I have posted this message on the Chiff & Fipple
Uilleann Pipes Forum - I'd love to get some more
opinions from other UP players.
The B and C# are completely sharp on my chanter, which
kind of ruins my chance of playing anything that touches
these notes, since playing un-tuned pipes is extremely
noticeable.
I have tried different fingering but there was no real change.
I have 4 reeds, 1 from a different maker and they all produce the same problem, so I guess the problem is with the chanter itself.
I have already destroyed 2 reeds in the past so I can't
allow myself to mess with the reed to overcome this problem.
Re: High B and C# way off on my UP chanter - Advices?
for the time being, just slightly tape the holes. most if not all pipers have experienced similar problems... if that fixes the problem, i would consider putting some soft wax in the holes, mushed up against the top of the holes - done in a way that it can be easily removed down the line. i have this on a couple of chanters, and it works great.
how is the back d? if it is sharp as well, your reeds need more hemp bc they are being placed too far into the reed seat, and may need to be pulled out slightly.
Re: High B and C# way off on my UP chanter - Advices?
should have listened to your clip first - it is the second octave that is off... first octave is perfect... nix my previous suggestion then. get up with a reedmaker ideally - as it most likely has to do with the relationship of the blades of the reed and the staple.
i have some reeds with a small bend or loop of thin gauge wire placed GENTLY up into the staple - in essence reducing the inner diameter of the space in there... flattening the 2nd octave, especially the higher notes thereof. no need to mangle, get yourself to a reed maker or pipe maker - or a festival/workshop with both.
Re: High B and C# way off on my UP chanter - Advices?
don't worry about the rush... just put a little bend in it like a hook and make sure you don't push it up too far so that it hooks on the other open end of the staple... might have to try different lengths, thicknesses, positions, etc... honestly, some of the best reeds i have played, even by benedict koehler, have had this rush... good luck.
Re: High B and C# way off on my UP chanter - Advices?
You can also try a slip of paper that is roughly equivalent to the inner circumference of the staple exit wide and about 1.5 to 2 cm long. Trim as needed to sharpen, or use a slightly bigger piece to flatten further if required.
Fine tuning individual notes on the uilleann pipe chanter involves a lot of trial and error, better get used to it now because you're going to be doing it a lot if you care about how you sound.
Re: High B and C# way off on my UP chanter - Advices?
Oh and keep in mind that the UP scale is a just tempered scale; if upper octave B and C# are a little sharp, it won't sound bad against the drones. It only matters if you're playing with classically trained Poindexters who want to insist that the equal tempered 12 tone scale is The One True Scale and all else is amateurish heresy.
Re: High B and C# way off on my UP chanter - Advices?
Thanks everybody, I inserted different kind of rushes and they all produced slightly different results. I suppose it's going to take some time till I find the right size/lengh, but It might solve it.
Seosamh Ui Sinan - I don't have any drones, so I have nothing to worry about anyway )
Re: High B and C# way off on my UP chanter - Advices?
Good, but don't be a slave to an electronic tuner.
It's of little use in tuning pipes - you just tune the first octave A, bottom D, and back D to A = 440Hz but you don't worry too much about low E being sharp, F# being flat, G being slightly sharp, B being a little flat, etc.
Re: High B and C# way off on my UP chanter - Advices?
That's actually exactly what I do - I make sure the A = 440, and tape all the rest..
The problem is, as you can hear, is that this B is SO far away from the land of tuned notes that upon playing "Farewell To Whalley Range" (which is a really great slip jig btw), for example, the B is VERY noticeable and raises everyone's eyebrows.
That's why I can't make myself not care about that specific note being flat or sharp :(
Re: High B and C# way off on my UP chanter - Advices?
It only matters if you're playing with classically trained Poindexters who want to insist that the equal tempered 12 tone scale is The One True Scale and all else is amateurish heresy."
And even these guys are really off the mark...even tempered scales have their place in classical music---the pythagorean scale is for melody, not harmony. Viva la even temper!
High B and C# way off on my UP chanter - Advices?
High B and C# way off on my UP chanter - Advices?
Hello all.
I have posted this message on the Chiff & Fipple
Uilleann Pipes Forum - I'd love to get some more
opinions from other UP players.
The B and C# are completely sharp on my chanter, which
kind of ruins my chance of playing anything that touches
these notes, since playing un-tuned pipes is extremely
noticeable.
I have tried different fingering but there was no real change.
I have 4 reeds, 1 from a different maker and they all produce the same problem, so I guess the problem is with the chanter itself.
I have already destroyed 2 reeds in the past so I can't
allow myself to mess with the reed to overcome this problem.
The horrible notes can be heard here:
http://onearmfrog.com/mp3/wayoff.mp3
Thanks everyone!
# Posted on February 12th 2009 by thesheep
Re: High B and C# way off on my UP chanter - Advices?
for the time being, just slightly tape the holes. most if not all pipers have experienced similar problems... if that fixes the problem, i would consider putting some soft wax in the holes, mushed up against the top of the holes - done in a way that it can be easily removed down the line. i have this on a couple of chanters, and it works great.
how is the back d? if it is sharp as well, your reeds need more hemp bc they are being placed too far into the reed seat, and may need to be pulled out slightly.
# Posted on February 12th 2009 by maze
Re: High B and C# way off on my UP chanter - Advices?
should have listened to your clip first - it is the second octave that is off... first octave is perfect... nix my previous suggestion then. get up with a reedmaker ideally - as it most likely has to do with the relationship of the blades of the reed and the staple.
i have some reeds with a small bend or loop of thin gauge wire placed GENTLY up into the staple - in essence reducing the inner diameter of the space in there... flattening the 2nd octave, especially the higher notes thereof. no need to mangle, get yourself to a reed maker or pipe maker - or a festival/workshop with both.
# Posted on February 12th 2009 by maze
Re: High B and C# way off on my UP chanter - Advices?
Thanks Maze, so I see that the only way to solve this, for now, is to insert the rush. I'll cross my fingers.
# Posted on February 12th 2009 by thesheep
Re: High B and C# way off on my UP chanter - Advices?
don't worry about the rush... just put a little bend in it like a hook and make sure you don't push it up too far so that it hooks on the other open end of the staple... might have to try different lengths, thicknesses, positions, etc... honestly, some of the best reeds i have played, even by benedict koehler, have had this rush... good luck.
# Posted on February 12th 2009 by maze
Re: High B and C# way off on my UP chanter - Advices?
You can also try a slip of paper that is roughly equivalent to the inner circumference of the staple exit wide and about 1.5 to 2 cm long. Trim as needed to sharpen, or use a slightly bigger piece to flatten further if required.
Fine tuning individual notes on the uilleann pipe chanter involves a lot of trial and error, better get used to it now because you're going to be doing it a lot if you care about how you sound.
Best of luck
# Posted on February 12th 2009 by Seosamh Ui Sinan
Re: High B and C# way off on my UP chanter - Advices?
Oh and keep in mind that the UP scale is a just tempered scale; if upper octave B and C# are a little sharp, it won't sound bad against the drones. It only matters if you're playing with classically trained Poindexters who want to insist that the equal tempered 12 tone scale is The One True Scale and all else is amateurish heresy.
# Posted on February 12th 2009 by Seosamh Ui Sinan
Re: High B and C# way off on my UP chanter - Advices?
Thanks everybody, I inserted different kind of rushes and they all produced slightly different results. I suppose it's going to take some time till I find the right size/lengh, but It might solve it.
Seosamh Ui Sinan - I don't have any drones, so I have nothing to worry about anyway
)
# Posted on February 13th 2009 by thesheep
Re: High B and C# way off on my UP chanter - Advices?
Good, but don't be a slave to an electronic tuner.
It's of little use in tuning pipes - you just tune the first octave A, bottom D, and back D to A = 440Hz but you don't worry too much about low E being sharp, F# being flat, G being slightly sharp, B being a little flat, etc.
# Posted on February 13th 2009 by Seosamh Ui Sinan
Re: High B and C# way off on my UP chanter - Advices?
That's actually exactly what I do - I make sure the A = 440, and tape all the rest..
The problem is, as you can hear, is that this B is SO far away from the land of tuned notes that upon playing "Farewell To Whalley Range" (which is a really great slip jig btw), for example, the B is VERY noticeable and raises everyone's eyebrows.
That's why I can't make myself not care about that specific note being flat or sharp :(
# Posted on February 13th 2009 by thesheep
Re: High B and C# way off on my UP chanter - Advices?
It only matters if you're playing with classically trained Poindexters who want to insist that the equal tempered 12 tone scale is The One True Scale and all else is amateurish heresy."
And even these guys are really off the mark...even tempered scales have their place in classical music---the pythagorean scale is for melody, not harmony. Viva la even temper!
# Posted on February 15th 2009 by samiam590