Gerry.
McCallum Bb Chanter arrived today (with a reed(bonus)). Fantastic.
Thanks for the great service.
Brian O'Neil.
McCallum B Flat Ceol Plastic Pipe Chanter (IN STOCK)
Quantity in Basket:
NonePrice:
$177.18Shipping Weight:
1.00 poundsMcCallum B Flat Ceol Plastic Pipe Chanter - This McCallum chanter is pitched to 466, McCallum drone reed extenders make the drone reeds an easy match for this chanter. Shepherd Bb chanter reeds are a good choice this McCallum B Flat chanter.
Question: How do you know when all of the notes on your pipe
chanter are in tune?
Answer: When all the intervals between the
notes are correct and each note is true and blends harmoniously with the drones.
OK - so how do we achieve this?
In a perfect world each
manufacturer's pipe chanter would have a chanter reed that is made
specifically for that chanter and this chanter and reed combination when put
together would match perfectly. This perfect combination unfortunately is
extremely rare. In most cases the reed you have selected will on some notes be
too sharp or too flat and this is something you as a piper need to be able to
correct.
Let's start with the Low A and High A notes. The eight-note spread
from Low A to High A is an octave, and achieving this octave is the first thing
we must deal with. The easiest way is with the use of a tuning meter. Bagpipe
tuners can range in price from $40.00 to $700.00; the meter I am currently using
is a Korg TM-50 Priced at around $40.00.
Tuning the Low A, C, E and
High A
1. Press the power button to on.
2. Press the calibration
button till the numbers in the top left corner read 455hz.
3. With your
drones shut off play low A into the meter and observe where the needle sits.
4. With the drones shut off play high A into the meter and observe where the
needle sits.
5. If the Low A and High A are in the same place on the meter
your Low A and High A are an octave apart. If the needle is not sitting in the
same place for both notes move the chanter reed up or down in the reed
seat until you have the Low A and the High A in exactly the same place on the
meter. You can't go to step # 6 until you have achieved this.
6. Tune the
outside tenor drone to the Low A (See September Newsletter). With the tenor now
tuned to Low A and High A, let's see how we can bring C and E into tune.
7.
With the outside tenor drone sounding, play Low A, C, E and High A, (Always play
notes in a 3 or 4 note context) listen to the C & E are they in tune? Not
sure? Try slightly over blowing on the C then try slightly under blowing. Did
either over blowing or under blowing improve the C? Do the same under blowing
& over blowing test to the E, did under blowing or over blowing improve the
sound of the E?
8. If when you slightly under blow on either the C or E and
that note comes into tune then the note is sharp and can be corrected with a bit
of tape placed across the top of the hole. If when you slightly over blow and
the note comes into tune the note is flat. You could push the reed down into the
reed seat to sharpen one or both of these notes but in doing so you will put the
High A out of tune. You can't sharpen a note with tape, you can only undercut or
enlarge the hole, this is something I would not recommend at this point, and the
best thing to do would be to replace the chanter reed.
Tuning the
Chanter Notes Low G, B, D, F and High G
1. Open the bass drone and tune
it to the outside tenor (See September Newsletter) The Low G, B, D, F and High G
are easier to hear with the bass added to the background.
2. To tune F, play
Low A, E then F listen to the F. Many times the F is too sharp, try a little
tape and play the same combination of notes as before. You may have to adjust
the tape slightly to achieve the sound you want.
3. To tune High G. Play Low
A, E, F, High G, & High A, if it sounds fine leave it alone; if you think it
is a little sharp, add a little tape.
4. To tune D. Play Low A, B, C, D,
again you may or may not have to use tape to obtain the desired sound.
5. To
tune B. Play Low A, B, C, D listen to the blend between the B and the drones and
if needed add tape to the top of the hole.
6. The Low G can be tuned if
needed by adding a small piece of tape to the top of the sound holes located on
either side of the pipe chanter. The use of tape is a perfectly acceptable way
to flatten a note and bring that note into tune. You do not want to cover more
that half the hole on the note you are adjusting, if you cover more than half
you will change the notes adjacent to that note. Try to find reeds that you only
have to tape 1/3rd or less to bring the notes into tune. Take it one note at a
time; just like you learned to play one note at a time and you will get there.
Two Chanters are Better than
One
Why would I need 2 Pipe
Chanters?
If you play in a Pipe Band one of the smartest moves you can make is to have
two pipe chanters in your pipe case. Many Pipe Majors like to set up the pipe
chanter with a fairly strong reed to give the band as much volume as possible,
especially if it is a competition pipe band. Pipe Majors spend a great deal of
time choosing reeds, taping notes and tuning chanters to give them the sound
that they are looking for from the pipe corps.
Individual pipers, on the
other hand, like to play with an easier reed and perhaps a different pitch than
the band. When they're at home and away from the band, they'll remove the band
reed & tape and set the chanter to their individual preference. This is not
at all fair to the Pipe Major or your fellow band members as it means that the
Pipe Major has to go through the whole setting up and tuning procedure at each
and every practice.
Let's make the Pipe Major a happy guy (You don't see
that all that often). If you have two pipe chanters with reeds caps in your pipe
case one can be used for the band set up just the way the PM wants it to sound,
one can be set up to your individual strength and pitch preference. Put the band
chanter in for band practice, use the other at home, everyone is happy.
Learn by doing!
Pipe Chanters
The Low A and the High A should sound an octave apart, if this is off you can correct the pitch by:
1. To raise the pitch - Place the reed further into the reed seat.
2. To lower the pitch - Raise the reed in the reed seat.
3. If a certain note is too sharp - A piece of tape placed over the hole will flatten the pitch