Bagpipe Keys - an introduction to bagpipe harmony theory

[@flymypg]

At the 2022 Highland Fest in Costa Mesa, CA, out of the blue an elite bagpipe instructor handed me a practice chanter from his backpack and insisted I learn to play. I think he was tired of hearing me sing along with the Wicked Tinkers, and thought I couldn't possibly sound worse on bagpipes. But I digress... The practice chanter is a David Naill Long poly with a John Walsh practice reed. Which looks and sounds amazingly similar to what you play in this video! Only yours sounds better. I'm a true beginner, with zero music theory (I can't read sheet music). While searching for a bagpipe instructor (and maybe a band) in San Diego, I've been practicing basic fingering and scales, and have also been trying to get my lungs to keep the chanter going for longer than 15 seconds. To break the boredom, I searched for a basic introduction to the bagpipes in the abstract/theoretical (rather than practical/technique) sense, and found this video. The motivating reason being that the chanter scale sounds weird to my ears, but right for the music, and I wanted to know why. Thanks! I'm doubly-thankful you did it with no Gaelic words. I'll be putting off Gaelic for a good while. Music theory seems like it will be far easier.

[@JennaBagpipes]

I know there is a bagpipe camp in Carlsbad! Happening this week I think. I hope you find an instructor you like, finding a teacher you click with makes a world of difference

[@ruaraidhmcdonald-walker9524]

*That's* why I love Lexy. Never realised! Thanks! Great video.

[@pierremrbazin]

Thanks for posting this. I play in a metal band and transposing/figuring out the keys of traditional tunes to play nice with pipes, even with a Bb chanter, has been a huge pain in the ass.

[@JennaBagpipes]

Yeah, transposing is a brain buster. If you have any questions about matching other instruments, shoot me an email, [e-mail] Also Lincoln Hilton's book "Modern Piping vol. 8" has a comprehensive chart of all transpositions. Pretty handy.

[@pierrebazin119]

@@JennaBagpipes NO WAY. I wish I knew about this transposition chart about 4 or 5 albums ago! Thanks so much for the tip!

[@JennaBagpipes]

@@pierrebazin119 Np! Send me the name of your band or any links to online demos you have, too. Would like to hear it.

[@davemacleod9623]

Excellent delivery....

[@Kna.h]

Thank you for this valuable information. I would like to know more. And the faction? And the ocean? And the job? the layer?

[@Giuvor]

Great video Jenna, I love it. By the way, can you teach me how to play that scotland scale on guitar? It's hard for me to feel that feeling and transfer it to guitar.

[@JennaBagpipes]

Mixolydian? Looks like there are some good tutorials on mixo for guitar out there: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aHqonKqNmd2gopo

[@JennaBagpipes]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3SbaZSamsucbc0

[@st24208]

Cool video! :) Can't wait for our next lesson! :D

[@hfranke07]

Green Hills is not ending on a A. You need to play Battle's O'er to get an A ending note.

[@uwegoldschmidt7575]

Hallo Jenna, thanks a lot for your grat video and help. Maybe you can help me with a special request. Yesterday i fall in love with a new tune. Its name is "sine bhan". I tried to find out the embellishments by listening but I am not sure. Do you know where I can find the notes for it? I have tried on you tube and internet but wasnt succesful yet. best whishes for the harz mountains!

[@JennaBagpipes]

Hi uwegoldschmidt, I suggest buying it on PipeTunes.ca. I don't have a copy myself but the Pipe Tunes website versions are always very good quality. It's free to create an account and probably only a few dollars for the sheet music download pipetunes.ca/tunes/sine-bhan-fair-jean/

[@gordonstewart8258]

"The Drunken Piper" sounds like it is in A minor. It does this because it's written in a mode which eliminates the C (except for one cut C in the third part.) I have never seen another tune which does this trick. Does anyone know of any others?

[@JennaBagpipes]

This is called a gapped scale, ie tunes like Gravel Walks, Pacolet, Fleshmarket Close, The Ale Is Dear (first part is in B gapped), Cutting Bracken, Lexy McAskill, ...

[@Kna.h]

Is there a site that I can learn more about when distributing the tunes?

[@andrewrcoggins]

Is it a major or a mixolydian ? Confused Cheers

[@andrewrcoggins]

Sorry you said at end !! Cheers

[@JennaBagpipes]

@@andrewrcoggins don't be shy if you have any other Q's!

[@bagpiperbruce]

thank you!

[@vu3088]

You said the tonic is on A and it is in “A Major”. It’s not A major, it’s A Mixolydian, a mode of D major. Also, it’s not G major if you are using the C# at all. It’s G Lydian. Edit: you touched on this on the end, but I’m not sure why you claimed they were major through most of the video to only mention that they weren’t major at the end. It’s not correct to call what you mean A Mixolydian and G Lydian both A and G major. Also the only Natural minor is B minor. The rest are not minors even if they sound sad. Sounding sad isn’t what makes it a minor. A major and minor key is a formula that happens to produce a happy or sad sound, not the happy or sad sound itself. Your E key is E Dorian

[@JennaBagpipes]

This video is meant to be a brief introduction to harmony theory for bagpipers. I can see how generalizing some scales as major or minor is misleading, I should have clarified that they simply sound more like major or minor because the third scale degree is a major or minor third. Just trying to keep it simple and brief.

[@vu3088]

@@JennaBagpipes I think your video was good. It would have been perfect if you just called it “A” instead of A Major, or E instead of E minor but I get your reasoning behind wanting to express the feeling behind what those keys were portraying.

[@JennaBagpipes]

@@vu3088 good point, I will keep that in mind in future lessons/tutorials. Thanks for the feedback!

[@SharaMaikranz]

How did you learn all of this? If I want to learn this all in much more depth how do I do that?

[@JennaBagpipes]

You can take online lessons with me! ;) I teach private lessons in bagpiping, piano, music theory and composition, over Zoom. Or if you prefer in-person classes, any music school/conservatory/piping college near you should offer music theory classes. I learned what I know from a lifetime of private music lessons (bagpipes and classical piano), and I have a Master's Degree is music composition.

[@puttsky7]

Can you get different chanters that allow you to play in different modes?

[@JennaBagpipes]

Not that I know of, not on highland pipes no. There are other types of bagpipes in other modes though.

[@flymypg]

Two thoughts: 1. You say "Mixolydian", I hear "Mandalorian". Can you make it stop? 2. After this video, the YT Algorithm recommended Guy Michelmore's "Music Theory in 16 Minutes", which I found very enlightening. Primarily because he completely avoided using musical staff notation, which prevented triggering my lifelong allergy to Music Theory.

[@JennaBagpipes]

Nice. Gonna sneak "Mandalorian" in every once in a while and see if anyone notices.

[@ManiKumar-jd2kf]

Plz basic note sand me

[@minnesotajack1]

It’s a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll…. A

[@soud0076]

Hello dear. I want a very simple request from you. Can you respond to my request?

[@JennaBagpipes]

I responded to your message on my other video, Black Bear bagpipes tutorial.