I’m about to finally order my first practice set and am wondering about keys. I went back and read some of the old posts and it seems that:
while you don’t have to have keys, it makes playing certain note combinations easier
Two keys (or maybe three or four depending on opinion) with a chanter stop key seems to be a popular combination
As a complete beginner, I’m leaning toward no keys to start and adding the keys later. Fortunately, the money is not an issue as I could afford them now.
My concern is that once learned without the keys, will I have to relearn all my tunes if I decide on keys in the future?
Snoogie, it really depends on your plans for this set. You say this is going to be a practice set. So, does that mean you intend to replace it with a better set or full set later?
If you are only going to keep this set for a short while as a practice set, it will be cheaper to just get a straight chanter (also cheaper for the next person you pass your practice set on to).
If you plan to keep this chanter, let the maker know now. That way he will be sure to build it such that keys can be added in the future. You do not need any keys for the first couple of years. The only note that you may encounter that will need a key is Cnat in the second octave. This note is nearly impossible to reach without a key. Having said that, it is a rare note to encounter in most IrTrad tunes. I can only think of a few tunes where I needed it: The Foggy Dew, The Kingston Hornpipe.
The second note that many people like to get a key for is Fnat in the second octave. This note can be hit fairly simply by half-covering the hole, and some great piping effects are acheived by learning to play this note without a key. That having been said, there are times when you want to hit this note quickly and cleanly, and that is where the key is helpful. You will probably want to learn to play this note both with and without the key.
The other notes are very rarely played. If you want to go whole hog you can get up to seven keys, but I think there are only two more that you would really need to consider, those being G# (Ab) and Bb (A#). I have only hit one tune that uses G# a lot: The Fairies’ Hornpipe. Mind you, both G# and A# are easy enough played by half-covering the holes. Having the four keys will cover just about any situation you will ever run into, i.e. Fnat, Cnat, G#, A#.
As for the stop key, this is only required when tuning the drones, or for when you you only want to sound the regs, so again we come back to your decision as to whether this is only going to be a practice set, or your main instrument.
If you’re going to want to learn with keys eventually, I’d also have to say now is the best time to start. If you can learn to use them from the start, you won’t have to later on, when you hit those few tunes that require them.
I wish I had at LEAST a Cnat and Fnat key on my practice set as there are actually quite a few tunes I’d like to use them with. Half holing is also a great and important skill to learn but if you can learn both, and money really isn’t any object, I’d say go for it!
Hi Snoogie,
C nat and the chanter stop key is really all that is
required, the C nat key sets the chanter off and
looks good too as well as being handy for some of
the tunes, spend more on the bellows, they take a
alot of stick,a good quality leather bag is a must if
you later intend to fit drones and reg’s, all the best
with your purchase.
Thanks to everyone for the input. That is extremely helpful.
Sorry I did not make it more clear, but yes this is going to be the basis for a half set…and eventually (who knows) maybe regulators as well. I’ve been in contact with the maker and he recommends ordering the drones up front as well. While certainly he may be a bit biased, from his perspective it is easier to build all of the kit at once rather than shipping back and forth. The additional lead time is ‘only’ 3 months for the drones.
if you have no intention of replacing the chanter, get the works - at least as far as keys are concerned. When I was talking to my maker trying to get a plan for sending mine back to him for the other two keys, we discussed the stop key. His feeling was that it’s not tremendously necessary. I was therefore not going to go with it ever. I did, though, write (actually still in process) a Suite for Uilleann Pipes and Harp, and one of the songs is played entirely on the regs. a stop key would be handy there so I’m thinking I may go for it when I send it back to him in late september. I wish I had got everything on it when I first ordered it (except for a popping valve…never did want one of those).
Tell me more about the suite for pipes and harp. My daugther is playing the harp and we have tried a couple of duets with me on the whistle. So far with limited success…we both are a bit strong minded about our tempo being the correct one (not sure where she gets that stubborn streak from !)..she says I rush the B parts, and I say she slows down.
Thanks for the input about the keys. I’ve decided on two keys (Cnat & Fnat) plus the windway stop key.
the suite is ten short pieces (most of them reels, but some airs and other stuff, too) that tell a story that I wrote awhile back in Irish based on some english language poems I’d done before. if you want to send me an address I’ll mail you a copy when I get it all done - but that may not be till the end of the summer.
