Quote:
Originally Posted by pancelticpiper
That is what a chromatic scale is, going up the scale playing every semitone, which for the Highland pipes would be (written pitches)
SNIP
in other words lacking the A# and D# required to complete a chromatic octave.
That's the rub: a sharp 4th degree (D# in the key of A) is very common, off the top of my head tunes that require D# if played in A
Star Spangled Banner
Irish Eyes Are Smiling
Eternal Father Strong To Save (MELITA)
and dozens of other hymn-tunes, popular tunes, etc.
However I've not had any Highland chanter that would do an in-tune D# with any fingering. Border chanters yes, Highland chanters no.
Of course musicians on many different kinds of open-hole instruments have got very, very good at half-holing. If you do then ANY bagpipe chanter is chromatic!
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True- though Star Spangled Banner needs a High E if played in A, so, no way, Jose. Irish Eyes needs a high B. ( I play it in A FWIW, with the High B), Eternal Father/MELITA/ The Navy Hymn needs that D#, which can be half-holed ( which takes a good deal of practice, but then, what doesn't?)
