I’ve been interested in the uilleann pipes for about a year, and just recently found out that a family friend plays them. He’s lent me a quarter set and has been teaching me the basics.
I’m sorry if this question’s asked a lot (it seems like it might) but I didn’t notice any topics referring to it on the first page of this board: Does anyone know of any good sites with tips on playing the pipes? Specifically at the moment I’m having trouble playing a low D . . . My friend told me that you need to play an A grace note right before it, and sometimes it works, but half the time it doesn’t, and either produces a soft D or an excruciating sound that can only be likened to that of killing a pig.
Use “SEARCH” above and type in key words such as “hard D” or “wavering D” or “low D” etc. A LOT has been discussed re this problem. These will get you started:
PS: does your low D waver, sink, flutter, or screech with loud overtones? Watch for leaks around your fingerholes–if it works some of the time and not others. Try lighter pressure with the bag.
It doesn’t flutter or waver, and I wouldn’t say it ‘screeches,’ but it definitely makes a somewhat higher noise than what I’m aiming for. If I continue playing the sound, it usually goes to a ‘soft d’ after a few seconds, though.
Recently I started holding the back hole with the side of my thumb instead of the flat, so it’s entirely possible that there’s some air leaking there or elsewhere . . . I’ll keep this in mind.
Lorenzo is correct… look for leaks in fingering and keys not sealing properly. If this doesn’t work, you might go a step further and put masking tape over the tone holes… the reason? Sometimes the slips that form the read don’t fit tight at the sides and the slightest leaking will cause certain notes to squeak and squeal. There are several ways to fix this. Some people use bees wax along the edges… some use nail polish (varnish or shellac) I’ve been told (by a pipemaker) that ordinary white glue works too. Let’s not go there yet.
Relax your grip, close your eyes and ‘feel’ the tone holes adjusting your grip slightly to seal any leaks.
If the bottom D wails when you lift the chanter, then you are pushing it into the 2nd octave, usually this is a technique problem - way too much bag pressure when taking the chanter off the leg - that being said, I have one reed that is very pressure sensitive on the bottom D and almost always wails or barks when lifted off the knee.
If you are hearing a “brassy” sound when you lift the chanter then you are hitting a Hard D (which is extremely desirable in certain situations) again, back off on the bag pressure. I would say that if if this is happening a lot then your are most likely playing the whole lower octave with too much pressure - a lighter touch may be what is needed.
boot, as far as instructional websites go, have you seen this one? http://www.scoiltrad.com/
its a bit involved & costs money but might be what you’re looking for?
Boot - one other hint to avoiding that loud, screeching sound on an attempted Low D is to back off slightly on the bag pressure AND make sure that your fingers are all well-placed over the tone holes in the chanter.
You shouldn’t have to have a death grip on the chanter, but having the holes completely covered is important.
Also, I second the motion on both ScoilTrad and MadforTrad. ScoilTrad is great for learning tunes, however, the MadForTrad tutor starts you out with the basics - scales, etc., whereas ScoilTrad is more tune -based.
Another good learning tutor is the NPU Video Volume 1 AND Heather Clarke’s UP Tutor. Both of those start with the very basics, but they’ll both have you playing tunes in no time. Those tutors can be obtained via Na Piobairi Uilleann at www.pipers.ie
When I was first learning it probably took me three months to get a bottom D out cleanly. It was quite frustrating but what I found with the pipes was that it takes quite a lot of work just to be able to play some of the notes, unlike a piano, where getting the note is taken for granted.
Don’t get disheartened, progress can appear very slow, keep practising and it will come.
One thing that also should be added about the ScoilTrad tutor is, in my opinion, very important.
ScoilTrad has a very unique feature in their program that allows the student to (if they have the means on their PC) to record themselves and then e-mail the recorded tune to the instructor for a critique.
Getting feedback on what you’ve learned is a critical step in the learning process. To my knowledge, none of the other tutors offer this feature.
