Bagpipe Tuning: Pitch, Harmonics & Octave Explained | PIPES UP! with Jim McGillivray

In this episode, Gold Medallist Jim McGillivray explores the essential elements of pitch, harmonics, and the octave framework in bagpipe tuning. These components are critical for achieving the rich, resonant tone that defines the Great Highland Bagpipe. Jim explains how to understand and apply these concepts to produce a well-balanced, in-tune instrument.

What You’ll Learn:
How chanter tuning interacts with steady drone pitch to avoid dissonance
How drone overtones (harmonics) blend with chanter notes to create depth and tonal richness
The importance of balancing Low A and High A within the octave framework of the bagpipe scale
How temperature, humidity, and altitude impact pitch and tuning
Practical techniques for adjusting tape and reeds to fine-tune your chanter precisely

This tutorial is part of a broader tuning and maintenance series that helps pipers of all levels refine their tone. Whether you’re a soloist or play in a band, mastering pitch and harmonics is key to a professional-quality sound.

📘 Want to go deeper? Check out Jim’s book Rhythmic Fingerwork: https://bit.ly/RhythmicFingerwork

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