Bagpipe music is very unique. The "scale" associated with bagpipes consists of only 9 notes, from low G to high A.

The "stepping" between the notes is not straightforward (as found on a piano, for example).

The note we call 'C' is really closer to C#, and the note named 'F' is really closer to F#. Since traditional pipe music doesn't use non-sharp C and F, we usually don't bother to indicate the sharp signs, but our music could be written with a D key-signature (containing C# & F#) to avoid confusing non-pipers such as shown above.

Because the pipes are played continuously, intonation is done with "grace notes". The grace notes are very-rapidly-played notes that are done "in-between" the regular notes.

Above is a snippet of the tune "Scotland the Brave". (click here, or on image above to see the full tune). You will see typical quarter notes, with the "grace note" combinations shown as much smaller notes.

This reflects the difficulty and speed at which a piper must play- every single note, even every single grace note is played.

Hear tune without grace notes	Hear tune with grace notes