Skye Boat Song — Bagpipe Sheet Music
Time Signature: 3/4 | Key: Two sharps (standard bagpipe key)
The Skye Boat Song is a Jacobite song from the Scottish Highlands, telling of the escape of Bonnie Prince Charlie to Skye after the Battle of Culloden. On the bagpipe it is played as a gentle waltz and is one of the most beautiful and accessible tunes in the repertoire.
Tune Structure
The tune has a verse/chorus structure. On the bagpipe it is typically arranged as a 32-bar tune with two 16-bar sections, both played smoothly and expressively.
Note Sequence Guide
Section A (Chorus): High A . High G | E . D | E D B | Low A . . | D . E | D B D | E . . | . . . | High A . High G | E . D | B . D | E . . | D E D | B . . | Low A . . | . . . | Section B (Verse feel): E . D | B D E | High G . E | D . . | B D E | F High G High A | High G E D | . . . | E D B | D E . | High G E D | B . . | D E D | B Low A . | Low A . . | . . . |
Tips for Learning This Tune
- In 3/4 time, feel a gentle lilt. The tune should breathe — avoid playing it mechanically.
- The opening High A is important — it sets the tone for the whole tune. Let it ring.
- Transitions from High G to E and from E to D should be smooth and unhurried.
- This tune sounds particularly beautiful played slowly on a long practice chanter.