Setting up practice chanter reeds

[Ian Miller]

Alright, I just got a practice chanter a few days ago from EBay. I've been having the worst time JUST setting up the reed. I've had two reeds, and both are too big to fit into the hole at the top of the chanter (The end is plastic with a little hole for the reed). I tried pushing the reed in, twisting it in, but nothing happened. The first reed fell apart from this, and the hemp on the new one I got fell off. Please help! I want to start playing this as soon as possible.

[Bagpiper]

Hello,

Is the chanter you purchased wooden or plastic ? The practice chanter reed should fit into the chanter without too many issues. I have never had a problem putting a new reed into a chanter and they last a long time.

My suggestion is that if you did not spend alot of money of this chanter, buy a new one. Call Gerry Rooney at Pipeline (877)367-5458 . He will sell you a working chanter, and you can select an inexpensive one such as a plastic chanter or a wooden chanter.

Good Luck

http://pipelinebagpipes.com/

[acadianpiper]

Are you sure you are trying to put the reed into the correct hole? I have seen more than one beginner attempt to put the reed into the mouthpiece of the practice chanter -- i.e. the hole at the very top of the complete chanter that you blow into. Your reference to the top of the chanter and to the "plastic" part leads me to suspect that this is what you are doing. In fact, the reed goes inside the practice chanter. The chanter comes apart just below the metal or plastic ferrule located above the part with the holes. Grasp the chanter above the ferrule and on the rounded part just below the ferrule and gently twist it apart. The hole for the reed is in the part with the holes. You gently push the reed into the tapered hole above the finger holes and then reassemble the chanter by putting the two parts back together.

[Ian Miller]

Are you sure you are trying to put the reed into the correct hole? I have seen more than one beginner attempt to put the reed into the mouthpiece of the practice chanter -- i.e. the hole at the very top of the complete chanter that you blow into. Your reference to the top of the chanter and to the "plastic" part leads me to suspect that this is what you are doing. In fact, the reed goes inside the practice chanter. The chanter comes apart just below the metal or plastic ferrule located above the part with the holes. Grasp the chanter above the ferrule and on the rounded part just below the ferrule and gently twist it apart. The hole for the reed is in the part with the holes. You gently push the reed into the tapered hole above the finger holes and then reassemble the chanter by putting the two parts back together.

Thank you SO much! I had a wood chanter. There was a plastic piece at the top, and I assumed that the reed was placed in there. So the wood parts are taken apart, and the reed goes inside, then the plastic piece goes on top, and you blow into the plastic part?

[Bagpiper]

Hello,

I will post some photos on how to place the reed inside the chanter. Thanks fo r the idea.

Cheers,

Kevin

[acadianpiper]

Thank you SO much! I had a wood chanter. There was a plastic piece at the top, and I assumed that the reed was placed in there. So the wood parts are taken apart, and the reed goes inside, then the plastic piece goes on top, and you blow into the plastic part?

That's correct. The reed goes into the hole in the middle of the hemped part of the lower wooden piece (the piece with the finger holes) and stands vertically in a straight line with that piece. Be careful when you reassemble the two parts that the reed is not touching the inside of the chanter. The plastic mouthpiece screws onto the top of the upper part.

[ThreeEightyNine]

That's correct. The reed goes into the hole in the middle of the hemped part of the lower wooden piece (the piece with the finger holes) and stands vertically in a straight line with that piece. Be careful when you reassemble the two parts that the reed is not touching the inside of the chanter. The plastic mouthpiece screws onto the top of the upper part.

chanters have 2 parts the Sole which is the lowest part from the mouth (the bottom or base end) the fingerholes to the mount which is henped to accept the mouth piece... the lower part of the mouthpiece is flared to accept the reed seat and reed , and is kept tite/secure with that hemp... when you place the reed into the reed hole the deeper into the hole it seats the lower the pitch and the higher in the seat the higher the pitch one can "tune" the reed by adding hemp to the reed "staple" to make it sit higher or pushing the reed deeper into the hole..

when seating the reed, the lips "should" be placed as if your lips would match the reed lips
for best tone... so that they would look _ rather then / or \ or | its someting that becomes more important with the pipes then the Pchanter but good habits are harder to break :) an orthodontist type tiny rubber bands are helpgul with plastic reeds by placing them doubled from the staple end and gently sliding them up the lips of the reed you will find that it may be possible to salvage seemingly worn out plastic reeds, the band acts like the reed seat, the higher this "bridle" goes the higher the pitch and also the less air flowing through the reed
and often the "nicer the tone" on Cane reeds a bridle of hemp can also be used effectively at times.... Hope this helps a bit too

[acadianpiper]

when you place the reed into the reed hole the deeper into the hole it seats the lower the pitch and the higher in the seat the higher the pitch one can "tune" the reed by adding hemp to the reed "staple" to make it sit higher or pushing the reed deeper into the hole..


In fact, it is just the opposite. Pushing the reed deeper into the seat raises the pitch of the chanter, while raising the reed in the seat lowers the pitch. Very small movements of the reed have significant effects on the pitch.

[ThreeEightyNine]

In fact, it is just the opposite. Pushing the reed deeper into the seat raises the pitch of the chanter, while raising the reed in the seat lowers the pitch. Very small movements of the reed have significant effects on the pitch.

Naturally Your 100% right Acadian, I dont know where my mind was yesterday when I posted that

The longer the reed chanter combination the lower
and by seating it deeper is shortening the overall system raising pitch .. I am glad You caught me on that.. I guess IT was a trick question/answer ..lol sorry.. I really do play the pipes lol
>:'P

[ThreeEightyNine]

Learning to Play the Highland Bagpipe ~ The Practice Chanter ~ Maintenance

http://www.hotpipes.com/pract2.html

Thanks to Oliver Sites

[Satellite]

I am using bsnl 500c home-plan.Im using FF,Chrome browsers but i cant access isohunt.com site.Then i tried Opera still its not opening how can i access this site plz help me.Im using zonealarm Pro &AVG free antivirus.I also have a problem with my IE i tried to install New IE8 b4 its version 6 now its not working when i open it it says "Internet Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience."what can i do plz help

_________________
satellite tv for pc (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgJrK42dTSg)