BeeFlat: the latest iPhone bagpipe tuner
A new $12.99 bagpipe tuner has been launched on Apple iTunes by New Zealand piper Matt Fraser. The BeeFlat Bagpipe Tuner has been in development for some time by the professional software developer, whose piping background includes playing with the Grade 1 Inveraray & District and competing in high-level solo piping events, including the Silver Medal. When he lived in Scotland for five years.
Now living in Melbourne, Australia, Fraser said that he had more time “to make my perfect tuner,” which he said is accurate to less than 0.1 of a cent, with a simple interface and the ability to view a “real-time history of the pitch so that you can account for fluctuations in blowing.”
Fraser configured the app to include pitch-detection algorithms that tailor to “temperament” and “tonal” qualities of specific instruments in various reed combinations, including band and solo modes. The solo mode allows for more sensitive tuning of high-A and the B 
notes, in what Fraser labels the “Roddy high-A” and “Lidd B,” in an attempt to help pipers achieve those singular note-qualities of Roddy MacLeod and Stuart Liddell, respectively.
The BeeFlat tuner has a reversible scale for tuning drones, and is configurable to show pitch in 440->460 range or 470->490 range, depending on preferences.
The BeeFlat iPhone app follows the Bagpipe Tuner application by Australian software and audio expert Murray Blair, launched in November 2011, priced at $16.99.
+ iPhone Bagpipe Tuner app to launch mid-November
Since the Grade 1 Guelph Pipe Band first used them in the late 1970s, chromatic tuners have become standard equipment for both competing bands and soloists, greatly contributing to the steady improvement of pipe section tone quality and consistently, particularly with drones. The Korg company of Japan was the first to market a hand-held tuner designed specifically for the Highland bagpipe.
Interestingly, John Walsh’s reel, “The Korgi,” is named after the 1980s 78th Fraser Highlanders’ Korg tuner.
It’s funny that it is called Beeflat. If the areas of metering are either between 440 and 460 Hz or 470 and 490 Hz it’s not capable of measuring actual B-flat at 467 directly.
Hi Stig, The actual range is 463 -> 495 which means you can tune to 466.1 (which is a concert pitch B-flat). If you turn on the “Number relative to 440?” setting and set the calibration to 440 this will be equivalent and also set your A to 466.1. Cheers! Matt
Android version out soon, Matt?
Yep! Feedback on iPhone version great so far so will go ahead with an Android one. You’ll need to give me a month or two though 🙂
Will it tell you if your drones are hummin/buzzin?