Chanter Reeds Bagpipes

Chanter Reeds Bagpipes

The Gibson exercise reed, while ideally suitable to Gibson exercise chanters, is also an magnificent reed for other brands. The blades are wide permitting for more air, thereby almost eliminating the “shutting off” phenomenon. This design also develops a loud, full tone. Made by Gibson Classical Bagpipes.

Tuning your pipes may be difficult- the drones will have to be incisively tuned to each other and likewise to the chanter. Each note of the chanter must be pitched so that it the right way harmonizes with the uninterrupted background sound of the drones. This tuning may be done with a well trained ear, but if you’re missing out one of those, a chromatic tuner may be used.

Tuning the Chanter

Sound the low A on your chanter and note where it is tuning on the meter. Adjust the calibration buttons until your low A reads “0″ on the meter. The green tuning light will come on when your meter is in tune with low A. Use the meter notes and offsets from “0″ in the following table to tune the other notes of the chanter. Ensure that the meter is reading the rectify “note” which will show up in the top right corner of the tuner. Notes “C” and “F” show up as “C#” and “F#” on the tuner. The original column is the Note. Second column is the ratio to Low A. Third column is the Meter Note. Fourth column is the Meter Offset.

Note                                          Ratio  to  Low  A              Meter  Note                      Meter  Offset

Low  G                                      7/8                                              G                                            -31

Low  A                                        1                                                  A                                                0

B                                                  9/8                                                B                                              +4

C                                                  5/4                                              C#                                          -14

D                                                  4/3                                                D                                              -2

E                                                  3/2                                                E                                              +2

F                                                  5/3                                                F#                                          -16

High  G                                    7/4                                                G                                              -31

High  A                                    2/1                                                A                                                  0

Tenor  Drone                    1/2                                                A                                                  0

Bass  Drone                        1/4                                                A                                                  0

If the top hand is sharp equated to the bottom hand, lift the reed more or less out of the chanter to fetch the pitch of the top hand down. Add a great deal of hemp to the reed if necessary. If the top hand is flat to the bottom hand sink the reed further into the chanter. This will fetch up the pitch of the top hand relative to the bottom hand. To flatten person notes, add a piece of tape to cover the top of the firstborn open hole on the chanter. Sharpening person notes requires modification to the chanter reed or chanter and will have to only be done by experienced players.

Tuning the Drones

The drones are tuned to the low A on the pipe chanter. Sound low A on your chanter and adjust the calibration button until the meter reads “0″. Adjust the tuning on each of your drones until they are reading “0″ on the meter also.

Chanter Reeds Bagpipes Photo

Chanter Reeds Bagpipes Image

Chanter Reeds Bagpipes Photo

Chanter Reeds Bagpipes Image

Most helpful client reviews

11 of 11 humans found the following review helpful.
The New Standard
By F. Scott
I am sorry to listen that the former reviewer has had a hard time with his reeds. Indeed, the Gibson/Abbot style reeds are a departure from what numerous are employed to. Often those accustomed to weaker exercise chanter reeds are shocked at the amount of throughput the Gibson/Abbot reeds may require. The “duck call” noise he describes is in general formulated when the tone is not supported, i.e. not putting sufficient air through the chanter.

The other considerateness is that Gibson/Abbot reeds may be altered by proper sanding and/or trimming to modify both the pitch and strength of the reed. Such an endeavor ought to only be undertaken when one is entirely conscious of what he or she is doing. However, given the fact that normal “breaking in,” humidity, and temperature may affect the way the reed sounds, the fact that the reed may be ‘tweaked’ ought to not be overlooked.

Overall, I would contend that the Gibson/Abbot reed is the new standard. The power, vibrancy, and responsiveness is unparalleled. Paired with the proper exercise chanter, you will find a quality of tone you antecedently thought inconceivable in a exercise chanter. Definitely recommended, provided you have a exercise chanter that will receive wide-bladed reeds. For chanters that require a narrower blade and like a higher degree of backpressure, I have always enjoyed Warnock reeds for such a purpose.

4 of 4 humans found the following review helpful.
the real deal
By David Corbett
good price on rather perhaps the best exercise chanter reed on the market. They do work best in the Gibson chanters, and very well in others that have a big reed chamber. Not rather so well in the slimmer exercise chanters (like the shepherd, which sounds great with narrow bladed reeds).

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful.
Good if you may get them going
By Bagpipe Player
These reeds push out a huge volume of sound. The sound is very nice, and they are particularly great in long-length exercise chanters.

Unfortunately I’m not strong sufficient to keep these going for any amount of time so I can’t play them, but if you’re a bit more inviolable these are unquestionably worth a look.

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