on the Lindsay System Scottish Smallpipes

Flowers of Edinburgh

East Neuk o Fife

Dumbarton Drums

Materials & making