In the old days, I both loved and hated practice. I always made certain that my bagpipe was ready to go and after about ten minutes of playing it was tuned and completely settled. Others would arrive having not touched their pipes since the last practice. We would fight and fight to get the sound settled, with most of us standing around ready to throttle the offenders. I used to refer to this as “chasing butterflies.” Thankfully, over the past few years, reed protectors and chanter containers have been designed to help manage the moisture content of your chanter reed. Hygrometers and thermometers tell you the relative humidity and temperature that your reed is resting within. They also have granules and packets that regulate moisture to create the optimal environment for your reed. If you pay attention and manage this device correctly, your chanter reed will remain properly hydrated and be “at pitch” within minutes of playing.

When I arrived in Tucson, the band spent most of their time tuning. The weekly ordeal was difficult and time-consuming. Tape was constantly being shifted and more time was spent tuning than rehearsing. With the introduction of both goatskin bags and these devices, “tuning” was reduced to “tuning drones”. We would sometimes go weeks without touching a chanter. Preparation for performances and contests was minimal and painless.

I’m now in Wisconsin working with Celtic Nations Pipe Band. We are using these devices and experiencing the same outstanding results. I’ve found that if you keep things at about 70 to 75% RH your chanter reed is going to be pretty happy. Avoid any rapid changes. If you need to introduce moisture, usually a drop or two of water onto the packet or granules is sufficient. If you need to remove moisture, drop in a fresh packet. Spare packets can be purchased at Amazon or elsewhere. It generally takes a few hours for things to stabilize. Do not attempt to shorten stabilization time as you will probably harm your reed.

If you manage the moisture within your pipe bag properly, everything should be seamless. For Average Pipers, if you want to sound like a pro and minimize the trouble of getting there, invest in one of these devices! Forward this blog-post to your PM. If you need more information or help, write to me.