Is Bottom D harder to master than other first octave notes for a beginner, or is it operator error? I’m a beginner using a David Daye practice set and have had no trouble with the other notes, but I’m really bogged down on this one. At first I attributed it to winter temperatures and low humidity (despite a central humidifier). Adding a sponge in the case has helped some, but the note continues to be very temperamental.
I’ve tried an O ring, a rush, both in combo and periodic misting with a spray bottle near where I’m practicing.
Any input will be appreciated.
You do have the chanter off the leg for bottom D don’t you?
Yes, I have the chanter off my leg. I’m using the Clarke tutorial ( & had four days of instruction this summer where I mostly worked on getting out two notes on a borrowed set).
The Bottom D is more predictable if I play a couple other notes before it first.
Thanks.
No it is not harder…Momentarily “crack” or open the A note closing it at the same time as ye lift the chanter to sound the Bottom D.
The picture of wet sponges and sprays around the chanter is not one I wish to visualize 
Slán Go Foill
Uilliam
Yes, bottom D can be tricky to master, but if you can get bottom D after a couple of other notes then I would guess operator error. Give yourself a chance. Its early days yet.
Make sure your fingers and wrists are soft and supple, not rigid and locked in a death grip. Slowly check to make sure that you are accurately covering all the holes. Covering holes does NOT require strength, just accuracy. Make sure you have sufficient air pressure on the bag. Practise just raising the chanter off the leg about an inch to play bottom D and then closing against the leg again. Quickly opening and closing the A as Uilliam suggests is also a good way to prompt the bottom D to sound.
Learning UPs is mostly about constant repetition. Its not good enough that you got it right once. You must get it right a thousand times so that it becomes a physical habit (some people call this “body learning”).
You have seven years to learn to play bottom D. What’s your rush? 
djm
Hey baghag…I’m a beginner too, and bottom D has been pretty easy and smooth for me…it’s most of the other notes that sound like crap. 
Show me those, and I’ll show you my bottom D, hehe… 
Baghag-
I’ve also got a Daye set and I had a terrible time with bottom D. After futzing with moving the staple up (opening the reed lips) I got to where I could get a bottom D and a good hard D, but I had to practically sit on the bag to get the notes out. David Power adjusted my bridle back down at the SE Tionol last March and I was back to the evasive bottom D.
As I understand it (and those who know more please correct me if I’m wrong) the bottom D plays at a much lighter pressure than other notes… you may need to really back off the bag arm pressure when you want to hit bottom D. I spent weeks working on pages 19-20 of the Clarke tutor.
Heed Uilliam’s sage advice… the only way I could get a bottom D was to cut it with an A.
Fortunately, I had a second Daye reed that had collapsed, so I returned it to Dave and he sent me a new reed. This new reed plays very well and will hit bottom D and hard D much more easily.
That’s a round about way of saying that it may not be your fault… your reed may be too hard.
I had an instructor once who referred to hard bottom D as a second octave note, at least conceptually.
I find different reeds produce different hard bottom D’s and better in summer.
DJones
As I understand it (and those who know more please correct me if I’m wrong) the bottom D plays at a much lighter pressure than other notes… you may need to really back off the bag arm pressure when you want to hit bottom D.
Correction would seem appropriate. That’s not how it should be.
To clarify, there is perhaps some confusing nomenclature here.
ALL bottom D’s are just that - coming from the bottom end of the chanter with all finger’s on and the chanter lifted off the knee.
HARD D is played with a little more pressure.
SOFT D is played with a little less pressure WHEN COMPARED TO HARD D.
Neither should require a huge difference in pressure to play when compared to E, F or G on the chanter, meaning there should not be any big difference at all in pressure between the bottom notes.
Hope that makes sense.
Find an experienced piper to take a look at it and give it a try before you make too many changes.
If you don’t know of any, PM me and I’ll help you get in touch with them. There are a few within a couple of hours drive of you.
Regards,
Gary
Thanks, everyone. The input is really helpful. I now suspect my problem is part operator error and part winter temperatures driving the humidity lower than my reed is happy with despite my efforts.
I’m trying a new humidifier (made for violins) in my case and attempting that crack-the-A thing.