Bagpipe Lessons - How To Tune Your Drones! 3-Step Method that WORKS!

Learn how to tune your drones in this tutorial. Whether you are using 3 drones or 2, you will learn how to in this video! Comment section is open for Q&A (and always is)!
Cheat sheet: bantamusic.com/pdf-downloads
Different playing conditions: • Video
Old tuning video: • Video
Timecodes
0:00 - Intro
0:15 - Warming drones
1:36 - Step 1: Tune outside tenor drone first
5:24 - Step 2: Tuning bass drone
9:00 - Step 3: Tuning middle tenor drone
10:03 - Checking and fine tuning
14:03 - Discussion

[@KyleBantaMusic]

Drone tuning takes time, practice and patience. If you want clarification on anything in this video, please comment below :)

[@WillMellon]

It's not magic but it is an essential part of the art. If you don't have perfect pitch, or you play at more than one pitch and need/want to be spot-on then a quality tuning meter is your guide and 'second opinion'. Final is always by ear. My Kyo chanters are designed to play at 466hz and 476hz and that is right where I play them. Where Murray Huggins made them to play. Give them what they want. added - drones follow chanter.

[@deekhc]

Very helpful, thanks.

[@fiveminutereview9173]

I would like to learn more about balancing drones to the chanter. I find that different reeds project wildly different volumes and characteristics and I’m not sure how to judge what’s preferable Great videos

[@KyleBantaMusic]

Preferences usually depend on what brands work best in their specific brand of pipes. I tried Selbies in my pipes, and while they sounded great when I listened to other players, I couldn't get them to work in mine. Adjusting the reeds will increase or decrease the volume, however this difference can tend to be more difficult to notice unless you compare them side by side. The main things to check are that the reeds are air efficient, seated properly, and calibrated so that the tuning pins sit in the desired range (I use 'range' because I know players who prefer to have the tuning pins positioned higher or lower). Ease of tuning will depend on how well the drones work in the pipes and how knowledgeable the player is with tuning.

[@pamelaharvey1187]

Very helpful😊

[@eanderson723]

Lots of great information! Thanks for doing this for us.

[@KyleBantaMusic]

You're welcome, glad you found it useful!

[@michaelrankine1825]

The only tuners we used.was our luggies.a feel years ago now

[@iainroe204]

Excellent

[@donnalipsett8385]

Very helpful! Thank you.

[@KyleBantaMusic]

You're welcome, glad you liked it!

[@pemacal57]

I like so much your videos…newbies must to know this things you are explaining so well

[@KyleBantaMusic]

I am humbled by your comments... I really enjoy making videos. It's very evident that they are helpful to many people, which is the reason why I work to make them. I make videos with information that is as accurate as possible. I'm certainly no expert or master. I have a large amount of experience and I like passing it on.

[@pemacal57]

@@KyleBantaMusic You are doing a great and important work!

[@16Bentham]

The math is incorrect. If you're tuning at 480, then your bass drone will be at 120, not 479. It's two octaves below low A, and one octave below the tenors which would be at 240. Each octave drop halves the frequency.

[@KyleBantaMusic]

I appreciate you bringing this point up because this is a technical aspect that needs addressing. From the sources I looked at, there is a bit of discrepancy between hertz and octaves. You are correct that an octave is half of the hertz you are tuning to. I've heard many people say that the bass needs to be one octave below the tenors. However, if we consider the difference between octaves and hertz, the bass would actually be one HERT below the tenors, not one octave.

[@edgarreyes4815]

I came looking on how to tune my drone, quadcopter, and quickly realized I was looking at the wrong kind of "drones". LOL 🤣🤣🤣

[@erni172320]

For me it is the best tuning technique. How many times do you tune when you play in a presentation? I understand that as the air heats up, the pitch increases, therefore you have to re-tune. Thanks pal for your fantastic videos

[@KyleBantaMusic]

Thank you, makes it worthwhile! The method works well doesnt it! The number of times I re-tune in a performance really depends on where I'm playing. If I play outside (weather dependent), I usually re-tune a few times depending if its raining. Inside might require 2 tuning sessions (one room will be different than another). Even different areas in a park will influence the tuning of the instrument (I had this happen in 2021), where the tuning was great in one spot, then shifted slightly in another!

[@deekhc]

Very helpful. Thanks.

[@pemacal57]

I will continue my more than thankful comment….we need to “warm up” our drone reeds and Chanter reed too…!

[@KyleBantaMusic]

Yes, warming up your instrument is important! I dont compete without warming up my reeds or they will be out of tune halfway through the performance!

[@pemacal57]

@@KyleBantaMusic Yes…I agree 100%

[@douglasbrown5189]

Great video, fantastic for referencing! I know you said to use the D for keeping a constant pressure, but I've been told before to use High A instead. I'm not sure if it would make a difference though. What's your thoughts?

[@KyleBantaMusic]

Good question, Douglas! What you’ve been told is correct. High A is definitely more useful, when it is in tune with the Low A anyway (if both notes are in tune with each other, the drones can be tuned to Low A or High A). While I cant speak for others, Ive had to use D for tuning when there is a lot of surrounding noise. Otherwise, High A is my note of choice.

[@jazzman1626]

Both high and low A’s should be in tune with each other, so if you tune your drones to high A, your low A will be in tune anyway. If I was going to use another note, it would be the note E. It sounds nicer to me. Nice pipes btw.

[@thebaron5206]

Low A can be flat until the chanter Reed is warmed up and sharpens naturally, this is why when you tune to high A and go to low A it’s not in tune. Of course if you tune to high A this has to be in close pitch with low A whereas many players prefer their high A to be very slightly flat so it provides a broader timbre. In the initial stages E or D are good notes to check against, E because it frees your drone twiddling hand. Of course this presupposes that they are similarly at the correct note intervals.

[@marcblur9055]

D changes the least with the bottom hand off the chanter. High A can sometimes be brought more in tune when the bottom hand is off the chanter with your top hand middle finger on the chanter like piob high G. E can change a lot with the bottom hand off, and often goes flat. For newer pipers, all of this info is very good, but depends on having all the drone reeds set to the same pressure. You should be able to overblow and have the drones shut off at the same time. If the drones aren't balanced for pressure, you'll be chasing tuning all day. When warming up and checking tuning, play the easiest tune you know. You're more likely to blow steady on a tune you're comfortable with. D is also a better tuning note if you play an easier chanter reed.

[@pemacal57]

The BEST way is WITHOUT a tuner….YES, OF COURSE!!!

[@KyleBantaMusic]

Training your ear to tune takes time, but it can definitely be achieved :)

[@chriglpiper]

Let’s fire these puppies up 😆

[@ronjarvis5299]

Thanks for the tutorial. I initially use a iStrobeSoft( w/ GHB sweetener) iphone app before doing the tuning technique you demonstrated with the low A on the outside tenor drone and the chanter. My tuner is set to 478 htz. The drones are in tune to low A; the chanter shows low A, E, and High A are reading in tune. When playing songs, I periodically look at the tuner to check the htz and note. Many times I am consistently settled on E through the tune. Is this indicative of overblowing? The pipes sound good for a novice who is muddling along. Should I cease obsessing over tuner readings?

[@KyleBantaMusic]

I personally dont use a tuner very much. I use a tuner when i want to know if im way too flat or sharp (ill typically be struggling to get the drones in tune with the chanter). If the chanter sounds in tune with the drones, you can check the tuner if there is a substantial difference from start to finish (my pitch will go up 2-3 hz max). The trick is to train your ear to do the tuning without the tuner, which takes time but the rewards are great. I wouldnt ‘obsess’ with the tuner as much.

[@ronjarvis5299]

@@KyleBantaMusic Thank you!

[@petermccarthy4525]

Very useful video that I can refer to. Just one quick question: I have just taken delivery of set made by Bagpipes Galore in Edinburgh. It is one of their least expensive sets and sounds good. All the reeds are synthetic, including the ‘surefire’ chanter reed, and the pipes are Delrin. Is this going to make it less likely to go out of tune than more natural materials? Peter (in Dorset)

[@KyleBantaMusic]

Hi Peter, natural materials (i.e. cane) require regular playing and maintenance compared to synthetic. They can also be finicky to set up and adjust unless you are knowledgeable with cane. With you dont play for a few days, you will be able to get the synthetic going again quicker than cane, which would likely need some additional work and patience to get going. Hope that helps!

[@petermccarthy4525]

@@KyleBantaMusicThis is very helpful. Thanks again for the videos. It’s a learning curve Peter

[@brandongreen1635]

Hey Kyle!!! I'm still a bit new at bagpipes lol aha I've been playing now for about a year and a half and I can tune really well now that I'm more experienced but I've always wondered does the very very top section of the bass drone, does that slide ever change anything like pitch or tone?

[@KyleBantaMusic]

That’s excellent that you have improved your tuning abilities! The top of the bass drone does change the tone. That part of the bass drone is almost never adjusted. I only adjust mine if it has been moved accidentally, or to check if the joint needs more/less hemp. I go over this more in depth in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWLIp6h4qteCpaM. Hope that helps!

[@brandongreen1635]

@@KyleBantaMusic Oh aha yes I know what you mean now!! Lol I just had to clarify to make sure!! Kyle, is the top section of the bass drone usually ideal to be set just slightly above the hemp line?

[@KyleBantaMusic]

Yes. Measuring is not necessary, but perhaps an 1/8” or so (no more than the thickness of your forefinger).

[@Verathuum]

I’m a brand new piper, and I’ve always assumed you can tune the bass and middle tenor drone to the outer tenor, after the outer tenor was tuned to the chanter. Would that be worse than tuning everything to the chanter, or would it be the same result at the end of the day?

[@KyleBantaMusic]

The outside tenor is tuned to the chanter. Then the bass is typically tuned to the outside tenor with the inside tenor to follow. The bass can be harder to hear for some as it might appear to be more "quiet", per se (it sounds deeper). The ending question is subject to tuning procedure you use. I would personally go with the beginning part. Try tuning the middle tenor to the outside and see what you think. Do you find it harder? Easier? This will help you learn.

[@maddddie12]

Beginner question here... I noticed that you magically "corked" your drones with just a tap at the top of the Drones (3:37 -3:39 ). What piece of equipment are you using? I fumble with the corks (standard rubber ones) when trying to tune. This, whatever it is, seems to be a nice addition to my pipes.. Any help is appreciated. Thank you

[@KyleBantaMusic]

I’m not using anything other than my hand. Tapping the top of your drones will shut them off as you are basically stopping the airflow. You need to gently twist the corks into the drones otherwise the air pressure may pop them out. If the reeds are calibrated properly, you can lean off the blowing and the drones should restart automatically (this takes practice).

[@pemacal57]

Excuse me Banta, I forget to ask you…maybe you use MG drone reeds?

[@KyleBantaMusic]

I was using an MG bass drone reed and Canning tenor drone reeds for this video. And call me Kyle :)

[@pemacal57]

@@KyleBantaMusic Thanks very much, Kyle!

[@1111amyg]

So far, I can only comfortably power two drones (bass and outer tenor). Should I tune them the same as if I were playing all three? Also, my tuning valves are very tight and I need to know what type of lubricant I should use on the metal - bore oil, WD-40, petroleum jelly?

[@KyleBantaMusic]

Yes, you can tune the outside tenor the same way as you would with three going. I personally find that the middle tenor sounds subtly different than the outside tenor but that doesnt impact tuning (everyone's bagpipe is different, hence why I mention this). Are you referring to drone valves that assist with air pressure control?

[@1111amyg]

@@KyleBantaMusic Hi there. I'm referring to the metal joints of the drones that you extend or retract to tune the drones. Mine are too tight to move with one hand, so I need to lubricate them so I can attempt to get the drones in tune. I just can't find anything on the internet that says what to use that won't eat away at the metal over time.

[@KyleBantaMusic]

​@@1111amyg Ok. Depending on how far down the drone top is, I try to gently wiggle mine side to side while pulling it off. If it's not too tight, it's usually enough to slowly loosen it.

[@1111amyg]

@@KyleBantaMusic Ok, thanks. I'll try that. My drones are Pakistani made and very tight in the joints. They actually sound ok, but that's with everything else being Scottish made. I wanted to check first before I applied a lubricant because I'm not sure of the quality of the metal. I'll see how the wiggling and movement go. Thank you.

[@KyleBantaMusic]

@@1111amyg when I put my Pakistani pipes together, I couldn’t get the blowpipe out at first (took a long time). If my prior suggestion doesn’t work, try using a piece of rubber or leather to wiggle it out.

[@MrBazcabinetmaker]

Does the wave/ fluctuation in sound get slower as the drone become tuned?

[@KyleBantaMusic]

Yes. If the drone is in tune, there should be no fluctuation in sound. The more in tune the drone is, the slower the waves get.

[@Jwellsuhhuh]

The frequency of the beating is actually going to be exactly how many Hz away from the correct frequency you are. So slower beating means less Hz to get to the target frequency

[@ambuanshuvlogs]

Sir plz help me to tune my bagpipe

[@KyleBantaMusic]

This is the video I was going to suggest watching. Does something still confuse?

[@ambuanshuvlogs]

Unable to tune sir

[@KyleBantaMusic]

I wouldn’t say you’re unable to tune, more like you don’t know how to tune YET. Everyone can learn. Did the video make sense? Were you curious about something that was said?

[@ambuanshuvlogs]

@@KyleBantaMusic I tuned it sir. Thank u very much.

[@ambuanshuvlogs]

@@KyleBantaMusic I tuned it sir. Your video was really helpful.

[@curts_uniquecomposites]

My drones don't sound that beautiful. What drone reeds you use?

[@KyleBantaMusic]

I use an MG reeds. I was using Ezeedrone reeds before but Thought I'd try these out. I may try a different combination soon.