C Natural Key

Uilleann Pipes
1

Hi all,

I’m sorry if this has been covered before, but I couldn’t find an answer in the archive.

How do I use the C natural key on my Neil O’Grady chanter? I’ve tried various cross fingerings for c natural, but it is still a little sharp. I have tried using the key, but I don’t know which fingering goes with it.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Jamie

2

First octave C natural – Lift the first finger of your top hand and the second finger of your bottom hand.

Second octave C natural – play a ‘b’ while pressing the Cnat key.

Experiment from here as reed settings and weather can affect your tuning.

3

Thanks Tony,

So, the key is only for the second octave. That is the fingering that was working best for me in the first octave, albeit a bit sharp. Kind of like a whistle, then? Not quite C natural, but close?

4

Jamie the Key can be used in the 1st octave as well
Slan go foill

5

If you’re comparing it to an equal-temperament tuner, the C will always be a little sharp…In just intonation (the preferred tuning for the pipes), the minor 7th (i.e. C) is sharper than in tempered tuning, somewhere between a tempered C natural and C sharp (about 20 cents sharp, if you’re using a tuner that’s calibrated to equal temperament). It’s a good idea to “shade” the top hole with your left index finger when you play C natural (i.e., don’t take your finger all the way off the chanter, but keep part of it on so that you can adjust the tuning. C natural is one of the most inherently out-of-tune notes on a pipe chanter (just a function of physics, sorry to say), but its “adjustibility” makes it one of the most expressive notes on the pipes. I always add a little vibrato to long C naturals (using the ring finger on my right hand) just to emphasize the unique character of the note.

6

Are you sure your C natural is supposed to be sharp of tempered tuning?

7

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8

I like it flat too Kevin. So if A equals 440 where is ytour C nat?