Piper's Dojo Audio Experience
Piper's Dojo Audio Experience
Andrew Douglas and the Piper's Dojo Team
523 - Are Your Drone Reeds Too Old? Plus Band Changes, Pitch & More (Dojo Q&A Session)
38 minutes Posted Aug 31, 2026 at 12:00 pm.
– Moving to a new band: how to find the right fit 5:26 – Can old drone reeds affect airtightness and playability? 13:14 – How long do drone reeds really last? 18:09 – How many spare reeds should you take to Scotland? 20:44 – Bag/reed efficiency and the Scotland the Brave test 25:31 – Why does your chanter pitch change between Canada and Scotland? 31:18 – The best pipe tunes for a thunderstorm 33:10 – Carbon fibre vs. other drone reed materials 35:57 – Does the wood used in your drones make a difference?
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38:24
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Show notes
Thinking about moving to a new pipe band? How do you figure out which band is the right fit? And can an eight-year-old drone reed really affect the airtightness and playability of your pipes? 
Tune in for this week's Friday Strike-In with Carl, as he tackles questions about choosing a new band, ageing drone reeds, reed efficiency, pitch differences, and even the best tunes to play during a thunderstorm.
Want to join these live Q&A sessions, ask your own questions, and learn from world-class instructors every week? Join us at Dojo University today: https://pipersdojo.com/store
Here's what we cover this week:
0:00 – Moving to a new band: how to find the right fit 5:26 – Can old drone reeds affect airtightness and playability? 13:14 – How long do drone reeds really last? 18:09 – How many spare reeds should you take to Scotland? 20:44 – Bag/reed efficiency and the Scotland the Brave test 25:31 – Why does your chanter pitch change between Canada and Scotland? 31:18 – The best pipe tunes for a thunderstorm 33:10 – Carbon fibre vs. other drone reed materials 35:57 – Does the wood used in your drones make a difference?