Problem with some notes on a Kenneth McNicholl chanter

Uilleann Pipes
1

Hi there!


Can someone help me?

How can I sharp B note on 1st octave and flat it on 2nd oct (besides A on 2nd oct)?

I’ve tried with a thin rush inside the staple, and it’s not enough… Also with some rush inside the chanter, no success.

And the last but not the least, is it possible to flat a hard D keeping normal D in tune?


Thanks a lot,

PELLO

2

Hi Peyotex, first of all, Did you contact Kenneth? you should. I had kinda same problem “but” in a test chanter, so I moved the hole a mm down (the B was in tune in 1st octave and high in 2nd) and the problem was solved, I thought that the 1st 8ve would go down a little but for my surprise it wasn´t.
IIRC Juanmatorix at the spanish forum has a McNicholl chanter he can add some more
good luck!

Edited to add “Don´t modify or alter the chanter!!!”

3

The problem with the B note is quite common and is most likely a reed problem. You should contact Ken McNicholl to get a reed (or reed measurements) that will suit his chanter design.

4

Thank you for your advices, Kenneth has kindly contacted me and we’ll try to find a solution. Anyway, I will try with other reeds, by opening/closing bridles or by putting rushes anywhere.

Best regards form Barcelona!


PELLO GARCIA

5

It’s rare, it seems, to have a concert D chanter that has the B’s a true octave apart. High B usually is at least 10 cents sharper, sometimes far more.

Many chanters have low B tuned more or less to its “Just Intonation” location, 16 cents flat of its “Equal Temperament” location. This blends with the drones better, and allows high B to come out more or less to its “Equal Temperament” location.

On many chanters the only way to get an in-tune high B is to finger it

x xox xxxx

I’ve thought for years that chanters should have a key, placed where the usual high C natural key is, that produces an in-tune high B. (The high C natural key would be a side key as on the flute.) But then I’m usually playing on non-traditional things where playing to precise Equal Temperament is necessary.

By the way, years ago I knew a classical violinist with perfect pitch and she asked me why Irish fiddlers often played their high B’s sharp. I explained about the pipes sharp high B and guessed that these fiddlers had spent a lot of time playing with pipers.