I have been fighting a difficult E’ on my Simack D chanter. The other notes are stable and easily played throughout the range. The E’, however is giving me a fit. I can see no obstuction in the bore.
This note is difficult to hold the octave and requires significantly more pressure than the F#‘. The back D is stable and in tune with minimal pressure required. I have tried various rush configurations and can make the response of the E’ worse, but seemingly not better.
With the rest of the notes responding well, I am at a loss. Have any of you had similar experiences? What did you do to correct the problem?
If it hasn’t troubled you before, try closing the reed slightly. If your a bit edgy about that, place a roll of card ( similar to a cheap birthday card) between the F hole and the E hole (so that it is in effect narrowing the bore completely between those holes). Sometimes eases many problems with E.
Trust the card solution. It works. The top bit of a pack of Gauloise cigarette papers is just right. Usually I use them to write down books and records for my friends to look up, but as it turns out they fix an octave E nicely.
Marc
Thank you for the information about the ring of cardboard/paper between the E and F holes. I have some card stock of varying thicknesses and will experiment with it. The E’ has always been a bit fussy, so maybe this will solve my problem.
I have a Simack chanter and can relate to the E’ problems. I have regularly made reeds that require a bit of extra puff for E’ to avoid the note dropping to the lower octave or rasping. Like Alan has suggested, I’ve found that closing the reed definately helps to lessen the problem, but may not cure it.
As with every adjustment, it always stuffs up something else, so I’ve included some possible cures that may be required if you choose to close the reed:
-If closing the reed makes E’ too sharp, you can put a bit of masking tape over the top quarter/third of the E hole which will bring it back into pitch and is sure to bring the required pressure for that particular note down.
-If the reed bacomes resistant or squeaky after closing, it may need to be scraped/sanded a little thinner.
-If it makes back D flat, insert the reed deeper into the chanter, trim the reed shorter (fraction of a millimeter), or raise the bridle ever so slightly higher before closing the lips to the same aperature as before.
-If it makes bottom D gurgle, scrape the bottom of the scrape zone into a ‘U’ shape, making the scrape thinner at this point (focus more on the sides than the centre to avoid making the second octave hard to get).
However, I’d suggest that you try the cardboard idea before going down the ‘stuff up the reed road’, which is far more frustrating than a problem note.
Ye could try playing the high E off the knee leaving the pinky(little finger)on the bottom hole.(ie opening the ring finger bottom hand only whilst lifting the chanter)
Slan go foill
Uilliam