Melvin Reeds

09/09/2026

Are You Hemping Your Bagpipe Joints Properly?

It seems simple, but properly h**ped joints can make a big difference in how your pipes feel, tune, and perform.

In this video, Adrian walks through **how to properly h**p your bagpipe joints** — getting the right fit without making them too loose or too tight.

It’s one of those basic maintenance skills every piper should know.

Watch the video and see how Adrian does it.

Great Sound Starts with a Great Reed.

🌐 melvinreeds.com

09/07/2026

Choosing next year’s music? Don’t just play to your strengths.

Whether you’re choosing solo tunes or music for the band, consider adding at least one tune that challenges something you need to improve.

Then don’t just play the tune over and over. Pull out the problem. Make it a small exercise. Slow it down. Use a metronome. Build it back up.

The goal isn’t just to learn new music for next season—it’s to become a better piper in the process.

New on the Melvin Reeds Blog:Choose a Tune That Makes You Better

https://www.melvinreeds.com/blog

09/04/2026

Got a Crowy High A?

That crowy, raspy High A can make an otherwise great chanter sound pretty rough — but it doesn’t necessarily mean you need a new reed.

In this video, Adrian walks through what causes a crowy High A and what you can do about it before giving up on the reed.

A few small adjustments can sometimes make a big difference.

Watch the video and see how Adrian approaches a crowy High A.

Great Sound Starts with a Great Reed.

09/02/2026

How strong is your chanter reed — really?

"Easy,” “medium,” and “hard” can mean something different to every piper.

The Thistle ToneChanter Reed Tester gives you a way to put an actual measurement to reed strength, so you can compare reeds, track them as they break in, and find the strength that works best for you.

For pipe bands, it can also be an incredibly useful tool for matching reeds across the pipe corps and creating a more consistent setup from player to player.

In this video, we show you how the Thistle Tone Reed Tester works and how a simple pressure measurement can take some of the guesswork out of choosing and managing your reeds.

Measure it. Match it. Know your reeds.

Learn more about the Thistle Tone™ Chanter Reed Tester:
https://www.melvinreeds.com/product-page/thistle-tone-chanter-reed-tester

**Thistle Tone™ | Accessories Designed Around Tone.**

08/31/2026

Finger movement isn't enough. Timing is everything.

Most pipers can demonstrate a grip, birl, or taorluath.

But ask them **where the timing happens** in that embellishment, and the answer isn't always obvious.

Great piping isn't just about moving your fingers—it's about understanding how every embellishment fits into the rhythm of the tune.

This is just one of the insights from our latest blog post, One Piece of Knowledge Every Piper Needs to Master."

One of Adrian Melvin's favorite resources for developing this understanding is Rhythmic Fingerwork by J. McGillivray. It's a book that changes the way you think about embellishments, rhythm, and musical expression.

Read the blog
https://www.melvinreeds.com/blog

Then check out the book at Melvin Reeds:
https://www.melvinreeds.com/product-page/rhythmic-fingerwork-book-with-mp3s-mcgillivray

08/28/2026

The competition season is winding down...

Now is the perfect time to experiment.

During the season, consistency is king. It's rarely the right time to make major changes to your instrument. But in the off-season? That's where real improvements are made.

This is the time to:

🎵 Try a set of cane drone reeds.
🎵 Experiment with a different brand of synthetic drone reeds.
🎵 Use a manometer to measure and retrain your blowing pressure.
🎵 Learn what changes actually improve your sound—not just what feels different.

The best pipers don't wait until next season to chase a better tone.

They spend the off-season testing, learning, and making objective adjustments so they're ready long before the first competition.

Spring is for performing.

Fall and winter are for building the instrument you'll be proud to play next season.

What change are you planning to make to your pipes this off-season?

https://www.melvinreeds.com/category/all-products

Explore the full range of Melvin Reeds products, designed to support every aspect of your piping. From precision-crafted chanter reeds and reliable drone reeds to chanters, maintenance supplies, and practical accessories, each item is selected for quality, consistency, and performance. Whether you.....

08/27/2026

What does a manometer actually tell you about your bagpipes?

The Thistle Tone Bagpipe Manometer gives you a simple way to see your blowing pressure while you play — helping you identify pressure changes that can affect tuning, stability, and tone.

In this video, we explain how the Thistle Tone Manometer works, what the readings mean, and how you can use it as a practical tool to develop steadier blowing.

Because great tone doesn’t just come from your pipes and reeds. It starts with the air you put through them.

Measure it. Understand it. Improve it.

Learn more about the Thistle Tone™ Bagpipe Manometer:
https://www.melvinreeds.com/product-page/thistle-tone-bagpipe-manometer

Thistle Tone™ | Accessories Designed Around Tone.

08/26/2026

Happy National Dog Day!

Today we're celebrating our favorite four-legged members of the piping community.

From keeping watch beside the practice circle to relaxing under the tents while the bands compete, pipe band dogs can be part of the band too. They never complain about hearing the same tune for the hundredth time, they're always happy to be at the games, and they're usually the first to make new friends.

Here's a shoutout to all the loyal companions who travel with us to practices, Highland Games, competitions, and everywhere in between.

Share a photo of your pipe band dog in the comments—we'd love to see them!

Happy National Dog Day from all of us at Melvin Reeds!

08/25/2026

We’ve spent the last several weeks talking with pipers, Pipe Majors, and bands from around the world—and one thing kept coming up: pipers want more confidence when ordering a new reed.

That’s why we’re introducing the Melvin Reeds Selection Service, available as an add-on to any reed in the Melvin Reed Family.

If you’re comfortable setting up and adjusting your own reeds, nothing changes. But if pinching, poking, sanding, adding moisture, or figuring out exactly what a new reed needs isn’t something you’re comfortable doing, let us do some of that work for you.

Using the Thistle Tone Reed Tester, we'll measure your reed's pressure in inches of water, evaluate its response and stability, and make any small initial adjustments we feel will help get it closer to what you're looking for before it leaves our workshop.

And strength isn't the only thing we can select for.

Need a stable Piobaireachd High G? Prefer a slightly flatter top hand? Looking for a particular High A, F, or D? Tell us. Different reeds have different characteristics, and knowing what you're trying to achieve helps us choose the right reed for your particular setup.

We’ll use your chanter, preferred strength, and feedback to help select and set up a reed specifically for you.

Adrian explains how it works in the video.

The goal isn’t to find the best reed. It’s to find the best reed for you.