Sharp C Natural-Reeds

Uilleann Pipes
1

OK so I have been struggling away at reedmaking for 4months or so now and have only made one truly good reed. The main problem always seems to be a sharp C natural. In reality its only just a little flat of C#. I play a Simack chanter and the reeds made by Ian allow me to play the C natural with both middle fingers off on the bottom hand. However doing this on my reeds results in little change.

If I play the C natural with the index finger off on the bottom hand the C# becomes slightly flatter but a long way from C natural. I have tried all sorts of variations on fingering but to no avail!

Each reed I have made I have tried changing all sorts of variables-width of head, staple insertion, and also the length of the staple itself. The one thing I haven’t altered much is the eye size of the staple. I did close one right down to see what would happen- no change in the C natural.

Anyway, anyone have any ideas? Anyone had this problem before. Keeping in mind I have made one reed that works well so it can be done- I just can’t work out what the variable is that needs attention.

Thanks for any info

Hamish.

By the way Paddy Keenan was bloody brilliant last night. About time a great piper made his way to Australia (many years seem to pass between their visits).

2

I often see this with (a) reeds that are too stiff and need further scraping; (b) reeds that are set up too sharp/inserted too far into the reed seat.

HTH

Bill

3

I’ve also found that dropping to c nat can be affected by the reed being over-scraped, but by that time you probably would have a dodgy back D also. A fingering solution is to shade the C# hole with your 1st finger, that should make the note drop, or a bit of tape if you are so inclined, though that would fetch you a flat C#. The variables you have mentioned would not be responsible, as you found out, it will be the scrape. Or sand if you prefer.

Good luck. Oh and by the way, is it the C# that is way flat, rather than the Cnat being too sharp?

4

I have seen the staple eye opening too small do this as well as an over-finished reed.

I make my staple eyes 0.062"-0.065"

5

You might also try experimenting with different C natural fingerings. Instead of using the C finger on the top and F# on the bottom (xOxxxOxxx) try opening the E hole also (xOxxxOOxx) and also try the G fingering on the bottom (xOxxOOxxx) also you can try just the single G finger (xOxxOxxxx) combinations of these sometimes are necessary such as (xOxxOxOxx) - all can be tried off the knee also.

Some chanters require this ‘G’ fingering particularly older ones and some newer ones too. It’s nice to experiment with these fingering (and others) and figure out which works on your chanter.

Pat.