Scottish Folk Music: The Instruments

Scottish folk music is renowned for its unique sound and wide variety of instruments. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular instruments used in Scottish folk music.

The Fiddle

The fiddle is perhaps the most iconic instrument of Scottish folk music, and has been played in the country for centuries. Traditionally, fiddles were strung with gut strings, but nowadays most players use steel strings. The instrument is held under the chin and played with a bow, and can be used to play a variety of different genres of music.

The fiddle has a distinctive sound which is created by the way in which the bow is drawn across the string. The player can control the sound of the instrument by using a variety of different techniques, such as vibrato and staccato. These techniques can be used to create a wide range of sounds, from delicate and gentle melodies to more powerful and upbeat tunes.

Fiddles are often played in pairs or groups, and they can be accompanied by a range of other instruments including guitars,Mandolins and accordions. Fiddles are also sometimes used in traditional Scottish dances, such as reels and jigs.

The Bagpipes

The bagpipes are a wind instrument with a long history. Though often associated with Scotland, bagpipes have been around for thousands of years and can be found in many different cultures.

There are many different types of bagpipes, but the most common is the Great Highland Bagpipe. This type of bagpipe is what most people think of when they think of Scottish music. It has three drones (a drone is a pipe that plays a continuous note) and one chanter (a pipe that the player uses to play the melody). The Great Highland Bagpipe is powered by blowing into a small blowstick. The player must constantly blow air into the blowstick in order to keep the instrument playing.

The Great Highland Bagpipe is most often associated with Scottish folk music, but it is also used in other genres, such as classical and rock.

The Highland Pipes

The Highland pipes are the best-known Scottish traditional instrument. There are two types of Highland pipes, the Great Highland Bagpipe and the Scottish Smallpipes. The Great Highland Bagpipe is the louder and more powerful of the two and is most commonly used in Scottish music. It has three Drone notes and one chanter note, which is played with the right hand. The Scottish Smallpipes are a quieter bagpipe, with a mellower sound. They have a smaller bag, which is filled with air using a small bellows instead of the large blowingbag used for the Great Highland Bagpipe. The smallpipes have four Drone notes and one chanter note, which is also played with the right hand. Both instruments have a distinctive sound that is instantly recognizable as Scottish!

The Highland pipes are invariably played outdoors, mostly at ceremonial occasions such as military parades, weddings or funerals. They can also be heard at sporting events such as golf tournaments or rugby matches, where they add to the atmosphere of excitement and competition. In recent years, however, there has been a growing trend for pipers to play indoors at concerts or ceilidhs (traditional Scottish dances).

There are many different companies that make Highland pipes, but some of the most popular brands include McCallum, Henderson and R G Hardie. If you’re thinking of buying a set of Highland pipes, it’s worth doing some research to find a reputable dealer who can advise you on which brand would be best suited to your needs.

If you’re interested in learning to play the Highland pipes, there are many different resources available to help you get started. One option is to take formal lessons from a qualified instructor; another is to buy one of the many tutorial DVDs or books available on the subject. Many people also find it helpful to attend workshops or ‘Piping Days’ where you can learn from other players and get advice from experts.

The Scottish Harp

The Scottish harp, or clàrsach in Gaelic, is a small, Celtic harp traditionally used in Scottish folk music. It has a triangular frame and gut strings, and is played with the fingers. The harp has a long history in Scotland, dating back to the medieval era. It fell out of use in the eighteenth century, but was revived in the early twentieth century by folklorists and musicians such as ra files?e system link Polbain Clark .

Today, the Scottish harp is most commonly associated with traditional Scottish music, but it is also used in other genres such as jazz and classical music. There are many different types of Scottish harps, each with its own unique sound and playing style. The most common type of harp used in Scottish music is the pedal harp, which has pedals that allow the player to change the pitch of the strings.

The Accordion

The Accordion is a hugely popular instrument in Scottish Folk Music, particularly in the Highlands. It is a member of the family of box-shaped instruments known as the Concertina. The Accordion consists of a small keyboard which the player presses with one hand, while operating a bellows with the other. This produces a continuous sound, unlike the Piano or Organ, which have to be pumped by the player in order to make a sound.

The Guitar

The guitar is a very popular instrument in Scottish folk music, and is usually played in a rhythm style known as strumming. The most common type of guitar used is the acoustic guitar, although electric guitars are sometimes used as well. Guitars can be played solo or in accompaniment with other instruments.

The Bodhran

The bodhran (or “deiseal” in Gaelic) is a uni-directional frame drum which is beaten with a double-ended stick, called a “tipper”. It is usually between 14 and 18 inches in diameter and 4 to 6 inches deep. It has a single head, usually made of goat-skin. The goatskin is stretched over the wooden frame and held in place by staples or tacks around the circumference of the drum. The tension of the skin can be adjusted by loosening or tightening these. The skin is then tuned by striking it in the center with the palm of the hand and then turning the tuning screws at either end of the drum until the desired pitch is achieved – usually somewhere between G# and B.