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BagpipesOnly.com
1409 W. Green Dr
High Point, NC 27260
1-800-823-4233
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More Information and Tips
Doublings are comprised of multiple notes
executed at reflex speed, and this to many is very intimidating. For instance,
the D-doubling contains 5 separate notes. Scary huh? Not at all. The trick is
to think of the doubling as a single movement. It's all psychology. Roll your
fingers from the wrist, and pay less attention to its technical sound. After a
short time, that roll will begin to articulate each note, and your doublings
will "bark".
Timing is everything in music. If you are
having a problem with timing, tap your foot. If this doesn't help, then I
don't know what to say other than, get a drummer!
The most important thing of all, is practice. If you don't
play regularly, not only will your bagpipe be difficult to play, but you will
find it difficult to play them. But then, you knew that, didn't you.
Reeds-Drones
My first suggestion here would be to invest approximately sixty dollars
Canadian currency in a set of plastic reeds. They are long lasting, easy to
maintain, and the change in sound quality is negligible at best. Their only
drawback is that they stop with moisture quicker than cane reeds do. But when
that happens, it's as easy as removing the reed, and drying it out with a
paper towel or tissue. Of course, you'll have to retune the drone when you're
done.
If you play with cane drone reeds, go to a plumbing supply store and by
some sealing rings that are minutely smaller than a drone reed, and add it to
the hemp bridle, or replace the bridle with the ring altogether. This allows
for quick, tongue length adjustment, which is the main cause of drone reed
problems. If you choose to replace the bridle with plumbers rings entirely,
then use two of the rings. Sometimes being able to adjust the width that the
bridle area covers is very helpful.
If your reed pitch is flat...
The tongue may be too long. Try shortening the bridle.
The tongue may be too weak. Try shortening the bridle, or increasing the
area covered by the bridle.
The reed itself may be too long. Shorten the reed by cutting off not more
than 1/4 inch using a very fine hacksaw, or if you can, insert the reed
farther up the stock.
If your reed pitch is sharp...
Your reed may be inserted too far up the stock. Try adding more hemp to
its base
The tongue may be too short. Try decreasing the amount of area covered by
the bridle, and moving it back, or carefully increase the length of the tongue
using a slightly dulled razor blade.
The tongue may be stiff, or dried. Carefully lift the tongue and let it
snap back. Repeat this several times. It is a quick out, and it is easy to
pull to far and break the reed, but it has saved me on the street corner many
times.
If your reed squeals...
The tongue may be too heavy. Carefully scrape some of the cane off along
the tongue, or lengthen the tongue by moving the bridle.
Bridle is too tight. Retie it, or replace with plumbers rings.
If your reed stops...
Rough edges on a new reed will catch. Using the finest grade of sandpaper
you can find, smooth the edges of the tongue.
Your reed is wet. Wipe excess visible moisture, and let it dry naturally.
There is nothing more you can do. This has plagued pipers since the beginning
of time.
Your reed is almost dead, or hasn't been played in a while. Either way, if
you can get any sound from it at all, no matter how little air it takes, or
how awful it sounds, try and keep that sound going......by mouth. This will
loosen the fibers in the reed, and it may come around.
Roaring reeds...
Sounds like a sick truck horn, doesn't it. Try adjusting the bridle width,
and shortening the tongue. In the case of a base drone reed, you may also want
to slide your top stock as far up on the hemp as it will go.
New drone reeds are difficult to play at the best of times, and the time
it takes for them to break in seems endless. You will no doubt experience most
of these problems with a new drone reed, and there is very little you can do
about it except try and "play them in." It may sound awful for awhile, but
there's little you can do with a new drone reed. Presoaking, microwaving, and
other shortcuts will do nothing more than decrease sound quality, and the life
of your reed.
Reeds-Chanter
This is the soul of your instrument, and chanter reeds must be handled
delicately. If your reed has any splits, chips, or corners missing, it will
affect your tone, tunability, and "bark" performance. Older reeds will start
to become easy to play, and the sound will lose its depth. Once you start
having difficulty keeping your top hand tuned, particularly notes f and high
g, it is time for a new reed.
Something to keep on hand for fine tuning a chanter, is a roll of
electrical tape. Using small strips of the tape and sticking them to the top
side of the hole, you can adjust the hole size by moving the tape up and down.
So tune your chanter slightly sharp first, and fine tune it by adjusting the
tape. It takes a little more time, but it is worth the effort.
Reed is flat...
The reed is not inserted into the chanter far enough. Push it farther in,
and if necessary, remove the hemp to do so. Do not be afraid of pushing it too
far in.
The reed lips are too stiff. Suck on the reed for a few minutes, and then
gently squeeze the lips together.
he reed lips are too far apart. This is not a bad thing by any stretch of
the imagination, and probably means you are using a new reed. Suck on the reed
for a few minutes, and then gently squeeze the lips together.
Reed is too thick. Using a slightly dulled razorblade, scrape some of the
body off of the centre of the tone box. Be careful not to scrape the reed
lips.
Reed is sharp...
The reed is inserted too far into the chanter. Back it out some, and add
hemp if necessary.
The reed is weak, the lips are too narrow, and it is about to die. You may
be able to prolong its life some by putting a plumbers ring on it and sliding
it up to the tone box. This will open the reed lips some.
"My Practice Chanter Doesn't
Work"
Click here
for additional information.
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