Kevin,
Your problem is most likely to be caused by the reed, though what John says
about the length of the chanter is also true up to a point. A reed which is
too weak, having been over-thinned especially at the bridle end, often
produces false/flat notes in the middle of the chanter. Squeezing the reed
more open can improve it, as Barry says, though of course makes it harder to
blow, and with a basically weak reed the tone is still flabby - too lacking
in high harmonics. I have quite frequently solved a problem like yours by
clipping a VERY small bit off the end of the reed lips, using sharp
end-clippers which I keep exclusively for reeds. This is a bit of a risky
proceedure if you are not used to it, though. After clipping, you will
probably need to thin just the tips VERY carefully by rubbing on fine
abrasive paper, but be careful here, because you can easily thin too much
and weaken it fatally again - so you have to clip a bit more off, and so
on..!
The best solution may just be to try a new reed which is bright sounding,
but easy to blow, by being scraped evenly down to a fine tip, while still
keeping just enough strength in the sides - though beware that a reed that
is TOO strong in the sides will squeak more easily on the low notes.
Philip
From: "Gibbons, John"
To: "NSP group"
Sent: Monday, November 14, 2011 10:32 AM
Subject: [NSP] Re: flat chanter in the middle
Kevin
If it is a 7-key chanter, one possible cause is a reflection from the foot
of the chanter, nearly in resonance with the upper part between the reed
and the d hole. If so this resonance might be flat, dragging the d down a
bit. Try pushing the cotton wool plug a few mm up the chanter? This helped
with the first chanter I owned, though buying one that was made in tune is
the way I finally cured that problem. As yours has been in tune before,
tweaking the plug might help.
John
From: lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu [lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu] on behalf of
cwhill [cwh...@santa-fe.freeserve.co.uk]
Sent: 13 November 2011 22:14
To: NSP group
Cc: NSP group
Subject: [NSP] Re: flat chanter in the middle
I'm presuming that both g notes are actually sounding the proper note?
I know you have said they are correct to the drones but those particular
notes sound terrible if the drones are just a wee bit off. Do you have
access to a tuner? I'd check that the g's on the chanter and drones are
actually playing the same note and then check the middle notes to see if
they are actually "off" (to the d/D drones).
Even the best ears can have off days.
Did you make or buy the reed? There's always a little work today on a
bought reed to get it to suit your own chanter. Even home made ones can
seem fine but do that. I forget how I fixed mine (a long time ago now)
but I never got it spot on.
When Colin Ross refettled my pipes and made me a new reed for them that
problem vanished completely (before I had to just add a little pressure
whenever I played a certain note). I'm afraid my unwarranted pride in
making a (nearly) good reed took over from common sense :)
Colin Hill
On 13/11/2011 20:57, Barry Say wrote:
Hi Kevin
Do you know what pitch you are tuning at. Is it the same as before?
Do you know what pressure you're playing at. Is it the same as before?
You could have a reed which naturally gives a flatter d .
My guess would be to open the reed a fraction and increase your playing
pressure slightly.
If that works but the playing pressure is too high, get back to me. On
list will be fine.
Barry
-
"These things may solve your worst nightmare,
or they may eat all of the cheese in your house.
I make no guarantees.
YMMV. "
Kevin wrote:
Hi to All,
Can anyone advice me on the tuning of my chanter to the drones. The top
G and the bottom G are in tune with the drones but the middle notes
especially the D is a fraction out of tune, a little flat. is this
rectified by moving the reed, if so which way? or opening the reed or
closing it?
the chanter has been in tune in the past but since changing the reed i
find these problems, it is either the top/bottom notes are out or the
middle notes are outany advice?
thanks
kevin
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