My other instruments

Other than my gurdies, I have a few other instruments I've collected over the years. They're quite random and while I can somewhat play the gurdy, these have been much more neglected. Don't expect much from them, although I do like them a lot!

Bowed Psaltery

One day, I was practicing my gurdy in the park (I sometimes take it outside since it's quite loud and I don't want to bother my neighbors too much.) While playing, a lady came up to me and immediately identified the instrument (up until now only older ladies have recognized it...). We started talking and she told me she wanted to give me an instrument of her own. She told me she had this bowed psaltery she made in high school but didn't use anymore, and that I should have it. So, a couple days later I went to her place, and got this cute thing.
It was missing a few strings but after stringing and tuning it sounds pretty sweet. Although it's supposed to be a bowed psaltery (needing to be played with a violin bow), that's still quite hard to me. It's also possible to pluck it, and I really love the plucky sound. Plucking it makes it sound like a small harp, another instrument I really love. I never really planned on even owning an instrument like this, and I didn't even have a clue what these things were, but I'm kind of in love with it. It's super simple to play, and I often find myself randomly plucking the strings to play a simple song. I'd love to learn how to play it more efficiently, but the gurdy has priority!

Bagpipe chanter

In May 2024, my bestie and I went to Scotland, traveling from Inverness to Skye to see the Skye live festival. Since we were in Scotland, I decided I wanted to try and get a bagpipe. While in Inverness, we visited a bagpipe shop and I bought this chanter. It's apparently the way to learn, without the bag or the drones. I haven't really given it the time it deserves, and for now I can get three notes out before I run out of breath. I feel like having the bag at least would make it easier to learn notes, since It takes me a few seconds even to reach the air pressure for the correct pitch, but who am I to question the masters? It's definitely much harder than I thought, and the added difficulty of learning the grips for each note definitely makes it a struggle. I don't think this instrument is for me, as much as I love it. At least my respect for professional bagpipe players has grown significantly...