I’ve been learning a few basic tunes on the practice chanter, but I cannot play them on the bagpipes. I’ve got all my drones corked so I can focus on learning how to properly adjust the air pressure. I can blow the low hand notes pretty well for several minutes. My issue is that whenever I try to play a B doubling or transition from high hand notes to low hand notes, everything stops. As soon as I play a G Gracenote, the chanter shuts off. Is there something related to air pressure that I’m not understanding or is this an issue common to beginners?

Most people only knows Scotland the Brave

I am attempting to update me new BDC, but my computer will only briefly recognize that the changer is connected, and then changes the "Please connect chanter and place in Updfater mode" from green to red.

1. Using suppled USB cable

2. Ensured that all connections are solid

3. Rebooted computer and restarted software

4. have tried different USB cables on different ports, with same results

5. Running V1.20 and up-to-date Windows machine.

Thoughts?

Cheers - eric

Hi all,

I recently bought Braw Bagpipe Tuner and I played with it a bit. At first I only played the chanter with all the drones corked. I tried it twice while playing tunes (I See Mull and Green Hills of Tyrol) and once just going up and down the scale (sorry, I don't remember which screenshot is from which test).
I'm assuming the inconsistency is due to my playing (not keeping pressure 100% of the time, messing up my fingerings here and there, etc.) but I was wondering what to do about the notes that are flat. I know there's something to do with the reed (can't remember exactly which way is which) but am I suppose to move the reed so that all the notes are sharper, thus making the flat notes "proper" and then using tape to flatten the notes that are proper now but will become sharper due to the moving of the reed?

Thanks

Hi, i’ve been considering applying for the national youth PB of scotland but i’m very unsure of what to play. hopefully i’d like to make it into the senior band so im not sure what level i should be playing. any medleys, msr’s or other tune selections would be appreciated.

Looking to see if anyone can figure out who made this set. These are the best pictures I have as of now.

I posted a month or two ago about my dad dropping off my great grandfathers bagpipe. Many thanks to my anonymous expert for cleaning them up for me and inspecting the damages. Here’s what he said:

“Thank you for the opportunity to document your bagpipe.

1) The shellac finish has been removed. All beading and combing was cleaned of sediment and debris. Every scribe line and individual comb was cleaned to the bare wood.

2) The exterior was polished with super-fine steel wool.

3) The exterior was oiled with very fine natural bore oil. Three applications were applied.

4) The nickel tuning slides and ferrules were cleaned with steel wool and with Flitz. As this was a war time bagpipe, the nickel is very low quality. Blemishes exist.

5) The ivory rings were cleaned and oiled. The patina remains.

6) Tuning chambers have shrunk and will no longer accommodate the tuning slides. I would beginning by opening the tuning chambers slightly. Perhaps polishing the inside would be enough. I haven't worked with these hempless tuning slides and would probably consider a more conventional approach (convert to hemp).

7) There is an issue with the tuning slide lodged inside the bass top section.

8) There is a hairline crack under the ferrule on one tenor drone.

9) The blowpipe stock is cracked and needs to be replaced.

The wood itself is very good. Gaboon Ebony I believe. The beading is consistent and the combing is shallow. Try to maintain the bagpipe in a hospitable environment and oil the exterior twice yearly. You'll never replace the ebony.”

So what’s the next step? I couldn’t immediately continue the process due to funds. Probably a 1000k job I would think?

When the PM gives a set of music to learn when the pipe corps returns for off season practice what is in your opinion is a reasonable time frame to have them learnt off individually?

Good Day, everyone. I’ve just started on the chanter and am still learning the basics but I feel like either I’m blowing to hard or not enough, the chanter just doesn’t sound right, but maybe it’s me. I’m using a McCallum chanter extended version. (For the video I wasn’t playing anything specific)I’m looking for Any Professional opinions or constructive criticism please and thank you.

Hello, I just created an online flashing screen metronome so I don't have to search up a YouTube video every time I need one to practice.

Any suggestions would really be appreciated, and if there are any issues, please let me know!

Here it is: https://flashingmetronome.oliverullrich.com/

I am looking for (simple) seconds for this wonderful tune. Does anybody know how to get them?

Thanks, Frank V

Hello so if you remember last year I asked the Redit team to vote for me and here I am asking if yous will all do the pleasure and vote for me!!! How to vote for me ⬇️

How to vote for me for the big rab show awards 2026!
Step1: Email [bigrabshow@gmail.com](mailto:bigrabshow@gmail.com)
step 2: in your email write ''Josh's Piping Adventures - Best Social Media''
step 3: send it!

It will mean alot if I can make it to the finals AGAIN and if I win there will be some super cool bagpipe content and I will have a big long list of people to thank and obviously the bagpipe Redit group will be near the top of the list

Please and thank you!

Hello, I've had this tune (hornpipe?) stuck in my head for the past couple months, but I have no idea what it is, hopefully someone can recognize it!

Im confident measures 1-2 of the 1st and 2nd line are correct, but measures 3-4 are iffy and more from what my mind vaguely thinks how the tune goes.

I've looked everywhere from my own music to even YouTube history from the past 2 years, and can't find it.

I have the strangest thing going on right now. One of the guys in my band is having issues with his tone enhancers. He just got some new kinnard Evolution reeds and one of them will not work if the tone enhancer is in the stock. No matter where you put the bridle, even all the way open, the reed cuts out almost immediately. When we pull the enhancer out everything works just fine. The problem is he would like the use the enhancers because it makes things a little easier to play.

anyone have any ideas what might be causing this?

Edit: last night at band practice a couple of us spent some time on this issue. It turns out the underlying issue was moisture.

We took all the enhancers out, calibrated the drones and thought he was good to go. After about 20 minutes his drones started to shut off again. I did the whole dollar bill under the drone tongue and that fixed the problem.

He’s going to ditch the tone enhancers and start looking for a better moisture control system

Please use this thread to discuss whatever piping related questions you may have, or comment to help others.

Does anyone have tunes that can be played just with the top hand for young students? I know of Mary had a Little Lamb and Ode to Joy. Any others?

Hey all. I’m out of the solo game for a while but I’m looking to jump back in. Trying to find an MSR that’s relatively straightforward and easy without it being too grade 4 or over my head if that makes sense. Any good suggestions? Thanks for the help.

I do a lot of golf scrambles where they pay me to play while people are warming up and getting ready, background noise really. I usually just play the same tunes each time. I was looking for some more simple marches and retreats or whatnot to play. Any suggestions?

I’ve admittedly been away from piping for over twenty years, but I feel as if many of the old Regimental tunes are falling out of favor with a lot of players and bands. Please correct me if I’m wrong.
I grew up in Scots Guards, Gordon Highlanders, QO Highlanders. Of course you can find the highlights on YouTube, but there are some wonderful, not so well-known tunes buried within.
I’d value players’ thoughts. Again, the world has changed in twenty years away. What is the future of pipe music?

Eric
Chicago

I’m putting together my Highland dress for solo piping competitions and have a question about wearing a clan cap badge.
I’ll be wearing the tartan of my pipe band, but competing as a solo piper.
My father always believed our family had a connection to Clan Campbell, although as far as I know we actually don’t. Because of that, the Campbell badge still has some personal meaning to me.
Would it be considered appropriate to wear a Clan Campbell cap badge on my Glengarry at a piping competition, even though I’m not actually connected to the clan? Or would it be better etiquette to wear a neutral cap badge, or no badge at all?

I have a chanter reed that's a little too hard. It's hard enough, however, to be a mental distraction and my practice isn't productive. I'm too busy thinking about blowing and my reed.

I don't want to take anything off of it. It's going to be a great reed once it's broken in. But for now, I'm blowing my brains out.

Will a rubber band make my reed harder or easier?

TIA.