Live in the Eastern Canadian Arctic and call it my home. Many different things, music, mechanics, instrument making, Jack of all trades master of none!
I'm **VERY** new to learning how to pipe, but I use Boveda packets for my cigars. Are they the same as the ones in that box? They look the same. This raises the question, would it be a good idea to keep my reeds in my cigar humidor?
I just received my first Practice Chanter. A MacCallum Long Blackwood with a Poly top. It has a red Warnock reed. My Chanter is quieter than I expected. I’d like more volume. I’m new to the Pipes. I intend getting a set of Small Pipes in A next year. I already play at Fiddle, Recorder, Guitar, Bass etc. Thanks for the videos! 🙂😎
Also, there are synthetic reeds that work for Uilleann Pipes(Irish Bagpipes), and are in tune, where you can take the chanter separate from the set, and play it as its own single instrument. Below is a link to my sheesham chanter for uilleann pipes, but i have another video of my Hakam Din chanter for Uilleann Pipes, where i am using a synthetic reed and playing it alongside other musicians. ru-vid.com66lzidtZr6s?si=MXjVgT2U8MUsiWEo ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dLWl5Nji9C8.htmlsi=x5oAzrd7oz2oLIut
What reed did you find to play well in the High Tech ESSC PC ? Your chanter sounded good. I noticed that the reeds that come with the Chanter have a bit narrower staple bore than most reeds.
I stick with their reeds, haven’t tried any other. They seem so well set up for that chanter. The chanter came with extras and I of course bought extras dues to my OCD! 😂
I love the sound of that ES session chanter, it's making me ponder getting one. Plus being able to play in a, like you can on small pipes, is fantastic. I have a Gibson practice chanter which pitches somewhere in the 470, two 480 range. It works well with a Gibson Reed and plays in tune, with only a little bit of tape on the D, and slightly on hi g but not by a lot.
Joanne is correct. There are various types of enzymatic celeaners. Select one rated for mold and fungus. 3 or 4 % Hydrogen Peroxcide also works. Allow product to stand on object for a few minutes. before rinse clean up.
I have a barefoot piper chanter, long version and a dunbar my son gave me. both are excellent. I am 65 and just beginning. But I love it I play every day now. I use Frank Warnock as my son suggested. He's been playing the GHB for over 10 years now
thanks for the video. i just got the Frager Warnock chanter and trying it out. it didn’t come with the rubber bands on the red reed. maybe this reed doesn’t need one ? i’ve only played a recorder 47 years ago so it’s familiar but the lower hand takes getting use to. thanks again
Aye, you can buy the wee dental latex rubber bands from most on line piping stores. Most reeds don’t come with a rubber band. Big difference from the recorder you will find, especially in the way you hold it. All the best!
Hi Richard, The pressure gauge is available through Henderson’s and any other main supplier. You will use it very little but it saves you so much guess work. When you order reeds direct you can give them a pressure. Reeds to your blowing strength every time. Saves fighting with stuff to get the sound you want and let’s you enjoy the playing! Take care! Don
All down to choice of chanters, if you are able to listen or try other peoples chanters. It can be a horses for courses type thing, not every chanter suits different people. Top players even go as far to have custom made chanters made to adjust to their style and fingers. Being mere mortals we don’t have that choice so picking and choosing for a compromise is our only hope. I haven’t done anything to my chanters they are all stock, also the reeds. I no longer scrape reeds as I used to, rather I give them time to break in to settle before any tweeks. Picking reeds from good reedmakers and working with them is the best way to go. Don’t be tempted to buy the reeds from your local Scottish/Irish store. Even though they may be from a decent maker it’s an unknown commodity. Ordering direct from a reed maker means you will get a reed to suit you. Setting the High A to the low A is the secret, the reed should balance, if it doesn’t get another reed. Moisture is key, not soaking the reed but applying a correct amount of humidity from your breath. Keep working at it it takes time.
Hey FRB, Thanks for your reply! Just received 2 x G1 chanter reeds and a humidifier for the reeds and the bagpipe case. Really nice squawk from one of the reeds and getting pretty good results directly out of the chanter. In the chanter, still finding it unpredictably cuts out on me and high notes are ? for being in tune. Not sure if this is reed strength, reed placement, or maybe just my inability to maintain constant pressure and learning how to tune. I will admit I am still green at all this, but taking a leap tomorrow and hope I can get some recognizable sound out of the pipes. I appreciate your comments and I think I am on a similar path, learning the hard way $$, and I hope I don't crash the Rolls Royce. Drones seem to be working well with the ezee reeds. Any encouraging comments are welcome. Hope the Canadian Arctic is treating you well.
Wow, FatRedBiker, you have provided common sense valuable information! I am a Canadian, currently living in dry Denver and just started piping at age 59. I am learning on a Naill chanter and just purchased a Naill set of bagpipes with an easy chanter reed from Henderson. When they arrived, to my disappointment, I was unable to get a peep out of the pipes. I wet the chanter reed and now have intermittent sound. Any advice moving forward would be greatly appreciated. I think the humidity controlled reed holder sounds like a good start.
KV, excellent choice of pipes and chanters! Rolls Royce of bagpipes! The pipe chanter reed can be moistened by holding it between your lips and gently breathing through it. Take it out of the chanter to to this. Even dipping it in water and I mean just dip, can help too. Check the top edge of the reed that the lips are not together or too far apart. (Too far apart will be very hard to blow). Once moistened try blowing the reed out of the chanter, it should deliver a resounding squawk! If it is an easy reed it shouldn’t take too much. You can gently manipulate the reed tips to allow air to pass, but again the emphasis is on gentle. I can’t recommend G1 chanter reeds highly enough, for a beginner they are literally plug and play. I’m taking it your drones are okay. Wish I was closer, could have you up and running on a flash. Reeds are the biggest struggle for dry weather players, as you noted the humidifier is the way to go. A humidifier in the bagpipe case is also a good idea, you’ve made a sizeable investment so light oiling and keeping in a humidity enriched environment is a good idea to protect those pipes. (If wood)
Sorry for the late reply. Niall pipes, very nice! Oh were to start! Order a selection of reeds, go with G1. Tell them your situation and humidity or lack of. Moisture is your issue, dry reed is a beast to blow. When it’s as dry as we have offer the breath you put in actually dries the moist reed. Moisture cap for the chanter is a big help.
Great stuff, thanks for the video. I completely agree, we spend countless hours playing the practice chanter, there's no need to suffer and out of tune horrible sounding instrument "because it's just a practice tool" (as I've been told in the past). I have a poly chanter I carry around with me and use wherever it's likely to get bashed about, but I much prefer the sound and feel of a wooden pc. That said, either will work equally well, it is just personal preference. With regards to the long v short(or "standard") practice chanters, I favour a standard length as I'm only 5'6" tall so it rests much more comfortably on a table while I play. I compared my long and short pc's and the hole spacing is as near identical as to make no practical difference, so I don't see that either is better or worse for transitioning to the pipe chanter. As well as the off the shelf chanters, many small pipe makers will make you a practice chanter for a very reasonable price, something worth considering for anyone who fancies a wooden chanter, my "good" pc was made to my own spec by Johnstone Bagpipes in Menstrie. Also, as with your original chanter, if an old chanter turns up with a cracked top section a poly lined replacement/replica can be made. At the end of the day, we old geezers play for the pleasure of it, so it makes sense to play a PC or PC's that you love :-)
A few years ago we purchased a set of Macallum poly chanters with Warnock (red) reeds (with dental band bridles) for our band. It's so nice to be able to come to the practice hall and play with very little fiddling around to get a good sound. It also makes practicing harmonies much more pleasant.
