I’ve been playing 3/4 since August '04, and never had a problem hitting the lower reg. keys on the tenor and baritone. I’ve just recently upgraded to a full-set with long style bass bar. The bar makes it difficult to hit the D (baritone), F#/G key (tenor) and G key (bass). Other than this fact, I’m very happy with the addition. I was thinking about maybe lengthening the neck on my bag 1"-2". Since I make my own vinyl bags, experimentation is no problem. Also, a shoulder strap has helped a little. Any thoughts on this will be appreciated.
What he said.
Also, try shifting the angle of whole drone/reg assembly a little further out toward your knee. This can help place the lower keys under your wrist rather than having to contort to reach for them.
I am also experimenting with the length of the blowpipe from bellows to bag. You need to be able to reach with your lower wrist to the bottom keys, and this arm being tied to the bellows can restrict your stretch. A longer blowpipe may help pull the bag back further while increasing your reach with the lower wrist.
I, too, played a 3/4 set for a while (about 2 years with the regulators) and have recently – about 4 months ago – acquired a straight-bar bass regulator. As I played, I wondered: how did the regulator-literate reach all these keys? There must be a way!
Of course, a lot of the difficulty lies in that I’ve only been piping for 5 years! However, I went through a ton of photographs – An Piobaire’s, O’Neill’s book, other piping publications. Most of the folks that have a straight bar tend to have a relaxed-looking position. That is, their shoulders are level and backs are straight. They look to be in a rather natural sitting position (minus the octopus on their lap!). I have, therefore, been making my best attempts to mimic what the “old boys” have done . . . I try to keep my shoulders level, my back straight, and use my back muscles mainly to make the damned thing GO. That way, my forearms, wrists, and fingers are wayyyyyy more limber and relaxed to do what they should be doing: playing the chanter! This position also helps my wrists be more flexible so I can hit the regulators with more precision and less clumsiness. In order to hit my favorite chords “down below”, I tend to hold the main stock really close to my left armpit area. My right hand then falls, naturally, on the A-F#-a regulator keys.
Another change that should help me in the future: my main stock is tied in somewhat low on the bag. When I need a new bag, I’ll have my main stock sewed in higher in the bag, therefore allowing a more comfortable fit (as far as I can tell!).
I have seen a great deal of variation in the dimensions of full sets,
leading to some real confustion about how to get those regulators within reach… I started another topic - “Regulators out of reach” - before I saw this one… Please check it out.
