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Tone & Tuning

Steady blowing, drone tuning, chanter pitch, and the setup details that turn a hard-to-hear instrument into a great-sounding one.

54 LESSONS IN THIS TOPIC
Tone & Tuning14m

The Secret Blowing Technique Used By Top Pipers: The 80/20 Rule Revealed

I share a discovery I've never taught publicly before: a specific, measurable blowing pattern shared by the world's best pipers. It started with a…

All LevelsMay 8, 2026· YouTube Video
Tone & Tuning15m

Your Pipes Will Never Stay In Tune Until You Fix This One Thing: It Is More Than Just Steady Blowing

In part one of a two-part series, I break down what steady blowing actually is, why it's one of the hardest skills in piping to master, and the tool…

All LevelsMay 1, 2026· YouTube Video
Tone & Tuning27m

Bagpipe Tuning With 4 Phones + 4 InTune Mics: The Ultimate Visual Tuning Experiment

In this hands-on experiment, I rig up four iPhones, each running a different tuning app and connected to its own InTune mic, so I can watch my…

IntermediateFebruary 20, 2026· YouTube Video
Tone & Tuning47m

Hands-On Drone Tuning Workshop: Get In Tune Fast

This is a get-the-pipes-out workshop: I tune my own drones live on camera and break down the exact process I use and teach. It opens with members…

All LevelsNovember 13, 2025· Class Replay
Tone & Tuning23m

Bagpipe Tuning Time-Lapse: A Detailed Step-by-Step Guide to the Perfect Bagpipe Tuning Process

I share a first-of-its-kind video: a complete real-time recording of my full bagpipe tuning process, condensed into a fast time-lapse sped up more…

IntermediateNovember 3, 2024· YouTube Video
Tone & Tuning1h 2m

The Hidden Secret to Steady Tone: A New Method to Learn Ultimate Blowing Steadiness

What actually separates the sound of a top professional from everyone else? After playing the pipes of world-class players like Callum Beaumont and…

All LevelsOctober 2, 2024· Class Replay
Tone & Tuning14m

The #1 Mistake Bagpipers Make With Their Blowpipe (And How To Fix It For Stronger and Pain-Free Piping)

In this video, I tackle bagpipe ergonomics, focusing specifically on the blowpipe, a component that doesn't get nearly enough attention despite its…

All LevelsOctober 1, 2024· YouTube Video
Tone & Tuning21m

How To Avoid These Most Common Blowing Mistakes: Tips for a Steadier, More Confident Bagpipe Sound

In this video I answer the questions almost every new piper asks about blowing: how does the sound keep going when you take a breath, how do you know …

All LevelsJuly 21, 2024· YouTube Video
Tone & Tuning1h 9m

How to Master Steady Blowing

Steady blowing is where bagpipe tone comes from, and in this session I break down exactly what it is and how to build it. Unlike trumpet or saxophone …

All LevelsJuly 16, 2024· Class Replay
Tone & Tuning41m

Fixing the Death Grip, Tuning Bagpipes by Ear, Playing with the Piper's Metronome — Live Bagpipe Q&A

In this live Friday Q&A, I answer real questions submitted by email and in the comments, working through three major topics for pipers of every level.…

All LevelsJune 1, 2024· YouTube Video
Tone & Tuning9m

Tune Your Bagpipes in Under 60 Seconds: Tips for Fast, Easy & Perfect Tuning with the InTune Mic

I open with the core problem: bagpipes are uniquely hard to tune because they produce a loud, continuous sound from four separate reeds at once, and…

All LevelsMarch 26, 2024· YouTube Video
Tone & Tuning5m

Revolutionize Your Bagpipe Tuning with the InTune Mic: Latest Updates & Features

In this short update video, I walk through what's new with the InTune Mic, the wireless clip-on instrument microphone I designed specifically for…

All LevelsFebruary 21, 2024· YouTube Video
Tone & Tuning1h 10m

Fall Tune-Up

As the weather turns cold and damp, your bagpipes need attention — and this session is my complete fall checkup. I walk through testing the bag for…

All LevelsOctober 23, 2023· Class Replay
Tone & Tuning68m

How to Master Steady Blowing: The #1 Skill Every Piper Needs for a Great Bagpipe Sound

In this in-depth class, recorded live for Inner Circle members, I tackle what I call the single most important skill for a great bagpipe sound:…

IntermediateOctober 2, 2023· YouTube Video
Tone & Tuning1h 7m

Using the InTune Mic

In this hands-on session I demonstrate my InTune Mic — the wireless clip-on instrument microphone I designed to solve a uniquely bagpipe problem:…

All LevelsFebruary 1, 2023· Class Replay
Tone & Tuning17m

Getting Started with the InTune Mic for Faster and Easier Bagpipe Tuning

In this hands-on tutorial, I walk through setting up and using the InTune mic, my wireless clip-on microphone for smartphones, together with the bra…

IntermediateDecember 30, 2022· YouTube Video
Tone & Tuning5m

Revolutionize Your Tuning with InTune Mic: Wireless Clip-on Instrument Microphone for Smartphones

In this short product video, I introduce the InTune Mic, a wireless clip-on microphone I designed to solve one of the most common frustrations in…

All LevelsNovember 19, 2022· YouTube Video
Tone & Tuning1h 4m

Drone Tuning Tips

In this session I break drone tuning down into two solvable problems. The auditory problem: with two tenors, a bass, and a chanter all sounding at…

All LevelsSeptember 20, 2022· Class Replay
📚 All 36 Tone & Tuning posts
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Drone Reeds: Set Up & Adjustment for Ultimate Steadiness & Efficiency.April 15, 2021 · Class Replay · Tone & Tuning
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How to Achieve a Well-Balanced and Efficient BagpipeNovember 4, 2016 · Audio · Tone & Tuning
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Introducing The Piper's Ultimate Reed Poker (HD Video)August 3, 2016 · Lesson · Tone & Tuning
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How to tune up a pipe bandMay 13, 2016 · Lesson · Tone & Tuning
Ezeedrone Reeds vs. New Increased Absorption Reeds (HD Video)December 15, 2015 · Video Lesson · Tone & Tuning
This might be the world's best bagpipe tunerNovember 3, 2015 · Video Lesson · Tone & Tuning
Close up with new all-plastic bagpipes (HD Video)June 30, 2015 · Video Lesson · Tone & Tuning
Iain MacDonald: Up Close with the Campbell Tunable Pipe ChanterDecember 12, 2014 · Video Lesson · Tone & Tuning
All About Drone ReedsJuly 14, 2014 · Video Lesson · Tone & Tuning
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Keep things cool when playing your pipes in the heatJuly 11, 2014 · Lesson · Tone & Tuning
Secrets of Top Pipers: How to Find the Best Reed in the BoxNovember 26, 2013 · Video Lesson · Tone & Tuning
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How to achieve a world-class bagpipe sound (Part 7: The Environment)September 13, 2013 · Lesson · Tone & Tuning
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How to achieve a world-class bagpipe sound (Part 6: Steady Pressure)September 1, 2013 · Lesson · Tone & Tuning
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How to achieve a world-class bagpipe sound (Part 5: Moisture Control)August 13, 2013 · Lesson · Tone & Tuning
How to achieve a world-class bagpipe sound (Part 4: Your Reeds)August 10, 2013 · Video Lesson · Tone & Tuning
How to achieve a world-class bagpipe sound (Part 3: Your Chanter)August 7, 2013 · Video Lesson · Tone & Tuning
How to achieve a world-class bagpipe sound (Part 2: Your Drones)August 5, 2013 · Video Lesson · Tone & Tuning
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How to achieve a world-class bagpipe soundAugust 3, 2013 · Lesson · Tone & Tuning
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What smartphone apps do you use to enhance your piping?June 5, 2013 · Lesson · Tone & Tuning
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Improve your sound and extend the playing life of your reed by controlling moisture.May 31, 2013 · Lesson · Tone & Tuning
The only cure for spinning hemp.May 29, 2013 · Video Lesson · Tone & Tuning
Making Your Pipes Easy to PlayApril 29, 2013 · Video Lesson · Tone & Tuning
Selecting and Adjusting Pipe Chanter ReedsApril 5, 2013 · Video Lesson · Tone & Tuning
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The secret to good sound.December 18, 2012 · Lesson · Tone & Tuning
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How to warm up your pipes before performing (and what to do if you can't warm up)November 25, 2012 · Lesson · Tone & Tuning
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Get Yourself and Your Pipes Ready for Playing Outside in Cold WeatherNovember 11, 2012 · Lesson · Tone & Tuning
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The bagpipe scale vs. equal temperamentOctober 16, 2012 · Lesson · Tone & Tuning
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Are you drying your rocks correctly?July 20, 2012 · Lesson · Tone & Tuning
Understanding how drone reeds are affected by pressureApril 2, 2012 · Video Lesson · Tone & Tuning
Thread Your Drone Reed Seats for a Tighter FitMarch 12, 2012 · Video Lesson · Tone & Tuning
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Answers to some great bagpipe-related questionsFebruary 10, 2012 · Lesson · Tone & Tuning
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Perfectly tune your pipe chanter with this amazing tuner appDecember 9, 2011 · Lesson · Tone & Tuning
How to change your chanter tape without losing your fine tuning.November 14, 2011 · Video Lesson · Tone & Tuning
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Get your pipes performance readyOctober 31, 2011 · Lesson · Tone & Tuning
Secrets of Drone Tuning - Part Two — March 27, 2011March 27, 2011 · Video Lesson · Tone & Tuning
Secrets of Drone Tuning - Part OneMarch 26, 2011 · Video Lesson · Tone & Tuning
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