Worst piper in the band

**Jack Daw** · 24th June 11, 02:58 PM

Outstanding! You have a good attitude. Keep practicing and before long you will no longer have that tag.

**OC Richard** · 24th June 11, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by vmac3205

I played an entire rehearsal with all three drones.

It's a "dirty little secret"

... but you would be surprised how many upper-grade bands have all the pipers' middle tenor plugged.

The theory I've heard is that 1) it helps bring out the bass and 2) it helps bring out the chanters... like the "V" seen on the EQs on some mixing boards.

Some bands, when tuning up, even go through the charade of pretending to tune the (silent) middle tenor, because oftentimes when a band is tuning up they're being watched by the other bands.

Note, when watching a top band doing the drone tuning process, whether or not the middle tenors (for some mysterious reason) require less time to tune than the other drones

**Cowher** · 24th June 11, 07:30 PM

Wow that's really funny. I saw a piper holding his pipes by the middle drone. Then the drone slipped out for a quick second and I didn't see a reed as he fixed it quickly. I freaked out thinking he had lost it so I went up to him and told him. He got all defensive and refused to check to see if it was still there. Then he told me to mind my business and walked away. That was over a year ago and i never understood what his deal was. Oh the things I learn.

**ohiopiper** · 25th June 11, 12:25 AM

Yep. They eliminate a drone to take an item out of the equation for tuning. It makes X less reeds and drones that can cause a problem. They also go through the charade of tuning them because in many judged events you will be DQ'd for not playing all three drones.

**Pyper** · 25th June 11, 06:11 AM

Originally Posted by ohiopiper

Yep. They eliminate a drone to take an item out of the equation for tuning. It makes X less reeds and drones that can cause a problem. They also go through the charade of tuning them because in many judged events you will be DQ'd for not playing all three drones.

That, and if one piper forgot to put the little plug inside you'd have the potential for one wicked-out-of-tune drone if you didn't check them all.

We play with all of ours ('cause the pipe major says so...)

**Jack Daw** · 25th June 11, 06:35 AM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

It's a "dirty little secret"

... but you would be surprised how many upper-grade bands have all the pipers' middle tenor plugged.

The theory I've heard is that 1) it helps bring out the bass and 2) it helps bring out the chanters... like the "V" seen on the EQs on some mixing boards.

Some bands, when tuning up, even go through the charade of pretending to tune the (silent) middle tenor, because oftentimes when a band is tuning up they're being watched by the other bands.

Note, when watching a top band doing the drone tuning process, whether or not the middle tenors (for some mysterious reason) require less time to tune than the other drones

Well now, that's letting the cat out of the bag....so to speak.

**vmac3205** · 25th June 11, 07:11 AM

Wow, to quote my dearly departed mother, whodathunk? That is a dirty little secret. I'll bet they cut off the tops of the corks so the are low profile, too.
Huh!

**glenlivet** · 25th June 11, 07:19 AM

Originally Posted by vmac3205

Wow, to quote my dearly departed mother, whodathunk? That is a dirty little secret. I'll bet they cut off the tops of the corks so the are low profile, too.
Huh!

This is news to me; my band doesn't do it.

But if I had a mind to, I'd plug the reed end at the stock. Otherwise getting the plug out (assuming it was cut down to be even with the cap) would be rather a b|+tch!

**NorCalPiper** · 25th June 11, 01:31 PM

I remember my first outing with the band..I was like 11 years old and my Pipe Major took my chanter reed out and put a golf tee in the chanter so I could only drone (I wasn't quite up to snuff, but they needed an extra body for this performance). I fingered along and was just swelling with pride even though I wasn't "Really" playing. I think the golf tee remained in the pipes for the next couple of performances until I got up to snuff. Rest is 30 year history!

**Pyper** · 25th June 11, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by glenlivet

This is news to me; my band doesn't do it.

But if I had a mind to, I'd plug the reed end at the stock. Otherwise getting the plug out (assuming it was cut down to be even with the cap) would be rather a b|+tch!

Leave the reed in, take the tenor top off, and put a # 0 cork in the lower bore. Or a foam earplug. It's a great tip for if you have a long day of piping and one of your reeds starts squealing or something.