Piper's Dojo Blog: Tips and Inspiration for Bagpipe Enthusiasts

Dynamic Metronome Jul 28, 2026

A Free Progressive Metronome Every Piper Should Try

One of the most effective ways to improve your piping is also one of the simplest: practice with...

Why Your Bagpipe Reed Is Never Quite Perfect chanter reed reed making reeds Feb 16, 2026

If you’ve ever wondered why one reed feels like magic and the next feels like a fight... welcome to the wonderful world of reed making.

It’s not myst...

Why “Good Rhythm” Is Harder Than It Looks Feb 09, 2026

When pipers talk about improving their playing, the conversation usually goes straight to fingers, embellishments, or tone. But underneath all of thos...

Can Learning Other Instruments Improve Your Piping? Jan 25, 2026

Have you ever been so focused on your piping, and then got the itch... to pick up another instrument?

Maybe a snare drum, maybe a bass. Maybe somethi...

The Truth About Bagpipe Tone Enhancers Jan 19, 2026

If you’ve been playing bagpipes for a while, chances are you’ve come across tone enhancers – those little devices tucked into your drone stocks that p...

Level Up Your Piping: Why You Need a Six-Month Plan (And How to Create One) Jan 11, 2026

Picture this: it’s three weeks before competition season and you suddenly realise you don’t actually have your tunes learned yet.

Sound

...

Playing the Bagpipes in Cold Weather: What Actually Works Jan 04, 2026

If you’ve ever played a Christmas parade, dawn service, winter competition, or outdoor gig where you can’t feel your fingers, you already know this tr...

When Should You Buy Your First Set of Bagpipes? Dec 14, 2025

You’ll never forget the moment you pick up a real set of bagpipes for the first time. It’s equal parts thrill, fear, and “wow, this is heavier than I ...

Why Failing Faster Makes You A Better Piper Dec 07, 2025

Ever walked away from a practice session frustrated by the same mistakes popping up again and again?

Every piper hits those moments. But the path to ...

Black vs Yellow Waxed Hemp: Is There a Difference? Nov 16, 2025

If you’ve ever re-hemped your joints and noticed that your black waxed hemp feels (and behaves) a bit different from your yellow, you’re not imagining...

Do Hard Reeds Produce Better Tone? Nov 09, 2025

If you’ve hung around pipers long enough, you’ve probably heard this common bit of “wisdom” tossed around: “Real pipers play hard reeds.”

It’s one of...

How to Mic Bagpipe Drones (Without Making Them Sound Awful) Nov 02, 2025

If you’ve ever tried to amplify or record your bagpipes, you already know: getting the drones to sound right can be… tricky.

Using a microphone for ...

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