What are drones and regulators?
Drones provide a constant background, contributing to the ancient sound associated with the pipes. They are a must for solo playing and can enhance the sound of a small ensemble. The Uilleann pipes have 3 drones pitched at 3 octaves of D. Regulators are chanter-like appendages with keys that allow a player to accompany him/herself by playing chords with either the wrist or a free hand. Regulators are by no means essential to pipe playing, and a few professionals don’t even use them. But they can provide beautiful accompaniment to both aires and dance tunes. A three-quarter set includes a tenor and baritone regulator and a full set adds the bass regulator.
