Instruments

Accordion

An instrument with a keyboard in which the sounds are produced by squeezing bellows with the arms and popular in Scottish dance bands and in ceilidh bands. Listen to an example of a reel played by an accordion.

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 Tune A is repeated followed by a new tune B which is also repeated. This shape is known as binary form.

Fiddle

A Scottish name for a violin. There is no difference between the fiddle and the violin. Listen to an example of a slow air played by a solo fiddle.

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Drums

Percussion instruments used in kit form or as solo or accompaniment in modern, folk and world music. In particular they are used in different sizes in a Pipe band. Listen again to the snare drums from that up tempo jig.

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Pipes

A shortened name for the Highland bagpipes. Listen to the example below, which is a strathspey containing many Scots snaps.

Scots snap

A distinctive rhythm used in Scottish music, particularly in the strathspey, in which a short note is followed by a longer one, for instance giving the rhythmic effect of saying 'happy'. Listen to an example.

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Acoustic guitar

A method of playing string instruments, usually guitar, which gives the effect of playing a chord or harmony with fingers or a plectrum. Listen to this example of a Scottish folk song, accompanied by guitars, one of which is strummed.

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