Blowing good tone…It’s easier than you think.

1. Stand straight with heels together and toes pointed into the middle of the circle or otherwise facing the PM. Back and shoulders straight. Chest out.
2. Take a deep breath. Steadily and slowly blow your arm off the bag. Keep the pressure in the bag constant. You can judge this by the “feel” of things under your arm. Don’t get caught taking shallow breaths.
3. Listen to the sounds your bagpipe is making. If need be, block off your outside tenor and bass and listen to the sounds of your middle tenor against your chanter.
4. Practice blowing tone by playing slow tunes. Hold a note as long as you can. Just play “D” and see how long you can hold the pitch.
5. Find that spot where your chanter reed is happiest. The scale is in balance without squeals, gurgles, or other unwanted sounds. Each reed has that “perfect” spot where everything is as it’s supposed to be. Seek that spot out and learn to blow consistently at that pitch. It’s both an Art and a Science. Feel it. Hear it. Enjoy it!

In order to blow good tone, everything needs to be working properly. Your bag needs to be air-tight. Your reeds need to be set up correctly so they sound and behave equally. Your chanter reed needs to have been broken-in correctly, maintained correctly, and blown correctly each time. There is no magic pill. You need to be in shape. Blow your bagpipe daily if possible. Pay attention. Read. Watch. Listen. Learn. Do.