So i got a new reed for my chanter after my old one developed a slight crack along the side, and after some tweaking i have the reed almost perfectly tuned, except for bottom D.
Most of the time its a hair or two flat, but by applying a wee bit more pressure it rights itself, but has a habit of going into a 2nd octave D haha, which happens a bit when going from any 2nd octave note to a bottom D, even with applying less pressure.
Anyone know how to remedy this without taking the part the reed? im a newbie so I dont want to be doing open heart surgery just yet
Are you playing an ordinary D or a hard D? Often there is a noticable difference between the two with the hard D pitched higher than the ordinary D. Some makers design their chanters to have ordinary D playing slightly flat so that hard D will be in tune.
normal D, unfortunately ive never been able to achieve a hard d on this chanter i could be doing it wrong but, i myself have never been able to get it.
Hard bottom D is “normal”. Soft D is to be avoided, it has no NYAH to it, it’s bland, you might as well be playing a clarinet. You don’t hear good northern pipers like Joe McLaughlin, Robbie Hannan, or John McSherry playing a lot of soft Ds.
If you, your reed, and your chanter have difficulty playing hard Ds, take it up with your pipemaker. If your pipemaker is unable to help you, then seek some help from an expert piper and reedmaker! Consider attending an NPU or Armagh Pipers’ Club event. At the very least either of these organizations could help you find assistance.
Don’t be discouraged and keep on piping! It’s the commitment to overcoming obstacles like wonky bottom Ds, raggedy weak back Ds, difficult, out of tune 2nd octaves etc that transforms the piper embryo into the real thing.
i could be doing it wrong but, i myself have never been able to get it.