Tuning Uilleann Chanters for Beginners (and Other Bagpipers)
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- čas přidán 4. 09. 2011
- The basic techniques for tuning the tricky 2-octave uilleann pipe chanter. Covers tuning overall sharper or flatter; tuning individual notes; tuning the 2 octaves together; tuning the "Hard D" sound effect ornament; and ends with brief no-audio text summaries and general text tuning tips and philosophy. Effects of tuning adjustments on loudness and pressure strength are included. 1-octave bagpipers can use many of these tricks: Highland pipers for example can use bore wires in either reed or chanter to help adapt pipes gracefully to temperature extremes and reed mismatches indicated by gurgling and other behavior problems.
- Hudba
That Korg tuner has travelled many a road ;-)
I should have started with "thank you, David for posting these great teaching vids." Also, the uilleann pipes are great therapy for my perfectionism. Your last list of tips says a lot. Perfection is truly difficult when it comes to tuning the pipes. Great vid.
David's videos are very helpful, particularly the jumping the octave one. I just wish there were even more.
Very helpful tutorial. Just learning and it seems that everything about this instrument is complicated. Tuning is no different. This helps!
Super tutorial than You❤
All of your videos are super great!! Thank you!
Excellent video. Very well explained. Thank you for this posting.
Thank you sir!
Thank you!
No argument, you and I are in 2 very different worlds but I have participated in yours more than you in mine. As a child I attended concerts by George Szell's band out of Cleveland. In my 40's I stood guest soloist beside a symphony orchestra conductor playing my Highland bagpipe, cheered by the players and audience both. Pipes play closer to Just Intonation than Equal Temperament to make each note blend best w keynote drone. When playing conventional we retune intervals, both sides compromise.
Very helpful indeed. Thank you.
How about a similar tutorial on regulator tunnig?
:-))
very useful video for beginners, my penny chanter always sound high on 2nd octave,now i know what to do...
Chanter might have a tiny leak; if it has any keys, seal the bell with good sticky tape or pressed on damp leg flesh, and with reed removed inhale thru reed seat. If you get any airflow look for keys, especially bottom hand keys, that might not be sealing completely. I've just moved house so my computer with bore design data is not online yet. If you are still having this problem in July 2013 reply to this or email me, and I'll look up some tips.
Interesting question
Are these like the highland pipes in regard that the tuner has to be set to 478 hz as opposed to traditional concert pitch of 440 hz?
Uilleann Pipes generally tune to 440hz yes. But the tonic is D. Therefore it is the A (5th degree) which tunes to 440hz.
Highland Pipes generally tune to around 480hz in bands/modern solo chanter. But concert pitch chanters tune to Bb (466hz). This is because the tonic is Bb and not A as is generally said. Bb = A + 26hz.
So all in all, the UP tune to D where A=440hz and the GHB tune to 'A' where one sets their tuner higher: A = 466 or A = 480.
Look up baroque tuning. This should explain the same concept, but with different instruments.
Hope this helps/makes sense!
[Edit: small error]
Really thorough advice, very cool. My question though, is, How can I get my chanter to play the bottom D note (open)? I ve fiddled around a bit and I think it's reed that that needs adjustment but not sure. When I play the bottom D, it is always coming out as the high octave D. It wont play a bottom D at all. Any insight?
You might be squeezing the bag a wee too much. (Too much bag pressure) or your reed is too 'easy' ,, in which case try moving the Bridle up (towards the vibrating end) just a wee bit?
@@L8bro Thanks, I 've been trying that for years now with occasional success. Still a very tricky balance to achieve.
I often think that many chanters I hear are not in tune with modern instruments....what about the drones/ regulators?? Any comments?? How does this tally with a modern oboe??
Can you play a chromatic scale ??
Not enough space here to reply. Octave jumping oboe and bagpipe are late 1600's sisters. Daughter of that bagpipe is uilleann pipe. Originally much reed and pipe geometry shared with baroque oboe. Bagpipes must not tune with Bach equal temperament instruments because each note must blend best w keynote drone. 3rds and 6ths especially flat compared to concert, but sound "still" like barbershop quartet harmony, not beating like ET notes. Wait 2 weeks because I just moved, reply or email me.
2 ways "yes," arguably "no." Uilleann pipes can be fit with chromatic keys, traditionally simple action keys but modern woodwind keys can be fit. A 13 tone scale can be enabled but typically the intonation is not Bach's Equal Temperament due to the need of each note to blend best with a keynote drone, rather than have equally spaced intervals in all keys which creates much beating against the drones for some notes like 3rds and 6ths.
Sometimes in the video when you "fix" the problem, the chanter is still significantly out of tune. By "out of tune" I mean not lighting "green" on the tuner, and out of tune with any other instruments that would be accompanying you in A440. The octaves might be relatively in tune with each other (i.e. first octave G lights up the same area on the tuner as the second octave g), but if they're not lightening up green every time they're useless to a serious, performing musician.