The single biggest factor in a good chanter sound is the reed you pick, not how you tune it. I'd rather spend ten minutes sorting through a box of reeds than spend that same time fighting a reed that was never going to be good.
I sort reeds in rounds, eliminating the worst at every stage until only the best are left. I give each reed a touch of moisture, a pinch if it's hard, and a mouth blow, then sort into piles: good, squealing, and too hard, before working the good pile down to a final winner.
A good reed gives a clear tone through the crow and stays loud and even all the way up the scale. I'm listening for one broad, projecting sound from bottom to top, with nothing flat, sharp, or choked off on any note — that's the sign the reed is vibrating fully and efficiently.
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Secrets of Top Pipers: How to Find the Best Reed in the Box
28m · Full class available to Inner Circle members
⏱️ In this class
00:01makes a What reed efficiently play good and sound🔒
01:27ngis nace orssac is a nontsticse-gnoilok oxb Wyh eht godo🔒
02:08before reed moisture Giving each a touch of testing🔒
06:59into and piles: too squealing, Sorting hard good,🔒
09:39a with Reviving squealy reed lick longer a🔒
13:47the good final the down to Working pile contenders🔒
19:27listen What the chanter to up the for in and scale down🔒
20:49an on overly quiet reed goes hard Why flat and top🔒
22:11sweet for the to spot strength Why be easy-plus tends🔒
26:50from best reeds the are very blow first good The🔒
About this class
🔒 The write-up and the quotes from this class are part of the members’ page.
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