New Pressure Issue

[thebrownwhistles]

I'm new to the pipes, and to the forum. However, I've been reading through the posts for quite some time. Thanks for satisfying my hunger for the knowledge on the pipes enough to get a practice set! !!

Anyways, here's a newbie question. I've been working on sustaining notes and working on scales in thirds and such like I did when learning flute and whistle. I seem to have gotten my bag pressure issues towards the bottom octave, however my back D has a very uncanny growl to it. It almost sounds like there's someone playing a muted trumpet. Is this also a pressure issue or am I looking at a reed thing?

Back info, I'm playing an Aaron Setunsky practice set that shipped from Washington to Arkansas. Should I be factoring in the humidity difference as well?

Feel free to hit me with the newb stamp, as long as it gets Louis Armstrong out of my chanter.

[misterpatrick]

Sounds like a reed issue. Don't do anything but get yourself to a knowledgeable piper who can take a look at your setup. It's always best to have some who knows what's going on show you how to make adjustments. Gas money will be cheaper than having to buy a new reed if you mess yours up.

[pancelticpiper]

I've been reading through the posts for quite some time.

I've been working on sustaining notes and working on scales in thirds and such.

Cool! Sounds like you're a thorough person and doing things the right way. In my way of thinking, beginners on any instrument should 1) master air control through long tones and 2) get the ability to get around on the instrument through scales and intervals.

my back D has a very uncanny growl to it.

I can't remember ever hearing a chanter do that.

Usually the back D thing is the "sinking back D", where at full pressure the note goes very flat, but comes up to pitch if you back off on the pressure.

This might seem stupid to ask, but have you checked to see if there's anything inside the bore up around the "throat" area? A narrow throat seems to make back D unstable.

But yes it's probably simply a reed issue. Reeds do crazy things when they go from one climate to another.

[WannabePiper]

I thought the "sinking back D" was when it would go progressively flatter as it gets "warmed up." I need to get my terminology straight....

[ChaplainBlake]

Where in Arkansas are you? Not many of us Arkies playing uilleann pipes.

--Blake

[amckay]

I had that issue many years ago. My pipemaker suggested it was a weak reed and that I can trim the reed lips. As misterpatrick said, don't do anything yourself (especially when it comes to chopping up your reed) as the modifications are permanent.

[thebrownwhistles]

Where in Arkansas are you? Not many of us Arkies playing uilleann pipes.

--Blake

I'm in Conway, frequenting through Little Rock and the like.

Yeah, I'm no where near comfortable fiddling around with the reed just yet. Aside from closing the bridle to get the lips to the right width apart (suggestion from the maker). However, I am feeling like I was trying to blow too much through when I had that D going.

Learning to play the bag and bellows....whew!

[billh]

Sounds like the dread "breaking" back d. Braaap braaap, that sort of sound?

Indeed you can get that from poor pressure control. It's a bit early for you to know whether the reed is at fault. However you should eventually be able to play the second octave E and the back d at nearly the same pressure; leave it a few weeks before attempting the second octave though, as you're new to things. Long, steady notes (and I do mean long - up to 30 seconds or so) are the best way to learn pressure control - you want the bellows strokes/transitions to be even enough that the note doesn't waver.

If the back d is prone to breaking, trimming the reed may make things worse, it really depends on the setup - not something you should consider yourself. I would be wary of anyone other than an expert reedmaker, familiar with you maker's work, doing a non-reversible reed modification for the breaking d.

good luck,

Bill

[Mrk]

I'm in Conway, frequenting through Little Rock and the like.

Greetings, I'm another Arkansas, (neophyte) uilleann player. I’m looking for moral support for this most difficult of instruments. I thought I would search the Chiff and Fipple Forum for other local players and was surprised to find the two of you; ‘thebrownwhistles’ and ChaplainBlake respectively. I live in Hot Springs. I play a cobbled together practice set whose only uilleann component is a Daye chanter; I’m hoping to reach a minimal performance level so I can reward myself by purchasing a real Half-Set. How are you progressing in your development ?

[ Zombie alert. - Mod.]

[pmriley]

are all the rest of the notes stable? i had a buzzy growl on the upper notes from the bridle being to loose. sometimes when you put the chanter back into the top you can clip the bridle and move it. unless your bridle doesnt move up and down.

[Hans-Joerg]

are all the rest of the notes stable? i had a buzzy growl on the upper notes from the bridle being to loose. sometimes when you put the chanter back into the top you can clip the bridle and move it. unless your bridle doesnt move up and down.

Or are there perhaps any other metal parts on your chanter? A friend once had a "growl" on the F# and the reed was perfectly O. K. After a while we found out that a little screw had come loose and by chance F# exactly was its resonance frequency.

[MTGuru]

Moderator's Note: This is a Zombie thread, as noted above. The OP has not logged in since last August, and may not be reading any new posts.

Mrk, if you want to contact the posters, you can send a PM or e-mail.

[Johnniez]

Well remember it does take a few weeks for the reed to break in to its optimal perfomance and it will change a tad here and there till it settles in.

Johnnie

[thebrownwhistles]

I guess it would be nice to update on the issue. Sorry about that guys.

I have figured out through talks with the maker that it is just a pressure issue. Too much pressure on the bag made the back D growl and the high e flat. So after a few months of working with it I managed to get a decent sound out of a nice set of pipes.

As soon as I feel like I can live without them for a week or two, I'll send them back to him to get them re-reamed.