445 - Do You REALLY Need a Digital Tuner? (Dojo Conversations Episode 115)

Do you rely solely on your digital tuner to get your pipes in tune? Digital bagpipe tuners have become as commonplace in the piping world as the smartphones they often operate on. But are they a necessity, or just a shiny distraction?

This week, Andrew and Jim look at the pros and cons of digital bagpipe tuners, ignited by a listener's question about digital and analog tuners.

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Here’s what we cover on this episode:
00:00 Introduction and Initial Reactions
01:53 Diving into the Topic: Bagpipe Tuners
04:02 Historical Anecdotes and Tuning Practices
06:18 The Role of Digital Tuners in Modern Piping
08:53 Developing a Good Ear for Tuning
16:54 Analogies and Deeper Insights into Tuning
31:05 The Perpetual State of Tuning
33:11 Struggling with Bagpipe Tuning
34:31 The Training Wheels Analogy
35:45 The Role of Digital Tuners
37:24 Learning to Tune by Ear
37:41 Top Bands and Tuning Practices
40:17 The Importance of Developing Your Ear
58:48 Practical Tips for Tuning
01:03:44 Final Thoughts on Tuning and Tuners