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.
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 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
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
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.
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.
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.
53 and just learning. Thank you so much this video helped me a ton.
No problem, thanks for the comment.
In most cases it comes down to the simplest things.
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.
Good stuff Donald! Glad to see you're still at it! Cheers from Ottawa
Hey, thanks! Bud!
Must catch up soon!
@@FatRedBiker yes indeed 👍
Great helpful video. Thanks.
Thanks John, the key is always keep it simple.
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 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
Great stuff, keep going it’s all about putting in the practice time.
@@FatRedBiker I try to practice 2 hrs per day
@@joannedenison7650 your doing way be than me👍
@@FatRedBiker so cool I'm 59 and looking into it I'm going to start learning
Very interesting,Great information, thanks for sharing you tell me were did you get your reed chanter pressure gauge from?
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
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.
The city of Denver pipe band can help.
be aware that bleach does not kill mold or spores. you have to use an enzymatic cleaner for that. be sure it's food grade
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.
My Shatner does not sound like yours at all and a lot of other peoples as well if you go to the top hole on the chatter and behind it’s small
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.