matching a D chanter and a C set?

Uilleann Pipes
1

Hello,

I want to have a flat set, a full set, so that I can work out on the regulators.
I also want to have a concert pitch set, at least a half set, so that I can play with drones in a session.

problem:
money to have them both. :blush:

question:
is it possible to tune up your C-drones to a Concertpitch chanter, and so having a full C-set and a half D-set? Will the drones be sounding as good in both C and D? changes in stability of the drones?

tell me all about it!! :thumbsup:

best regards
wallacepiper
(belonging back to the pipersworld…)

2

In my experience No. Just dosen’t work that way. Don’t know why. Sorry I can’t be more specific. Perhaps someone else can say why.

3

I think it’s a balance issue- concert-pitch drones are designed to blend with concert-pitch chanters, flat-pitch with flat-pitch. It’s like trying to put a capo on a cello so you can play it like a violin.

No E

4

so what’s really wrong about capoing up about 2 feet :boggle:

5

I played around with using my D drones with the C chanter. Check out the “May Morning Dew” real audio stream on the Naomi’s Fancy first CD page.

I bet I had 3 hours of tuning up to get that one done and had to punch in the last hard D as I was exhausted…

They were very touchy, so I gave up and had Pat Sky make me a set of C drones that I play with my Seth Gallagher chanter (and tenor and baritone regs by Seth when I get some satisfactory reg reeds made).

6

:laughing:

I"m picturing some really large rubber bands …

7

From Tim Britton’s web page:

“It is possible to convert a D set of drones and regulators to C# or C. This is done with small adjustments to or replacement of the reeds along with adjustments to the tuning slides. This allows one to economically enjoy the richness of the flat pipes, effectively having two sets for the price of one plus the cost of the flat chanter.”

I haven’t spoken to him about this, but it would make sense to have a set of D drone reeds and a set of C drone reeds, to be changed out of one set of drones, along with the adjustments to the tuning slide.

You might contact him for more information.

Steve

8

Two issues; one is balance, which you may choose to ignore (i.e. ignore the fact that the C drones are too quiet for the D chanter). The other one (besides the need for C drones short enough to tune properly to D) is that a reed that’s set up to play stably at one pitch is unlikely to be happy a full step higher/lower, though you may get it up/down by moving the slide.

I suspect that’s why Tim B seems to suggest that in such a scenario you need two sets of reeds.

But “things are hard enough already”[1].

If you want a concert pitch chanter for playing sessions, learning tunes, etc., you do not need the drones. You may want them, but they won’t be heard in anything but a quiet session anyhow.

  • Bill

[1] (I must credit Andreas Rogge for this quote)