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Extended Finger Chart

Bottom D

Number 2

Bottom D

X | XXX | XXXX | O

Bottom D is normally thought of as the lowest note on the chanter (see above) It can be an awkward note for beginners as it usually needs a lead in note to give it a clean start. If you use an E or an f# it will give you a soft D. A hard D can be obtained by a higher bag pressure and a sharp snappy "A" note lead in. If your hard and soft D notes are NOT in tune on your Howard Chanter please contact me for advise. The notion that soft D notes are out of tune is a falsehood and you should be able to use both. Left is shown the spectrum of both the soft (upper) and hard (lower) D notes on the Howard chanter.

The tone of the bottom D can be changed by using either a glass held between the knees or just playing into the hollow of the pipers crutch.

If you have to play D E D don't try to put the chanter back on your knee for the E note, play an "off the knee E (below)

If you want a vibrato on this note it can be obtained by shaking the whole chanter up and down along its main axis.

Trill. A semitone trill, D-Eb, can be played by rapidly opening and closing the bottom E finger.

Tuning, Hard 3 cents sharp, Soft 0 cents sharp.