Just had the first oppurtunity to pipe away a little, been busy with school(and moving) and just recently found the sound-proof music-room here on campus.
It was about 2 weeks ago since I used my set last, and to my horror It doesn’t sound quite right .
It seems to have a tendency to jump to the second octave way too easy and unpredictible. And the Bottom D is making some kind of wobly “effect”, sort of like gurgling I guess. And the C is extremly weak. I forget what the C is called lol, it’s the one you lift two finger to play – right long finger aside from the C-finger on left.
Not being a guru I have some difficulty knowing how to make it better, I’ve been tweaking that metal-thingy on the reed up and down,also the plastic pipe-insert in the bottom of the chanter but it ain’t helping much.
And now I wonder if there’s an interpetor in the house
Using a humidifier probably won’t be a good solution as I can’t play in me own room due to me living on a school campus, I have to reside in the music-room which I have no control over. But then again I might not have a too good idea of what one is.. hm.
TheSilverSpear: and you have mine, are ye a newbie also?
I was afraid that was my problem. I have a humidifier in my room where the pipes live, but the humidity is only like 28%. Can’t get it up anymore it seems.
And even if I could, my room is a dormroom so I have to play in the music building on campus, over which I have no control over humidity and temperature. Any suggestiins?
Have you been using one in your room or in the music-room? Bringing one to the music-room can’t do much good me thinks since one ain’t there that long only while trying to pipe away. And besides, I doubt the school would be happy with their other instruments getting moist and stuff
Your reed is experiencing typical winter behavior. But given the fact that you don’t know that the bridle is called the bridle, the first thing I would suggest is searching on this forum under “reed” and reading the plentiful discussions. I’ve never looked at the FAQ, but I bet it has plenty of links to reed related sites, which will also be helpful.
Varghjärta, what the good Dr. (glands) is giving you, is a perscription (Rx) for helping your reed. If a humidifier is unavailable, try heating water on a hot plate, or stove a couple times a day or at least a 1/2 hour prior to playing. Try and keep the room temp above 66F.
I used to have that happen myself…once I played them in the new air for a few hours they would settle down…
in addition, i used to play them in the dorm, but only 11am-11pm and nobody ever complained. if people have a right to blast a rap version of “it’s a hard knock life” 24/7 then you have the right to play and practice the uilleann pipes…
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Dude, we seem to be in the exact same boat.
