Highland Bagpipes are distinguished from other types of pipes by their three drones -- one bass and two tenor drones. The bag is an airtight reservoir that is filled with air via the blowpipe which can be sealed by the piper's tongue while inhaling or by means of an installed non-return valve.

Air is released continuously to the drones and the chanter. The latter is an open-ended melody pipe which has a reed installed and is played by the piper's fingers covering holes in its barrel.

The drones are cylindrical tubes, each with a single reed, although drones with double reeds do exist. A drone is generally designed in two or more parts, with a sliding joint so that the pitch of the drone can be manipulated.

There is no easy way for the piper to stop the pipe from sounding which means that the result is a legato sound where there are no rests in the music. Primarily because of this inability to stop playing, embellishments are used to break up notes and to create the illusion of dynamic effect. Because of their importance, these embellishments are highly technical systems which take much study to master.

The bag cover, ribbon and cords in the Hunting Macpherson tartan were at one time owned by the late Pipe Major Iain Macpherson, MM pictured to the right playing a set of bagpipes with these accoutrements.

The Clan Macpherson Association is affiliated with the Museum of Piping at the College of Piping in Glasgow. The bagpipes displayed here are on loan by that Museum courtesy of Miss Jeannie Campbell.