Setting Bagpipes Up in B Flat

How to tune bagpipes to B Flat, so you can play with other instruments. Tips for pipe set-up from Henderson's and Craig Munro, of the Red Hot Chilli Pipers.

[@thomaschrisweidner776]

Professional Bagpiper in Las Vegas and I've been playing GHB's in Bb for 15 years, long before it was popular to do so. This way I can play with guitar, trumpet, trombone, violin and many other orchestra instruments. Also it allows me to do improve with anyone that wants to join in other than another piper that's tuned for their pipe band. Play a Carbony Celtic Winds Bb carbon fiber chanter that was specially designed for me. Also original Omega drone reeds that allow me to tune them to Bb. In my 120 year old Hendersons in cocobolo wood.

[@captaintimcurry1713]

We need to go back to lower pitch piping overall! Even if not playing with other instruments, I would like to see competition bagpiping brought back down in pitch to more traditional levels!

[@charlespayne2002]

Agreed... especially in piobaireachd.

[@leoburns9674]

Great insights… Stephan- what is your “stand alone” b flat set up? Chanter/drone reeds? Thanks for the education!

[@WootTootZoot]

So, A is 440, Bb is 466 and bagpipes, nowadays, are tuned to 480. Is 480 B# and we're pushing closer to B natural in our tuning? I remember years ago 472-476 was thought by some old-timers, to be pushing the chanters too high.

[@iainfoxell8543]

Put a Shepard concert Bb reed into my early 19 hundreds Henderson chanter.....magic.Drones loved it to, but they were made around 1870.

[@johnsonogunleye5617]

How to create bagpipe

[@aikidragonpiper71]

I thought Highland bagpipes were traditionally in A ?

[@marcrogers1741]

b flat..the haunting pitch, slow air, night time or fog in a graveyard or forest..oh yeah

[@vegamisha]

Thank you!

[@julianmcgee5741]

Bagpipes were changed to b flat to play with brass bands.