Police told Shaun Cartwright, 38, his piping had annoyed members of the public and detained him for a breach of the peace.
His bagpipes were seized as he was handcuffed and driven to a police station, although he was later released and told it was not in the public interest to press charges.
Mr Cartwright, who has been playing bagpipes for more than 25 years, was busking in Bridport, Dorset, when he was arrested.
He said: "I'd been playing for almost an hour outside Superdrug on the main street and had made about 50 pounds, so it clearly wasn't causing that much offence.
"But a shopkeeper called the police and two officers turned up saying they had a complaint and they had to respond to it.
"They asked me to move on but I wanted to finish my hour of playing and put the blow stick to my mouth and that was it.
Mr Cartwright, from Bristol, was released after...
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