If the bag is the foundation of a Great Highland Bagpipe, the drones are the landscape, providing a backdrop of harmony to enrich the overall experience of the instrument. Drawings tell us that the instrument began as a simple flute with a double-reed. Initially, the cheeks provided a “bag” and circular breathing made the sound continuous. Someone ingeniously added a hide bag to act as a reservoir for air. The bag also enabled the addition of a single small (tenor) drone. Eventually a second tenor drone was added and then finally the bass drone was added (mid to late 1700’s) to create yet another sound at a different pitch that would harmonize with the tenor drones.
Initially, the Scottish Highlands bagpipe was relatively small, meant to be played primarily indoors. It is believed that Donald MacDonald and Hugh Robertson, both of Edinburgh, created a larger instrument so as to produce a bigger sound more suitable for playing outdoors.
From the early 1800’s on, the lengths of each section is more or less standard. The bass drone on early Donald MacDonald bagpipes is somewhat unique in that the top section was considerably longer than the other two sections. Otherwise, on what we know as The Great Highland Bagpipe, you can expect to find each bass section to be about 11 3/4 inches in length. Tenor bottom sections are about 8 inches and tenor tops about 9 inches. Some makers adjusted these lengths slightly however generally this is what you’ll find.
Inside measurements can vary considerably from maker to maker. Bore diameters, depth of tuning chambers, the size and shape of the bell, and the size of the bushing all contribute greatly to how a drone sounds and behaves. Have a look at the pages below to become a bit more familiar with what you’ll find and experience in GHB drones.
This bagpipe is believed to have been played at The Battle of Culloden in 1746. It is on display at The National Centre for Piping in Glasgow, and is a remarkable artifact in that it has survived not only the battle but the many years that followed. It is made of Boxwood, which was indigenous to Scotland and pre-dates the use of exotic hardwoods from abroad. The chanter would have produced a softer, more muted sound than a modern GHB chanter. The same can be said of the drones. We know that by the late 1700’s or very early 1800’s ebony and cocuswood were both in use, although not exclusively.
