Where does the sound come from?
The Great Highland Bagpipe has three drone pipes with cylindrical bores that lean against the shoulder, and a chanter which is held by the piper. Each contains a reed, for a total of four reeds. Air from the lungs is blown through the blowpipe into the bagpipe bag which serves as an air reservoir. The air leaves the bag under pressure through the three drones and chanter causing the reeds to vibrate continuously and simultaneously. The sound from the four vibrating reeds envelops the piper and travels in all directions. This explanation applies to other bagpipes as well with the exception that many bagpipes are bellows blown (cauld wind) as opposed to mouth blown, and of course may have more or fewer drones. .
