One of the best-kept secrets of top pipers is the the specialized tool called a reed poker. Use the poker when your pipe chanter reed starts to get a little bit too easy, chirps, squeals, or starts to sound sharp and thin. As you play a new reed, it starts to break in, getting easier and more efficient. But the cane can get too soft — this is where the reed poker comes in. A small adjustment (we're talking 1/1000ths of an inch) to the metal staple inside the reed can bring a reed back to life, extend the playable life of the reed, and give you a brighter, crisper, stronger, more stable sound. The only way to open up a reed from the inside is with a reed poker. It has a smooth point which allows you to precisely control just how much you want to open the reed. Easy-to-use. Totally intuitive. Simply insert the poker a bit further to open up the reed a little bit more. Other blunt, square-shaped pokers can get stuck or can damage the reed by twisting.