pipers chords

Subject: pipers chords
From: Herge
Date: 28 May 99 - 02:32 PM

Why when you listen to recordings of uillean pipers do the cords they play sound odd or different to what a guitarist or bouzouki player might play when accompaning the melody?

Subject: RE: pipers chords
From: liz c. (inactive)
Date: 30 May 99 - 07:37 AM

Hi Herge

Pipers chords are played on using the parallel tubes that lie across the piper's knee (I think its the drones that are used, that generally provide that droning noise that accompanies the tune) On some pipes, 3 or so of these tubes have 4 or 5 keys along their length which cover holes. These keys are arranged in line so that a piper can use the edge of his hand to press down one key on each of the tubes all at once, while he is also playing the tune on the chanter. I think that these keys are called regulators. He is therefore restricted to the notes that the keys allow him to play, and the notes whose keys he can reach while he is playing that particular part of the tune.

I've just looked around my house for a tutor book on Irish pipes so that I can check the names and found them for northumbrian, Scottish mouth blown pipes, Scottish bellows blown pipes, border pipes, every sort of pipe but Irish!

So basically the chords played by Irish pipers are the chords that are part of their instrument. If it's a piping tune being played by a piper, they are the chords that belong to the tune, in my opinion.

Hope this helps, Liz

Subject: RE: pipers chords
From: Cliff A.
Date: 30 May 99 - 05:04 PM

The information in the previous message is basically correct. Also, many sets of pipes were (and are) made without access to electronic tuning as a baseline which causes the whole instrument to be somewhat "off" A440. In addition, uilleann pipes are particularly sensetive to changes in climate--which causes subsequent change in pitch in the instrument. Pipers are constantly adjusting their reeds to stay in tune with themselves. Finally, some pipers play "flat sets" which were made deliberately 1/4 to 1/2 tone off--probably so other musicians could NOT play along so easily. Most bands or session groups tune their stringed instruments to the piper. Good luck playing along with a recording.

Subject: RE: pipers chords
From: liz c (inactive)
Date: 31 May 99 - 06:21 AM

I've found the instruction book, which says that the regulators are nothing to do with the drones, they are 3 chanters, which do lie across the piper's knee in the way I described, and have keys attached. In a concert set of pipes, which means they're pitched in D, the bass regulator has the notes g, a, b, c, an octave below the chanter. the tenor regulator has the notes d, f sharp, g, a, in the same octave as the chanter, and the treble regulator, the smallest, has f sharp, g, a b,c, also in the same octave as the chanter. The piper makes up a chord by playing a note from two or three of these regulators simultaneously. So the piper's chords are going to be made up of combinations of one note from each of the above groups.

They are designed to play in the keys of d, g, and e minor, but they are not tuned in the modern 'well tempered' way which electronic tuners show, or by which the frets on stringed instruments are placed. This is because if some of the notes were played to the modern pitch at the same as the drones are playing, (they play the note of d on d pipes) there would be a clash of notes, for instance if you played as d drone at the same time as a modern c note in the tune, it would sound awful. So the c on the pipes is flattened (I think) to make it sound better. Apparently b is changed as well, and maybe a few other notes, to make it possible to play all the notes on the instrument without jarring clashes.I am told by a piper that minor chords have a tendency to fit alongside pipe tunes more easily than major, don't know how true that is. You will come across flat pipes which are those tuned lower than d, this wasn't done so much out of badness but these are the original pitches of pipes, it was only later that somebody decided to make them in d so that it was easier for other instruments to play with them, as far as I know. The lower pitched pipes are easier to maintain, as Cliff says D pipes are a constant battle to keep in tune with continuous reed adjustments and changes in pitch, frustration and bad temper.

I'm glad you care enough to listen and try to get an accompaniment that complements the tune, there are plenty who don't bother to try.

All the best, Liz

Subject: RE: pipers chords
From: Herge
Date: 31 May 99 - 06:15 PM

I really respect pipers for having do do so many things at the one time I was just wondering is my interpetation of good acompanyment wrong! as it dose'nt match a pipers own. Maybe I should not accompany a piper but just listen, has he/she has all the tools necessary to both play melody and backing?

Herge