How to Master Steady Blowing: The #1 Skill Every Piper Needs for a Great Bagpipe Sound

[@bagpipelessons]

Download my free guide How to Get a World Class Bagpipe Sound: link.bagpipelessons.com/worldclasssound Get your Bagpipe Gauge today: bagpipelessons.com/bagpipegauge Join my BagpipeLessons.com Inner Circle: bagpipelessons.com/membership/ Video Chapters: 00:00 Welcome 04:42 Importance of Steady Blowing 15:02 What is Steady Blowing? 24:39 Introducing the Bagpipe Gauge 32:39 Proper High A Pressure 41:35 Using the Correct Muscles 46:45 Exercises for Steady Blowing 53:58 Challenges in Mastering Steady Blowing 1:06:08 Get your Bagpipe Gauge today! BagpipeLessons.com/bagpipegauge 1:06:20 Join my Inner Circle Membership bagpipelessons.com/membership/ 1:07:05 Download my Free Guide link.bagpipelessons.com/worldclasssound 1:07:10 Wrap-up Follow BagpipeLessons.com: facebook.com/bagpipelessons instagram.com/bagpipelessons

[@davidthomson8626]

Thanks Jori. Time to put it in to practice. Regards, David

[@Piperbergen]

Thanks for posting this Jori! This is extremely informative!

[@bagpipelessons]

ou are most welcome! Check out the rest of my videos here: kzbin.info Thanks!

[@peterabbott6095]

The steady blowing is the most difficult thing to master and to keep mastered. I like many struggled with this for the first few years. The brain will play tricks and try to trip you up especially if playing a tune that you’re learning or not confident with. Slower marches and slows can help the ear to perceive the steadiness of blowing until you develop a tone! You achieve a tone with excellent maintenance, practice, air efficiency and tuning of the chanter and drones together. I have Jori’s pressure gauge which I bought several years ago when he first introduced it. Having bought a similar product based on a BP pressure gauge which is much less accurate because it works at higher pressure than inches of water as Jori’s does. This gauge was a really helpful visual aid for working on achieving this uniquely important part of piping. The beauty being that it’s a piece of kit you can keep and refer to if you think your blowing is not as it should be. I’ve seen (and have ) the BP monitor gauge and I’ve seen people rigging up a manometer at home but you can take the Bagpipe gauge anywhere. Since then I’ve bought Jori’s Braw Tuner and Pipers Metronome and though I do use my ears most of the time, for tuning the chanter quickly with existing or new reed or the drones, though I have to admit I don’t use that function as my ears do a pretty good job ( though I should really use it! ) most of the time. The Pipers Metronome is a brilliant aid to practice not only tunes but competition sets. All three are invaluable aids to your piping journey and have helped me tremendously. So Jori, thank you for your excellent products, it’s nice to see that the slight fluctuation of the needle is ok as I was beating myself up that the needle wasn’t rock solid even on an MSR. It’s also true you are always having to check yourself and re visit the basics to make sure no sloppiness is getting in. Great video and still interesting at any stage.

[@bagpipelessons]

Thank you Peter! Your comments are wonderful to hear. I'm so glad that my products have been helpful to you. Happy Piping!

[@dr.markspellman2973]

Jori - thanks for putting together such an informative and enlightening session. I've been playing pipes for over 20 years - started when I was 50 - recently had a two year sabbatical and am now able to get back on my pipes. Having discovered your site and all the videos/equipment/information is very helpful but this video on mastering ready blowing is 'mind blowing'! Steady blowing has always been a challenge for me and over the years I've never heard anyone explain the arm pressure and blowing relationship. I've received the gauge and am blowing in the green range, but with major fluctuation. Will now work on my pipes with drones and chanter according to your suggestions. Thanks for your investment in the site and all the products to help make piping fun!

[@bagpipelessons]

You are welcome! Thanks for the lovely comments.

[@Theedusanchez]

Thanks a lot for such an amazing class Rory😊

[@bagpipelessons]

Thank you sir! Check out the rest of my videos here: kzbin.info Happy piping!

[@robertreichert5957]

Can I use the pressure gauge with German bagpipes? I have a feeling the drone air exit holes have a different diameter. Maybe it can be ordered with a cone shaped attachment?

[@bagpipelessons]

Yes, you can! Please email me directly at bagpipelessons.com/contact and we can figure out a solution that works for you. Best, Jori

[@r.williams8349]

Thanks for this. Very good teaching

[@bagpipelessons]

You are very welcome!

[@MaryHarbage]

The gage device was absolutely the best device for getting me to get steady pressure.

[@bagpipelessons]

Fantastic! Thanks for sharing your comments. I hope this helps other pipers who are searching for help with their steady blowing skills.

[@chief339]

Does size of bag really matter? as some of my band mates suggested bigger bag hold more air and more time to get breath and break. What size of bag is that you have?

[@bagpipelessons]

Size of bag is very important for comfort. A larger bag is of no use for taking a break. Watch the top pipers: they are blowing nearly all of the time and taking very short, very quick inhale breaths.

[@chief339]

Thanks for your information very helpful I will try out some of those exercises God bless you and all the Pipers 🙏👍

[@julianllew]

Thanks for this video. I’m thinking about getting a manometer. Is the drone reed still in the pipe when you use this?

[@bagpipelessons]

Yes it is. There's no need to remove the drone reed to use the Bagpipe Gauge! bagpipelessons.com/bagpipegauge

[@julianllew]

@@bagpipelessonsI have one now and use it often. I think I blow well at about 30 on the scale. Is that a good number?

[@timothyaldrich4926]

what brand of pipes are most stable i have a set of peter hendersons and im getting a second set from rodney

[@bagpipelessons]

I love my Athertons. Peter Henderson bagpipes are excellent

[@johnscott9347]

Where do I order my easy drone reads I’m trying to order easy drone routes. Where is your site where I could order

[@bagpipelessons]

Here's the link! bagpipelessons.com/products/bagpipe-products/drone-reeds/

[@scottcampbell5536]

Can you use Braw to find that high-A?

[@bagpipelessons]

Of course! Most pipers (myself included) like to tune the High A so it has a nice texture and resonance when it blends with the drones. To do this on the Braw Tuner (bagpipelessons.com/tuner), I adjust the High A so it reads slightly flat according to the tuner. If you tune it so it reads "in tune" according to the tuner, it will sound thin. This is caused by the High A disappearing into the drones. So, just a wee bit flatter than zero (i.e. in tune) on the Braw tuner and it will sound full and rich and still in tune. If you go too far, it will sound flat. Try it out. Try 5 or 10 cents flat for starters and adjust as needed. Good luck! Check out this video on using the Braw Tuner along with my InTune Mic (intunemic.com) and you'll be in tune fast and easy. kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5WsY4Wflp2ekKc

[@scottcampbell5536]

@@bagpipelessons thank you :)

[@alexnachname8889]

Hello, I have been playing for about three years now and have bought the pressure gauge. I would like to know the range in which the fluctuations are allowed. So far I have not found such a specification anywhere. Greetings from Germany

[@bagpipelessons]

The Bagpipe Gauge has a pressure range of 0 to 60 inches of water. Most pipers (95%) are within the range of 25-35. My gauge shows 30 straight up in the middle.

[@jrgengraff-nielsen5771]

Can it be used on a practice chanter alone to measure how strong the reed is? Or do you need a bag and drones also, to make it work?

[@bagpipelessons]

You can try to put the stopper in your mouth (with the tubing hanging out) and the practice chanter, too. This will give you a reading of the pressure for your practice chanter reed. It works!