I’m still learning the tune “Maggy in the Woods”. The reason I picked this tune is because it seems to be an easy tune and has some 2nd octive notes which I was trying to get use to playing. When I try to play in the 2nd octive it seems to take a lot of air pressure.Could this be because I’m still new? The video said just a little more pressure, I don’t see the piper pressing that much harder. I’m working on getting use to pumping the bellows. When you go to 2nd octive is it much harder or do the pipers just get use to it? Also some time the bottom “D” plays something but if I pull the rush out just a little it does O.K. is this normal? I’ve almost got the tune memorized (“Maggy in the Woods”). Been working on it going on 3 weeks. Come on “Titanic”. Any free sheet music?
again, from one beginner to another:
if you are on that tune, the video thinks you have already mastered the first octave scale and the previous 2 tunes. the video maker also expected that it would be MONTHS before you got to that tune.
in terms of a beginner, maggie in the woods is not so easy. you hit a high g denovo for example, which takes more pressure than a beginner is used to.
i would get used to the bellows by playing a low A for 2-3 min at the beginning of your practice. it takes most people a few weeks to get used to the bellows.
the low d is not the easiest note on the chanter. it can take months to hit that well consistantly.
regarding the pressure in the second octave: number one, the 2 pipers on the video are very very accomplished and of course they make it look easy. number 2, its a matter of reed adjustment. they may have their reed alot easier.
practice initiating and holding notes in the second octave. make sure the chanter is well sealed against the leg (not necessarily a matter of pressure, just of a complete seal).
some on this board will say you should be playing months before attempting the second octave. as a fellow beginner i do not buy that. but you should master the scale and th first 2 tunes on the video.
clearly, you are doing very well.
meir
on being out of tune:
depending on how you are out of tune, is the reed in enough? too much?
on bellows consistency:
the idea of holding an A for 2-3 minutes solid is a good one. took me awhile to figure out a variation of that. it definitely helps you with using the bellows to fill the bag without causing a variation in pressure (have to let up on the bag while pumping, you have to let up the same pressure you’re pumping in, less the pressure you were already squeezing - the goal being to keep the pressure coming out of the neck of the bag constant while changing everything else)
HOWEVER, it will (with constant bag pressure) have you pumping the bellows rythmically, which is a bad habit to get into while playing songs.
on reed stiffness:
what kind of set do you have? my first practice set i played and really struggled for months before i realized one day that it had gotten a whole lot easier. it wasn’t just the practice - but with all the playing the reed had loosened up a bit and become more responsive. I was able to speed that process along by holding an upper octave note for minutes at a time (like meir’s advice on the consistency thing.)
i’ve only been playing a few years now (maybe 3? maybe 4? I don’t exactly remember) and have been doing mediocre reg work for the past year, so practice practice practice and you’ll make progress that will surprise you…
Listen to these guys. I’ve only been “seriously” learning for a couple months now, and just started on that tune. Learning the first two tunes does give a better foundation to ones playing than jumping into a “second octave” tune cold. That said, I also found that it seemed like I had to use a ton of pressure to get that second octave, but after a few days of trying, it is getting more and more natural and comfortable. I guess the moral is simply to have patience and practice as much as possible. All good things take time.
Thanks Meir and Antaine. You guys have helped me alot while I was lurking. (that goes for most, if not all, of the other guys too)
Patience and practice is definitely to be kept in mind! At one time when I was at the stage you are I thought anything higher than High e would be very difficult to hold and that High A and B would be nearly impossible to hit let alone hold and keep in tune while playing them in a tune. It did get frustrating at times. But now, after months of practice and keeping at it without trying to look too far ahead, it got to the point where high notes and bag pressure is no longer a concern. It’s something that just took some time and patience to accomplish. Keep reminding yourself of what you have accomplished and how you were playing 3 months or even 1 month ago to give yourself a little encouragement even if it’s something minor!
One thing that helped me with “Maggie In The Woods” was to practice just the combination of High e-g-e for a bit before attempting to play the whole tune. I think you’ll find that will help you too, as that was the key for the tune falling in to place for me.
Happy piping!
Ailin
Hey, Ailin. Have you heard of any pipng events in upstate NY? I’m in Rochester and know of one piper, but haven’t been able to make contact with him in a while. I was thinking of trying to drop in on Mr. Whitmer in Ithaca perhaps this spring.
Wannabe
Do you live in the Rochester area or just visiting?
Ailin
Been here for about 30 yrs. Not going anywhere soon, either.
Wannabe
I PMed you to take it off the thread.
Ailin