I remember hearing the terrible sound one of my brothers made when he was learning to play the GHB. I thought I matched it when I first tried to play the bottom D note on the UPs, but I know I have surpassed him in terrible sounds…as last night I ventured into the 2nd Octave and oh man…What a racket I made. Each time I try something new on these things, I learn new found respect to those out there that are good players.
Any tips when trying to play the 2nd octave for the first time? Should I stay on one note and try to nail it one by one to get a feel for it?
Relax. When you play the second octave remember that squeezing the chanter harder does not make it go higher. Work on bag technique. Hold a note and modulate how much air you’re pushing in with the bag.
Be sure you’re using the right fingering. Practice cutting and/or popping the chanter to reach the second octave. For some real noise, lift the chanter of the leg when playing f and g. I call this the howling of the mournful whale.
Here’s a nice little shortcut for getting second octave G. Instead of lifting both your index and middle fingers, if you just lift your index finger you should get a second octave G with little to no extra effort on your part. If the tuning is out a bit with the middle finger down, you should be able to lift it after without the note dropping down into the first octave.
Another thing that can make life easier for you is to make sure your reed is seated firmly. I’ve been caught a few times by a loose reed making second octave hard to get.
"Hold a note and modulate how much air you’re pushing in with the bag."yes,find a good high A note and play it for about five minutes(or hours as time permits) lift the chanter from your knee, sway it back and forth and up and down, experiment with tremolo technique-go crazy. you can get a seriously deadly squeal going. but, as long as it’s still a high A note you’re in business. if your chanter won’t cooperate with this exercise it may indeed be a reed issue and there are plenty of resources which will help you to adress that. but i would add that even a slightly leaky bag will greatly hinder or even prevent your ability to access and maintain the upper register of the chanter
After having done so (this goes for every [second 8ve] tone) close the chanter but keep the pressure. Not the slightest squeek (backfarting ) must be heard. This quickly improves your fingering and creates an awareness that the pressure isn´t the problem.
Some simple, second octave venturing tunes you might try:
Maggie in the Woods - polka
Off to California - hornpipe
And a simple tune to work on pipping and even popping I give you the annoying to hear but fun to play (on the chanter, I think so anyway haha) Egan’s Polka in D major.
All I might say is, make sure that the chanter is sealed - tone holes where fingers lay closed, and also the bottom of the chanter. Make sure to keep fingering not of the death grip variety as stated above. And of course, practice, practice, practice.
Backfarting - what a great word for that sound that I know and hate so much.
A couple of other hints - since you live in the central coast of Calif. …make sure your skin is not dried out. Good hand lotion helps seal the chanter holes. And use a smooth leather popping strap.
I also recommend you try to attend the So. California UP club tionol coming up in a few months. Some face time instruction is super valuable.
Otherwise, if you can, drive down and get some lessons from Patrick D’Arcy.
I live in Fresno…right in the middle of the state. I have been trying to get together with Jaime, but haven’t been able to do it just yet. My fault due to my way too busy life, but that is another story. I like the ideas you have given, especially the closing the chanter and keeping the pressure. I might be able to make the So Cal Tinol…being that Friday is Halloween and my young sons would not forgive their father if his missed that night…I would be coming down Saturday morning…that is a possibility. I do need some face to face time and realize how valuable it is.
Wolvy,
For a second I thought you were talking about putting lotion on the chanter! Where I live it is a very dry environment and do have dry skin…I will see how the lotion works. Which is best for rosewood?(wink, wink)
I don’t know if there would be any untowardly affects for fingers all laced up with lotion, ie, oils that may react badly with the wood on the chanter, but I remember after tying in my my half-set to the bag my fingers were nicely coated with wax from the sinew, which I immediately noticed helped in sealing the chanter holes.
I guess the oils in lotion probably wouldn’t do anymore “damage” then the oils in your fingers.
It depends on the lotion. Many contain small amounts of some sort of alcohol, which can attach certain finishes - I’d avoid them if your chanter has any shellac-based coatings on it. Probably harmless for most ebony or blackwood chanters which often have no finish other than the wood itself…
Holy Crap…I am commited to playing on my tennis team that night, but will definitely be getting out of that. I will see you there. I can’t believe someone of his ability is coming to Fresno…
) must be heard. This quickly improves your fingering and creates an awareness that the pressure isn´t the problem.