example with beeswax, to produce C, and uncovered to produce C#. This makes the key of A major possible. The 'tuning hole', a hole traditionally placed on the underside of the chanter and which is used for tuning the bottom note of the chanter (with beeswax to make the hole smaller), can be placed on the top side instead, enabling it to be used as a fingerhole. This adds a low D to the scale. A key can be fitted to operate a hole above the usual fingerholes, to give the piper an additional high F#. The fact that the chanter, with its cylindrical bore and single reed, is extremely unaffected by crossfingering, and that the drone is tuned to the same note and octave as the bottom note of the chanter, makes it possible to play in a closed or semi-closed manner, enabling the player to quickly play the bottom note in between other notes—since this will blend with the sound of the drone, it gives the illusion of silence, and the possibility to play staccato. The tone of the instrument is quite soft, not too different from that of a harmonica or an accordion. Makers Today, there are a small number of professional or semi-professional bagpipe designers. Leif Eriksson (pipemaker) represents the traditional one; Alban Faust, Börs Anders Öhman, Max Persson and Seth Hamon drive the development towards modern instruments. See also :Category:Säckpipa players External links Olle Gallmo's site with history, instructions, and tunes Norden Sackpipa Association of the Americas (NSAA) r/SwedishBagpipes on Reddit Börs Anders Öhman Swedish bagpipe maker Seth Hamon Swedish bagpipe maker References Bagpipes Nordic folk music Swedish musical instruments Reconstructed musical instruments