Hi,
I can play a 1st octave pretty easily now on the Up’s but getting into the second octave (especially past f#) is proving difficult.
I have only been playing for 3 days so am still a newbie to the pipes.
Has anyone alse had this problem when they first took up the pipes? - would like to know (just to eliminate my curiosity)
Cheers,
Sam
Sam, what books/videos are you using to learn from? Do you have a teacher? You needn’t worry about the 2nd 8ve for a couple of months. Get the bag/bellows thing going first until it becomes an unconscious habit. If you haven’t got any instruction yet, get the HR Clarke tutor book and CD, plus the NPU DVD tutor. That should keep you busy for at least a year.
djm
Howaya Sam,
Just take your time and be patient. Everyone has these problems. Just focus on the first octave for the time being. Where are you getting instruction from? Do you have a teacher or the NPU video?
The FAQ FAQ FAQ probably has someinfor on all of this too.
I would recommend getting to a tionol as soon as you can also. These workshops are priceless!
Good luck and keep up the practising!
Patrick.
DJM beat me to it 
Don’t worry about the second octave for now. 72 hours is too soon to worry about anything above back D.
To get the 2nd octave you have to close off the chanter - that is cover all the holes with your fingers and have the chanter firmly planted on your knee. Then you increase the pressure in the bag and open the holes for the desired note. Start with 2nd octave E - that’s easiest. Then go on from there.
If that doesn’t help then you’ll need someone to show you as has been suggested!
Paul
thanks for the advice,
i’m starting lessons with alan burton in a few weeks and i was considering the NPU videos and heather clarkes tutor book also.
Cheers,
SAM
You’ll be in good hands with Alan.
Good luck,
Patrick.
I remember my first week on the pipes well. Early in the week, I made a set of pipes. RTE recorded me on the weekend - I had some newly composed tunes for them. Beside me on the broadcast, Seamus Ennis guessed that the compositions were his father’s own or from the fellows that taught his father. I, in turn, acknowledged him in Irish; later, at the pub, exchanged limericks. That was some week!
Jim ye should remember that Sam is only 12 years old so fair play to him and he should be encouraged not knocked.Incidentally how many other youngsters out there on this forum who maybe getting the pish taken out o them for no good reason?Perhaps we,and I include myself, could remember that there are younger readers on this forum when we are posting… :roll:
Slán Go Foill
Uilliam
Sam just keep at it Alan will look after ye well.
The fellow had received loads of advice on ways to proceed and sounded like that it was well received. ‘Skip the 2nd octave for now, play tunes or practice on the 1st octave (a tune that works is Song of the Chanter), and sort it out with the upcoming lesson(s) with Alan Burton.’
No one really commented on their own 1st week, as asked, and I took a humorous route. So to clarify, everyone (including myself) has a lot of difficulty their first week - no matter how and when and with whom they got started on the bag and chanter. If you played whistle/flute before, there are differences in ‘good fingering’ - everything does not translate over. Best news is that you are headed toward lessons with a solid performer on the pipes - it can be tough sledding without having contact with someone who knows what they are doing.