Instruments

Classification: aerophone

The Great Highland Bagpipe

It is a type of bagpipe native to Scotland. It gained recognition because of its use in the British Military and pipe bands. This instrument likely began with just one drone, the second one added during the mid to late 1500s and the third introduced in the early 1700s. Nowadays, it consists of a bag, blowpipe, three drones (two tenor and one bass) and a chanter.

The bagpipes are still frequently heard during military occasions and formal ceremonies like the funeral service for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on September 2022, as well as, in weddings.

Clarsach

It is one of Scotland's oldest instruments, its national instrument before the bagpipes. It is also called the Celtic Harp, a traditional wir-string instrument with a distinctive triangular shape that requires great skill and long practice to play. It was associated with the Gaelic ruling class.

Classification: chordophone

Citter

Its origin was in the Baroque and was the precursor to the modern guitar. It is a 10-string instrument (longer than it was in the Baroque), it has an elongated neck and rounded body and it needs a plectrum.

Classification: chordophone

Accordion

Even though its origin was in Germany, this instrument is now an integral part of the Scottish music tradition, particularly in dance bands. This instrument features keys that produce notes when pressed but it is the bellows, which connect two reed organs, that control the volume, pitch, and sound clarity The accordion can be found as part of folk groups often heard alongside the fiddle.

Classification: aerophone

Fiddle

In the 17th century, the modern violin arrived from mainland Europe, it soon became popular with the working class. It has 4 strings and is usually played with a bow or plucking the strings. In Scottish music is referred to as the fiddle and is frequently played in folk groups, Celtic rock bands, larger fiddle orchestras or played solo.

Classification: chordophone

Guitar

It is a stringed instrument. The Scottish style of guitar playing is as distinctive as any Scottish instrument tuning the guitar so that the strings play perfect fifths making it sound Medieval and creating Celtic-sounding harmonies.

Classification: chordophone

Bodhran

It originates from Ireland but it frequently appears in the Scottish folk groups. It is commonly found as part of a folk group in which it provides a rhythmic element of the playing of reels and jigs. The main difference it has with common drums is that you can play the sides of the instrument besides the skin.

Classification: membranophone

Tenor Drum

This instrument is played in Scottish pipe bands. Whereas in a Bodhran the whole instrument is playable, in a tenor drum only the topmost head is played. It is typically tuned to match either the drone or channel pitches of the bagpipes.

Classification: membranophone

Dulcitone

This instrument produces sound by a range of tuning forks vibrating when struck by felt-covered hammers activated by the keyboard. It is lighter than a piano and easier to transport but has a uniform volume that projects badly. Nowadays, musicians use amplifiers to boost their sound and revive its use.

Classification: idiophone

Stock-and-Horn

It has six or seven finger holes for playing across the front, one hole at the back, a singles reed, and a bell for amplifying sound. It was considered a working-class instrument, later incorporated into a coat of arms.

Classification: aerophone

Tin Whistle

It is a single six-holed woodwind instrument more popular in the 19th century. The Tin whistle forms part of a group of instruments called 'fipple flutes' due to the way the whistle makes the incoming air vibrate. It was typically associated with children but it is used in Scottish folk music.

Classification: aerophone

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