How to Balance Bagpipe Pitch

The bagpipe needs to be properly tuned in order to achieve a balance between the low A and the high A. Bagpipe pitch fluctuates more than most other woodwinds due to the bagpipe's unique construction and method of play. Balancing the bagpipe's pitch can be accomplished quickly in a few simple steps.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Play a low A on just the chanter and hold the note for a half measure. Now play a High A. This is called an octave interval. Playing the two notes lets the performer hear the actual tuning of the instrument.

2. Play the notes between the high A and the low A. These notes are not tuned to standard western intervals. Some of these notes are flatter and some are sharper than the same notes played on western instruments such as a piano or clarinet.

3. Place the chanter into the pipe. Play the same intervals with the bagpipe fully assembled and listen for any imbalanced tones.

4. Play the low A once again and set one of the treble drones to match the pitch of the low A. This drone then becomes the tuning note for the bagpipe.

5. Play the high A and adjust the drone to balance the pitch between the low A and the high A. This tuning method is the preferred method for balancing the pitch of the bagpipe.