I have for years been frustrated with the E note on the concert D chanters. The Flat chanters seem to have better pitch and quality. But the D chanters can be very frustrating. Most of the time when the pitch problem is solved, still the tone is week and not very good.
I remember talking to a professor of Organology ,at Brown University in Rhode Island, years ago about the E problems. He enlightened me to the fact that all woodwind instruments and also flutes have problems with the E or the first note above the lowest bell note on the instrument. He explained that the problem arise from the fact the E note is situated just above the bottom of the chanters standing wave which creates turbulence that interferes with the E note. That is why the E does not have as good a tone or controllable pitch as the rest of the notes. Most of us just adjust to this week note and ignore it, learning to adjust fingering; placing tape on the hole; putting a rush in the chanter, and so on.
A few years ago, taking the professors advice I made a chanter with a Ferrell on the bottom that would extend the length of the bottom of the chanter, thus moving the E hole away from the standing wave at the bottom. Sure enough the E was vastly improved, however the G, A and B note were altered. One thing about chanters. If by using reamers to alter notes by removing bits of the bore… it always affects other notes I talked to David Quinn about this and he said it is very frustrating indeed.
In all seriousness, I never really cared for the E when I played concert pitch. Mine was in tune, but tonally it just didn’t “mesh” to my ears. On both of my C chanters however it sounds quite nice against the drones and doesn’t take much work to get just right. I had to tape each of course, but no biggie.
As to the bell tone of the chanter…when I extended the bottom of the chanter the bottom D, or bell tone, went flat.
I too have a flat C set and the E is much nicer and easier to deal with than my D chanters. I know that it is a ego thing with me but I hate to put tape , blue-tac or rushes in a chanter. I want one that plays correctly by itself.
For what its worth, I thought I share the following.
On my Froment concert pitch chanter, I have consistently noticed that if the staple eye is too narrow, and the staple taper too ‘closed’, I get a 2nd octave E which is difficult…it sounds like a blend of the low E and the high E together. If I take the reed to bits, open up the eye, and make the taper a bit fatter and bind the reed up again…well, vive la difference as they say in France!
Benedict said (to me) something to the affect that it would be very curious for a chanter to be without tape, or a rush or some sort. Used moderately, tape etc. are all tools, not a crutch. It’s a good mindset to keep, and prevents madness..or will at least stave it off for a few minutes!
