Tuning A Chanter

Tuning A Chanter

by William ODonnell

Nice tune!.

I was wondering if you would do a technical piece on tuning a chanter based on whatever frequency Low A happens to be. For example, if low A was at 475, could you demo the correct intonation of each of the intervening notes from B to Hi G? D and F always seem to be a problem in tuning, and a lesson on that subject would be very beneficial.

Thank you for your work.

William ODonnell

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Tuning A Chanter

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Dec 15, 2009
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Chanter tuning etc.
by: Bill Robertson

In answer to your question my video is almost 26 MB and too large to send e mail. However, I have a sound file that explains with demonstrations of setting the chanter reed including the sound of poor reeds in the chanter and method of manipulation to bring the reeds into line as much as possible.
You must remember that some chanters and reeds are sharper in pitch than others so it becomes a matter of balancing the setting according to the pitch of the chanter and reed, of course with the odd taping of a note or two that might be relatively sharp. Often pipers and pipe majors setting the reeds in chanters set the reed too far into the aperture in an endeavour to get a brilliant sound, but only succeed in creating unbalanced intervals with the top hand notes relatively too sharp and shrill, while the lower notes hardly change in pitch. This also tends to make pipers blow flat because they might be afraid to overblow these sharp top hand notes. So beware of thtis and do not be afraid to apply a little hemp if mecassray to a reed to get a good balance.
In most woodwind instruments the more the reed is sunk the more the top hand/higher notes are sharpend with hardly any change in the lower notes or pitch. When the chanter is set by ear to what one relates to a balanced scale etc., the final test is when tuned well to well set drones, then listening to each interval from low A through to high A, then testing low G to A a few times too.
An agreeable sound and good harmonics should be detected if all well set.
If you wish you may send a message e mail to me or through our site so that I can send the sound file of about 4 MB to you. Alternatively, better and good value consider my advanced interactive DVD (even my Beginners Guide)where this subject is in PDF text, video, and audio along with most things in the maintnenace section on reed setting etc., care, tuning etc. Contents details are in our site in on ordering the various discs.
I trust this helps so far. Bill

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Dec 15, 2009
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Submitted by: Bill Robertson

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In answer to your question my video is almost 26 MB and too large to send e mail. However, I have a sound file that explains with demonstrations of setting the chanter reed including the sound of poor reeds in the chanter and method of manipulation to bring the reeds into line as much as possible. You must remember that some chanters and reeds are sharper in pitch than others so it becomes a matter of balancing the setting according to the pitch of the chanter and reed, of course with the odd taping of a note or two that might be relatively sharp. Often pipers and pipe majors setting the reeds in chanters set the reed too far into the aperture in an endeavour to get a brilliant sound, but only succeed in creating unbalanced intervals with the top hand notes relatively too sharp and shrill, while the lower notes hardly change in pitch. This also tends to make pipers blow flat because they might be afraid to overblow these sharp top hand notes. So beware of thtis and do not be afraid to apply a little hemp if mecassray to a reed to get a good balance. In most woodwind instruments the more the reed is sunk the more the top hand/higher notes are sharpend with hardly any change in the lower notes or pitch. When the chanter is set by ear to what one relates to a balanced scale etc., the final test is when tuned well to well set drones, then listening to each interval from low A through to high A, then testing low G to A a few times too. An agreeable sound and good harmonics should be detected if all well set. If you wish you may send a message e mail to me or through our site so that I can send the sound file of about 4 MB to you. Alternatively, better and good value consider my advanced interactive DVD (even my Beginners Guide)where this subject is in PDF text, video, and audio along with most things in the maintnenace section on reed setting etc., care, tuning etc. Contents details are in our site in on ordering the various discs. I trust this helps so far. Bill

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