Hi there,
I´m going to get drones quite soon now, and I was wondering how they work and how to set them to the right tone.
Thanx for any advise and hints.
If they are "concert pitch" drones they should each play D, in three different octaves.
The smallest drone should play the same note as the "bottom D" of your chanter.
The middle-sized drone should play the same note, but one octave lower.
The bass drone (usually made with trombone-like bent tubing) plays the same note two octaves lower.
If you're unsure you can always check the notes with an electronic tuner.
Drones can be finicky beasts. They can squeal and shut off and go up and down in pitch as you vary the chanter pressure to get the various chanter notes. As with all other aspects of uilleann piping, there's no substitute for getting together with a good player who can set things right.
Nowadays some makers fit their drones with synthetic reeds which makes them less troublesome.
Now, of course, the drones can't be tuned if your bag pressure is not dead-even.
And they will never sound in tune if your chanter isn't playing a properly tuned scale. It all starts with a properly tuned chanter.
With the GHB i was taught to just bring in one drone at a time. get used to that, then eventually the next. Would this be the same with the UP Richard?
Hi,
I'm not Richard, but essentially this is correct... I start with the tenor drone (wee one) and tune it to my A, then back D... then move onto the bass drone, tunes those TOGETHER, then if playing with baritone drone, bring it into tune with the other two...
That was'nt what I meant , though good advice. I meant as in getting used to the drones by adding one in and learning to get all your notes solid, in all your tunes, for perhaps some weeks or months, then adding the next, rather than attempting to add all three straight away.....
The requirments for the amount of air is vaild when starting up.
If you're lucky and the chanter and drones are balanced, the pressure requiremetns won't be that much. You need to listen to the tenor drone phase lock with the A on the chanter. DON"T use a tuner with your drones.
i would not add one drone at a time - though i cannot think of a good reason. all three drones should not add considerably to the pumping and squeezing necessary... in fact, the drones should not add considerably more air than another chanter being added to the bag - if set up properly, much less actually. when playing, drones should be mechanically invisible.
I was under the impression it was to help the player not to have to make too large a leap at first and perhaps fall..... However ,So speaketh the master piper so now we know
I added one drone at a time until ( like 10 minutes into it) I said "**** it, what happens if they all go on". I wasn't patient, but I surly love the sound of the bass and bari come through the chanter.
A beginner might not be able to hear when the drones "phase lock with the A of the chanter".
But anyone can see the needle on a tuner.
I use an electronic tune all the time, to make sure that my chanter is in tune, so that I can play in tune with my band or in a session. Then I tune the drones to the chanter. Unlike some pipers, both on the uilleann pipes and on the GHB I tune all three drones at once rather than shutting them off.
People are correct when they say that all three drones going at once really don't take all that much air. But, perhaps the sudden addition of three drones will be difficult for a beginner, and they might be better off using the small drone first and then adding the other drones one-at-a-time. (When I started out I played all three drones from the get-go.)
Now a problem that crops up when you take your lower hand off the chanter to adjust a drone is that most chanter notes will change pitch will the lower hand off. Tune the drones to A with the lower hand off, and the drones will be a tad off. On my chanter, G with the lower hand off and off the leg is just about right. Or, you can play back D fingered:
o oox oooo
On my chanter that back D is the same pitch as the normal back D:
o xxx xxxx
so it can be used for tuning the drones.
B likewise can be fingered either:
x xoo xxxx (normal)
or
x xoo oooo (open, for tuning drones)
I would tend to use the same method as Maze.
One reason for that is that your chanter may not always be exactly at concert pitch & it's not adviseable to mess around with a chanter reed if you don't know what you are at. If you tune the tenor to A & then tune the bass & tenor to that,one at a time, at least your pipes will be in tune with themselves even if the chanter is not 100% to concert pitch. Just make sure that when you are tuning the tenor to A that you are applying the same amount of air pressure that you will use when playing. It's easy to blow a solid A and tune to it, but you will probably find that you are applying a little less pressure while playing so it might be an idea to blow a little softer while tuning the tenor. Play around with it keeping those points in mind and you'll start to hear the correct tuning for yourself soon enough...... & enjoy.... you will really enjoy uysing your drones once you get the hang of them.
Drones Uilleann pipes
Drones Uilleann pipes
Hi there,
I´m going to get drones quite soon now, and I was wondering how they work and how to set them to the right tone.
Thanx for any advise and hints.
xx Aine
# Posted on January 21st 2008 by ainekenaz
Re: Drones Uilleann pipes
If they are "concert pitch" drones they should each play D, in three different octaves.
The smallest drone should play the same note as the "bottom D" of your chanter.
The middle-sized drone should play the same note, but one octave lower.
The bass drone (usually made with trombone-like bent tubing) plays the same note two octaves lower.
If you're unsure you can always check the notes with an electronic tuner.
Drones can be finicky beasts. They can squeal and shut off and go up and down in pitch as you vary the chanter pressure to get the various chanter notes. As with all other aspects of uilleann piping, there's no substitute for getting together with a good player who can set things right.
Nowadays some makers fit their drones with synthetic reeds which makes them less troublesome.
Now, of course, the drones can't be tuned if your bag pressure is not dead-even.
And they will never sound in tune if your chanter isn't playing a properly tuned scale. It all starts with a properly tuned chanter.
# Posted on January 21st 2008 by Richard D Cook
Re: Drones Uilleann pipes
With the GHB i was taught to just bring in one drone at a time. get used to that, then eventually the next. Would this be the same with the UP Richard?
# Posted on January 21st 2008 by jig
Re: Drones Uilleann pipes
Hi,
I'm not Richard, but essentially this is correct... I start with the tenor drone (wee one) and tune it to my A, then back D... then move onto the bass drone, tunes those TOGETHER, then if playing with baritone drone, bring it into tune with the other two...
Pretty much the standard way of doing things.
maze
PS from whom are you getting your drones?
# Posted on January 21st 2008 by maze
Re: Drones Uilleann pipes
Marc van Daal
# Posted on January 21st 2008 by ainekenaz
Re: Drones Uilleann pipes
That was'nt what I meant , though good advice. I meant as in getting used to the drones by adding one in and learning to get all your notes solid, in all your tunes, for perhaps some weeks or months, then adding the next, rather than attempting to add all three straight away.....
# Posted on January 21st 2008 by jig
Re: Drones Uilleann pipes
The requirments for the amount of air is vaild when starting up.
If you're lucky and the chanter and drones are balanced, the pressure requiremetns won't be that much. You need to listen to the tenor drone phase lock with the A on the chanter. DON"T use a tuner with your drones.
# Posted on January 21st 2008 by I_Fel
Re: Drones Uilleann pipes
i would not add one drone at a time - though i cannot think of a good reason. all three drones should not add considerably to the pumping and squeezing necessary... in fact, the drones should not add considerably more air than another chanter being added to the bag - if set up properly, much less actually. when playing, drones should be mechanically invisible.
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by maze
Re: Drones Uilleann pipes
The reason to add one at a time and wait months in between is so you can conform to the "seven years to learn them, seven ye ... bla bla bla"
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: Drones Uilleann pipes
I was under the impression it was to help the player not to have to make too large a leap at first and perhaps fall..... However ,So speaketh the master piper so now we know
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by jig
Re: Drones Uilleann pipes
so... um... who is this "master piper?" i have some questions for her/him...
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by maze
Re: Drones Uilleann pipes
Sorry, I was being sarcastic, bad habit I know,
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by jig
Re: Drones Uilleann pipes
Maze
I added one drone at a time until ( like 10 minutes into it) I said "**** it, what happens if they all go on". I wasn't patient, but I surly love the sound of the bass and bari come through the chanter.
good intentions, etc, road wise.
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by I_Fel
Re: Drones Uilleann pipes
A beginner might not be able to hear when the drones "phase lock with the A of the chanter".
But anyone can see the needle on a tuner.
I use an electronic tune all the time, to make sure that my chanter is in tune, so that I can play in tune with my band or in a session. Then I tune the drones to the chanter. Unlike some pipers, both on the uilleann pipes and on the GHB I tune all three drones at once rather than shutting them off.
People are correct when they say that all three drones going at once really don't take all that much air. But, perhaps the sudden addition of three drones will be difficult for a beginner, and they might be better off using the small drone first and then adding the other drones one-at-a-time. (When I started out I played all three drones from the get-go.)
Now a problem that crops up when you take your lower hand off the chanter to adjust a drone is that most chanter notes will change pitch will the lower hand off. Tune the drones to A with the lower hand off, and the drones will be a tad off. On my chanter, G with the lower hand off and off the leg is just about right. Or, you can play back D fingered:
o oox oooo
On my chanter that back D is the same pitch as the normal back D:
o xxx xxxx
so it can be used for tuning the drones.
B likewise can be fingered either:
x xoo xxxx (normal)
or
x xoo oooo (open, for tuning drones)
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by Richard D Cook
Re: Drones Uilleann pipes
I would tend to use the same method as Maze.
One reason for that is that your chanter may not always be exactly at concert pitch & it's not adviseable to mess around with a chanter reed if you don't know what you are at. If you tune the tenor to A & then tune the bass & tenor to that,one at a time, at least your pipes will be in tune with themselves even if the chanter is not 100% to concert pitch. Just make sure that when you are tuning the tenor to A that you are applying the same amount of air pressure that you will use when playing. It's easy to blow a solid A and tune to it, but you will probably find that you are applying a little less pressure while playing so it might be an idea to blow a little softer while tuning the tenor. Play around with it keeping those points in mind and you'll start to hear the correct tuning for yourself soon enough...... & enjoy.... you will really enjoy uysing your drones once you get the hang of them.
# Posted on January 28th 2008 by Eamonn Croke
Re: Drones Uilleann pipes
>>it's not adviseable to mess around with a chanter reed if you don't know what you are a>> Understatement of the year
# Posted on January 28th 2008 by jig
Re: Drones Uilleann pipes
Thanx so much for all the good advice! I think, now I will be ready to play and tune the drones.
x Aine
# Posted on March 30th 2008 by ainekenaz