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We previously discussed how to use accurately and reliably tune the notes of your pipe chanter. However, the bagpipe scale is different than the scale used by "normal" Western instruments so you won't be able to use a regular off-the-shelf instrument tuner (e.g. Korg) to tune your chanter. Today's post discusses the differences between the bagpipe scale and the equal tempered scale used by most other instruments.  It's difficult to enjoy listening to and out-of-tune bagpipe, but a perfectly tuned bagpipe sounds wonderful, full, and rich — in large part due to the particular scale we use to tune our pipes.   One unique characteristic of the bagpipes is the fact that at all times we have 4 notes going simultaneously: melody note from the chanter outside tenor drone note inside tenor drone note bass drone note If one or more of these notes is out of tune, the whole pipe is out of tune! ...