I hate the note E... don't you?

fel bautista · Post by **fel bautista** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 9:50 pm

AH! I was wondering when E<bar> was going to comment !~ Thou shall not take they E's name in vain, etc...

mukade · Post by **mukade** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 10:09 pm

<a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=e0Mzr_A-Q0I">E's are good</a>

Mukade

feadogin · Post by **feadogin** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 10:32 pm

E's are eeevil.

James J · Post by **James J** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 1:34 am

Another lurker comes in from the cold...

I always thought the high E was one of the most magical notes on the uilleann pipes, partly for its tone, partly because it was the first step into something I could never achieve on the Highland pipes: the second octave.

Elmek · Post by **Elmek** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 5:39 am

I always thought the high E was one of the most magical notes on the uilleann pipes, partly for its tone, partly because it was the first step into something I could never achieve on the Highland pipes: the second octave.

Not true - I have been shown a tutor for the highland pipes from around 1800 where the scale goes 3 or 4 notes into the upper register. Obviously 'pinched' in the same way as the Gaita players. of today.

I suspect the reed which is now fiendishly hard and playing technique has changed to suit the massd bands

John

Pat Cannady · Post by **Pat Cannady** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 7:19 am

@%#$#@!! Massed pipe bands

Don't get me started.

As for the original topic: yeah E's can be a pain. The best you can do is either make or buy the best reed you can, then do what you have to do to play it in tune, IOW lifting the chanter, pushing the bag when needed, mastering both hard and soft Es, and applying blue tac. If none of that works, get another reed.

CHasR · Post by **CHasR** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 7:58 am

Elmek wrote:
I always thought the high E was one of the most magical notes on the uilleann pipes, partly for its tone, partly because it was the first step into something I could never achieve on the Highland pipes: the second octave.
Not true - I have been shown a tutor for the highland pipes from around 1800 where the scale goes 3 or 4 notes into the upper register. Obviously 'pinched' in the same way as the Gaita players. of today.

I suspect the reed which is now fiendishly hard and playing technique has changed to suit the massd bands

John

not to drift, but yes, youre quite right...the newer GHB chanters I try cannot do the upper notes, or all the cross fingerings. Sacrifices have been made... however, many older type ghb chanters are able to.

Back to the Uilleann E, that spoiled, diva of a note...

PJ · Post by PJ » Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:05 am

A friend of mine told me that Cnat on the GHB chanter is called the Forbidden Note! Why not call 2nd octave E on the UP the same thing?

Pat Cannady · Post by **Pat Cannady** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 10:05 am

No, absolutely not...The UP are not Highland pipes.

Besides, E is required for playing a huge amount of Irish traditional music, the core of our repertoire.

Cathy Wilde · Post by **Cathy Wilde** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 11:59 am

Interesting. I'd just assumed it wasn't the chanter, it was my wayward E finger.

Marcelo Muttis · Post by **Marcelo Muttis** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 1:36 pm

I personally love the 2nd octave E and in the first too, and I got it in tune, don`t ask me why, my problem is about 2nd octave A a bit flat.

Juan Pablo Plata · Post by **Juan Pablo Plata** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 1:36 pm

My B set by Joe Kennedy has an excellent E´s.

I´ll post images soon... one of the most beautiful chanter keys design you have ever seen.

Cathy Wilde · Post by **Cathy Wilde** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 2:14 pm

bradhurley wrote:The second-octave e is definitely one of the 16 most expressive notes on the uilleann pipes.

Dionys · Post by **Dionys** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 2:43 pm

It's safer than the brown note.

James J · Post by **James J** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 3:13 am

Elmek wrote:
I always thought the high E was one of the most magical notes on the uilleann pipes, partly for its tone, partly because it was the first step into something I could never achieve on the Highland pipes: the second octave.
Not true - I have been shown a tutor for the highland pipes from around 1800 where the scale goes 3 or 4 notes into the upper register. Obviously 'pinched' in the same way as the Gaita players. of today.

John

Perhaps I should have written that it was something I could never achieve on MY Highland pipes, may they rest in pieces.