If a high A needs way more pressure than the rest of the scale, suspect the reed, not your blowing. A reed that isn't vibrating efficiently can demand far more pressure for the same volume. Check the pressure with a Bagpipe Gauge (around 30 is typical), and consider sanding, an elastic band, or a replacement reed rather than just blowing harder.
Keep your fingers level and close to the chanter for a clean B strike. Most inconsistent B strikes come from lifting the ring finger and pinky to different heights. I compare it to the childhood game of dropping three rocks in the water at the same time — much easier when they start from the same height.
Tape on a chanter is normal, not a sign of a bad chanter. Every reed is handmade from natural cane, so no two reeds tune identically. Tape lets you fine-tune each hole and re-adjust as temperature, humidity, and the reed itself change — there's no such thing as a perfectly in-tune chanter with zero tape.
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Live Bagpipes & AMA with Jori Chisholm: Donald MacLeod Tunes, Finger Warm-Up, Fixing Hard...
49m · Full class available to Inner Circle members
00:00Live and the setup InTune testing playing: stream Mic🔒
12:38the of of Recap first tunes set🔒
15:55set piping of live A second🔒
21:23and capping Wrapping up pipes playing the🔒
22:20the Reflecting power music on of live🔒
25:46a warm-up Q&A: finger and routine hand🔒
29:20problems A and High reed Q&A: pressure🔒
34:49MacLeod the tune Susan Q&A:🔒
37:12B getting consistent a strike Q&A:🔒
39:54tuning tape with chanter Q&A: a🔒
41:55thumb-rest experiment foam the Q&A:🔒
46:02chanter a new position lining up and Q&A: playing🔒
48:21and Wrap-up sign-off🔒
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About this class
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