Tunes, Chords & Harmony Volume ONE (Tunes, Chords & Harmony by Matt Willis Bagpiper) Paperback – March 3, 2026

Tunes, Chords & Harmony Volume ONE is a comprehensive collection of 32 arrangements for the Great Highland Bagpipes, combining classic melodies, original compositions, and multi-part harmony written specifically for pipers who want to go beyond unison playing.This book features well-known traditional tunes paired with original harmony parts by Matt Willis, including "The Minstrel Boy", "Amazing Grace", "Danny Boy", and "Mist Covered Mountains". Alongside these classics are several original compositions that have become audience favorites, such as "The Challenger", "Kirk of the Highlands", and "The Houston Highland Games".Also included are expanded harmony and ensemble arrangements rarely found in standard pipe music collections. Highlights include a four-part harmony setting of Pachelbel’s Canon in D, a multi-part arrangement of "Going Home", and new to this edition, a full arrangement of "The Challenger", complete with a two-part backing arrangement for practice chanter, as featured in Matt’s popular YouTube video.The collection spans a wide range of styles and tempos, making it suitable for solo performance, small ensembles, band settings, and personal practice. Patriotic selections such as "The Army Goes Rolling Along", "Anchors Aweigh", "America the Beautiful", and "Shenandoah" are included, along with reels, jigs, marches, airs, and classical adaptations.Nearly every tune includes guitar chords, making this book especially useful for pipers who perform with guitarists or other instrumentalists. In addition to the music, the book includes a practical guide on tuning the Highland pipes to other instruments (and vice versa), as well as Matt’s insights on writing and performing multi-part harmony on the pipes.Whether you are a solo piper looking to expand your musical vocabulary, a band player interested in harmony work, or a teacher seeking thoughtfully arranged repertoire, Tunes, Chords & Harmony Volume ONE offers a unique and musically rich resource grounded in real-world performance experience.Contents include:Reels & Hornpipes:The ChallengerThe Merry BlacksmithToss the FeathersPiraticalThe Jolly BeggarmanMacKay’s ReelJigs & Strathspey:Rustic WindBack on ScheduleMerrily Kiss the Quaker’s WifeThe Rakes of KildareOld Hag, You Have Killed MeThe Jiggy BeggarmanMacKay’s JigMacKay’s StrathspeyMarches:Anchors AweighThe Army Goes Rolling AlongCort’s WelcomeCutting BrackenThe Houston Highland GamesMacKay’s MarchMarines’ HymnThe Minstrel Boy with harmonyPorter’s LullabySongs and Airs:Amazing Grace with harmonyAmerica the BeautifulDanny Boy with harmonyKirk of the Highlands with harmonyMacKay’s Air with harmonyMist Covered Mountains with harmonyShenandoah with harmonyClassical Pieces:Going Home with four-part harmonyCanon in D with four-part harmonyIn addition, the book also includes:• Chord symbols for guitar, piano, or other accompanists• Guidance on tuning a guitar to the pipes (or vice versa)• Practical notes on multipart harmony in a pipe band settingAbout the AuthorMatt Willis is a professional bagpiper and educator known for his clear, engaging video lessons that have helped thousands of pipers worldwide. His first publication, The Bagpipe BASICS Series Exercise Manual, quickly became the #1 best-selling music exercise and technique book on Amazon. His re-release of Tunes, Chords & Harmony Volume TWO: Christmas Edition was also a #1 Best-Selling New Release on Amazon, further establishing his reputation for practical, musically thoughtful resources for pipers of all levels. Read more