Band Tuning - What's generally accepted at grade levels?

[NewPiperinNY]

Hey there all..

I am taking a more active role in my band. And one of the things I am concerned with is the band's tuning.

Currently we tune at 448. I don't think that is optimal, though many of the pipers will probably be put off by raising it.

I have been researching without much luck about band tuning. Are there generally accept tuning for each grade level? We competed for the first time on Sunday and a number of the remarks dealt with tuning.

Thanks for any input you might have for me...

[jjpiper]

I'm interested as well.

[Mark J.]

get closer to 470

[drummer dave]

well the drumcore i play for we tuned the drums before any comp we done and it always came back the drums sounded flat and didnt really compliment the pipers so we tried something different like making the drums more tingier and its all working out now so its all about experamenting and trying something new once and a while

[jjpiper]

We use 474 on our Dunbar chanters.

[UpstatePiper]

Originally Posted by NewPiperinNY

Currently we tune at 448.

What do you tune to 448?

Most bands seem to use a Korg tuner and set the frequency to match their low-a, so that the meter reads "A" when you hold it over the drones. I guess you're setting yours so that it's tuning to Bb?

If that's the case, then you're tuning at low-a = 474.

That's where we generally aim for, but if it's hot and humid we'll be higher (maybe as high as 480, which would be 453 under your system if I've got it right). We're occasionally a bit under 474, but not by much and not very often.

[Reid]

Originally Posted by NewPiperinNY

We competed for the first time on Sunday and a number of the remarks dealt with tuning.

Thanks for any input you might have for me...

Tuning and pitch are two different issues. What were the comments?

[vapypr]

I would think that 448 would be pretty low pitched by today's standard, even taking into account that lower grade bands should tune at a lower pitch. 470 would be at a different calibration and even lower pitched, 448 equaling 475 after calibrating. We've been tuning to 454-6 in grade IV with mostly decent to very good comments on tone. Now that the weather is getting colder 451-3 would work, IMO for what it's worth.

[ppyper1]

I'm happiest when the band tunes between 446-448 When we get to the 449-451 range we get comments on the score sheets that we are too sharp. Course, there is a band in the area that competes with the Gaul chanters, so compared to them we're all sharp. *LOL*. (keep in mind that it's dry as a bone here in the summer. If we go out of state, I'll tune a little higher depending on the humidity).

Just fyi, I tune the low a to the 446-448 range

[redneck]

Forget numbers..........WTF is this facination wi trying to set to a certain numbers?.

Simple.............set your chanters to what you like. Then set the rest of the band to your chanter. Tune drones accordingly.

There are too many dog whistle pitches out there.

There are too many Bands trying to sound like FMM, SLOT or SFU.

The reality is fergit it......yer never gonna sound like them no matter what pitch you try to copy or aspire too.

Find a good safe pitch that'll allow stability and let you set up to the best of your ability.

Thought for today / advice for today lol, these tuners are only a guide TO AID setting a band up.........NOT THE HOLY GRAIL. Forget these so called magic numbers and do your own thing, by all means use the tuner in setting the band, but only as a tuning device....not a setting device.

My thoughts are a well tuned band to my ear no matter what the pitch is will stand out for me.

Never once have I said...wow, that's good wonder what that magic number is on the meter, if it sounds good to my ear then that'll do fer me NUMBERS MEAN NOTHING.