High C#

Uilleann Pipes
1

Can anyone tell me the most successful way to play high C#?

Its a Cillian O’Briain chanter (really lovely) and an Andy Faden reed in it. Playing the usual C# but pushing more air through the bag is not giving a true high C#, so I was wondering if there is different fingering, or a different technique that I dont know about. The note I want is used in a slow air and is held.

Thanks a million.

PAT

2

Try lifting the top B finger too.
you’ll get the octave jump handy enough that way but it’ll make the note fairly sharp. Depending on your reed too.

I don’t know Andy’s reed making work but if he uses an un-rushed tube staple that C# note can be fairly sharp using the fingering mentioned above.

Let us know how you get on,

Tommy

3

On my Ian Mackenzie D chanter (reeded by Dicky Deegan) lifting the C# and A fingers from a high A or B will give a usable
if slightly sharp C#.

I don’t know if this will work on other chanter/reed cmbinations.

Regards,
donpiper