Tuning is matching, and matching means listening for beats. Two drones that are out of tune make an audible wah-wah. As the beats slow down you are getting closer, and when they disappear you are in tune. Every step of drone tuning is finding that beatless spot — there is no light that comes on.
There is a hierarchy of authority: low A commands the outside tenor, and every other drone matches the outside tenor. You never tune anything to high A. You only play high A to free up a hand while you move a drone — then you go back to low A and listen again.
Stability comes first, because you cannot tune an unstable bagpipe. Steady blowing, well-set drone reeds, properly tensioned joints, and dry reeds are the foundation. If the pitch is shifting underneath you, there is no in-tune spot to find.
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Drone Tuning Tips
1h 4m · Full class available to Inner Circle members
14:02moisture stability: reeds, for joints, Setup🔒
19:41with and skills two one drones Listening🔒
25:49the bass outside to the tenor Matching🔒
29:54Bringing the middle in drone🔒
34:13with chanter the high Practicing A on🔒
40:43method: one-drone to low The A tuning🔒
52:02use method top players two-drone The🔒
58:36drone the shut Why bass off you never🔒
01:02:37Wrap-up: and the online competition videos🔒
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