Just curious from you folks what the most common key for gaita Galega is, I play a C set, here. Someone is trying to tell me that Bb is the most common, I find it hard to believe, maybe for a solist, but it’d be tough to play with other folks.
Hi Ted,
Yeah back-in-the-day, pre 1970s, I understand that it was “Do Brillante”, Do, and “Si Bemol Brillante”
or if you prefer “B” major. Gaitas played with Brass Bands got going with Bb or Si bemol “normal”.
I heard that some of these 1970s Bands only had Gaitas, Trumpets, & Drums, and were not using
“complete” Brass Bands.
Perhaps they were influenced by those 1970s shows, where Douglas Fairbairn asked for “massed”
(all from one maker, R. G. Hardie) “concert” Bb Chanters to be used, so the Blackwatch and
Scots Guards Pipe Bands could be backed up by the Coldstream Guards Brass Band.
These “Combinations” toured all over the world for many years. I saw 2 of these Shows in person,
one with the Blackwatch, in 1970 (Sol Hurock Productions), the other with the Scots Guards, in 1972.
Llame por mi Amigo, Luife !!! What is your Knowledge of the Historical Facts in Galicia ?
In the 1980s High D sets got popular, and now A sets, played with D sets, for the Bagpipe choir effect.
One more thing, the Bb sets were more mellow sounding and didn’t hurt the ears of people in a closed
space…restaurants, hotels, etc.
“El Gingo” Sean Folsom
My Dear Gaiteros:
Today, in the TRADITIONAL sector, the most common pitch is C. All people who start with a Galician Gaita plays in C usually.
But there is an important sector in the Gaita World: The Gaita Bands (martial gaitas or traditional gaitas). Then, the most common pitch is B flat.
In the past, the pitch was influenced for the type of bagpipe of the zone (different zones = different bagpipes).
Also we have now very good makers that makes gaitas in all keys, so all people is happy and we can play in the pitch that we cant. I really like the Low Eb chanters that Seivane makes 
SEAN FOLSOM: How are you my friend? Did you bought the Asturian drone? What name is the best for order a normal Northumbrian Smallpipe for start playing with a good price?
How about overblowing and chromatics in other keys? I do have two Varela chanters (Bb and C) that are just fantastic in both - but I was told, so far, there are no overblowable chanters in lower keys than Bb on the market. Is that correct? Or does anyone make chromatic overblowable A-chanters in between?
Ola Luife !
Lo mismo, un Dia differente, pero no compra un Roncon d’Asturies, sin Dinero, hoy.
Grasias por su information aqui, sobre las Gaitas Gallegas !
In regard to Northumbrian Pipes, I would send you to my friend
Mike Sharp, in Los Gatos, California, as he has made 2 beautiful sets
of Small Pipes, after studying Pipe making with Colin Ross, in Whitley Bay,
Tyne and Wear, England. Mike plays the N.S.P. and makes his own REEDS
and they are very good. The problem is that he does not want to sell his Pipes
at a Cheap Price (No Vende por Barratta).
I don’t know what price he wants to get for them, as I’m not involved as an agent
for Mr. Sharp, but I will inquire for you.
I just received an Email from Mike Sharp, today, that he passed along from Julia
Say, about the Sad News about the Passing (estan Murrio) of Jim Bryan,
the famous Author (along with J.A. Cocks) of “How to Make Northumbrian Pipes”.
The 1st edition of his book was published in 1967, and was a very important
factor in the 1970s (till the present) revival of the Northumbrian Small Pipes.
I only met Jim Bryan once, at North Hero, Vermont in 1997, and I found him
to be a Gentleman “of the Old School”, and a “Man for All Seasons” in his Life,
which was filled to the brim with his many accomplishments.
Adios Alma Grande, de las Gaiteros Ingleses !
Sean Folsom
There’s actually a web site which lists, for a huge number of bands in Galicia, the make of drones they play and their configuration, and the make of chanters they play, and the pitch.
Most bands are playing the modern “gaita de banda” or “gaita marcial” in B flat. (These gaitas have the tenor drone up on the shoulder Scottish-style, and sometimes even have a redundant tenor in complete imitation of the Scottish pipes. Or, sometimes, they have the three traditional drones bass, tenor, and tiny screamer all up on the shoulder in a row.)
A few bands seem to soldier on with the “gaita tradicional” in C. (These gaitas sometimes have a bass only, and if a tenor is present it emerges from the side of the bag.)
Now, for people playing solo or with “folk groups”, most seem to favour gaitas in D. (This D is an octave higher than a Scottish Smallpipe in D.)
Every professional Galician piper who has visited here has pipes in all three keys.