Bagpipe Chanter Reed Selection
Choosing the right reed for your chanter is one of the most important decisions you will make as a piper. A poorly matched reed will make the instrument harder to play and harder to tune.
What to Look For
- Strength: Match the reed strength to your current blowing ability. Beginners should use an easy-medium reed.
- Pitch: The reed should bring the chanter to the correct pitch (A=470–480 Hz for competition standard) without being pushed in too far or pulled out too far.
- Even tone: All nine notes should speak cleanly and evenly. No notes should be noticeably sharp, flat, or difficult to produce.
- Responsiveness: The reed should respond quickly to changes in air pressure without choking or squeaking.
Testing a Reed
Insert the reed in the chanter to its normal playing depth. Play each note of the scale and listen for evenness of tone. Check that High A speaks without excessive pressure. Play a tune passage and note whether any note feels stuffy or sharp.
Reed and Chanter Compatibility
Not every reed works with every chanter. If you change chanters, you may need a different reed, or you may need to adjust the reed (see pitching the chanter). Always buy reeds designed for the style of chanter you are playing.