bag using his mouth through a tube fitted with a non-return valve. Air is driven into the chanter () with the left arm controlling the pressure inside the bag. The chanter has a double reed similar to a shawm or oboe, and a conical bore with seven finger-holes on the front. The bass drone ( or ) is situated on the player's left shoulder and is pitched two octaves below the key note of the chanter; it has a single reed. Some bagpipes have up to two more drones, including the or , which sticks out from the bag and plays an octave above the , or the smaller . These two extra drones are located next to the right arm of the player. The finger-holes include three for the left hand and four for the right, as well as one at the back for the left thumb. The chanter's tonic is played with the top six holes and the thumb hole covered by fingers. Starting at the bottom and (in the Galician fingering pattern) progressively opening holes creates the diatonic scale. Using techniques like cross-fingering and half-holing, the chromatic scale can be created. With extra pressure on the bag, the reed can be played in a second octave, thus giving range of an octave and a half from tonic to top note. It is also possible to close the tone hole with the little finger of the right hand, thus creating a semitone below the tonic. Songs Tunes using the gaita are usually songs, with the voice either accompanying the instrumentation or taking turns with it. The most common type is the , a sprightly 6/8 rhythm. Other 6/8 Galician tunes use different steps; they include the , , , and . , usually-instrumental tune, most often in 2/4, though sometimes 3/4, and is characterized by a series of descending turning phrases. It is used to begin a day's celebrations, and is played at sunrise. The is a joyful 3/4 jota-type song, often played at (community gatherings at a local shrine). Famous gaita players Galicia Avelino Cachafeiro Perfecto Feijoo Os Campaneiros Moxenas Os Rosales Carlos Núñez Anxo Lorenzo Xosé Manuel Budiño Cristina Pato Susana Seivane Carlos Meiga See also List of bagpipes Associação Gaita-de-fole External links GaitaForum.com, a discussion forum for gaitas "Jota da Mahia" performed by Javier Celada (Heiligkreuzkirche Berlin, 2004) Gaita Maker, history of the instrument in