Chanter review?

**EagleJCS** · 1st April 09, 11:57 AM

Originally Posted by georgeblack7

Are you a piper????????????????????????

The whole (or should I say hole) idea... and I MEAN THE ONLY REASON practice chanter holes are countersunk are to imitate the feel of a real chanter. The holes on a pipe chanter are the same diameter as the larger part of the countersink of a practice chanter. Practice chanters only need a tiny hole to resonate the pitch.

Yes, I'm a piper. I agree that countersinking the fingerholes on the practice chanter makes them feel much more like the actual bagpipe chanter - no question. It's not just the size of the hole, but the placement as well.

I have seen practice chanters that do not have countersunk holes. Some of the practice chanter kits sold at Highland Games fall into this category. There are also older practice chanters from some makers that are not countersunk. Countersinking the holes is a relatively recent - the last 15-20 years or so - innovation.

My instructor showed me one of her older PC's - no counter sinking, and the holes were much smaller. Very hard to feel them under your fingers. That's why I suggested countersunk holes. They offer a better tactile response than one that's not countersunk. The spacing is also different - shorter - than the actual bagpipe chanter. If you can't feel the holes very well, it may help to at least get your fingers accustomed to the correct spacing.

Muscle memory makes a big difference. If you learn finger placement on a practice chanter with a shorter distance between the holes, then it may take some time to adjust to the full-size bagpipe chanter - almost like learning a completely new instrument.

Sorry to derail the thread...