Well, I just got back from Seth’s and now have my new drones (my first and only drones). I have one hint for everyone: don’t have your family stand around when you strap them on for the first time. The laughter is not good for the ego.
I finally got them somewhat in tune and I discovered I have to competely readjust the way I sit: everything is harder.
The other thing (and I should ask Seth about this since I’m sure he’ll have a good answer, but while I’m here): one thing I’ve noticed is that the bass drone keeps dropping out. It seems to be when I really have the bag inflated and I’m assuming its connected to overblowing. I have to constantly flick it back on or stop the drones competely and restart. Any help here?
Also my fingers, particularly my thumb are hurting for the first time since I got the practice set: guess I’m straining all over the place.
Keep it up. I got sick of plugging in the drones every once in awhile just to be humiliated by the flapping, squealing and general fumbling about. So a few months back I decided to just them there. My hand kept hitting the (very out of tune) regs of my fine Four Clover Lucky Ganesh Pakistani full set at first, and the chanter seemed to be at a weird angle. But after a few weeks I got used to them being there and now hardy notice them and things are great.
Well, except that I am still a lousy player, though I can get through a few tunes with the drones going which is a really great feeling.
One thing that helped me a lot when I first got my drones:
a) Play in front of a mirror so you can see your grip on the chanter is natural (ie. your tendons are not at 30+ degree angles).
b) Just sit there and play the drones without opening the chanter. Try to maintain a stable droning, particularly on the outpull of the bellows. Next, loosen your grip on the chanter (this is probably why your thumb hurts).
c) Plug one of the drones so you are just blowing two. When you are comfotable in a few months, open the third for business.
I agree with V. In fact I would go further and plug up two and just play with one drone. I like the tenor or baritone just by itself. Play that for a while until you are comforbale playing most of your tunes. With just the tenor going, the air demand should be nearly the same as the chanter only. (note: ear plugs in the exit holes make good drone stoppers.)
Bill McCloskey wrote
The other thing (and I should ask Seth about this since I’m sure he’ll have a good answer, but while I’m here): one thing I’ve noticed is that the bass drone keeps dropping out. It seems to be when I really have the bag inflated and I’m assuming its connected to overblowing. I have to constantly flick it back on or stop the drones competely and restart. Any help here?
I’m not sure if this is the case with UP’s but it is with Highland Pipes. Often the lack of maintaining a constant air pressure in the bag can corse funny drone behavioiur. Perhapse to start out you should consider just having the one drone. As you get better unplugg the barritone and then tennor drones. That way it’s not to over wealming. It takes time and practice. If of corse your still having problems after a few months or so contact the maker. Hope this helps.
Best of luck with the drones…don’t worry just persevere with them and after a while it will feel more unusual to play with the off rather than on. It takes a while to be able to control constant pressure in the bag to keep the drones all going. So what is happening is the bass is just turning off when extra pressure hits it. Leave it be for a while and you will probably notice it will not cause trouble as you readjust to the extra workload etc.
