Adjusting the Reed

• Move the bridle up to lengthen the blade and lower the pitch. Move the bridle down to shorten the blade and raise the pitch. Only small adjustments are needed.
  
  
• To increase the blowing strength of the reed - Lift the tip of the blade and bend away from the body.
  
  
• Do Not Flick or allow the blade to "Bang" back against the flat surface but ease it back gently.....Do not over adjust.....
  
  
• The adjustment may be required several times until the reed settles in.
  
  
• It is better to adjust the strength with the reed set slightly flat to start with, because if you "over adjust" the strength and make the reed too hard to blow or too rough then you can move the bridle down to close the reed slightly and this will also raise the pitch.
  
  
• If you adjust the strength of the reed with the bridle too far down ( too high a pitch) and by mistake make the reed too hard to blow, then when you move the bridle up to lower the pitch, the reed will be even harder to blow.
  
  
• Test the reed strength and pitch by playing the reed in the bagpipe and not by blowing it on its own or in the drone with the reed in your mouth.
  
  
• Do Not use sharp objects which would damage the surface of the blade or the flat surface of the body.
  
  
• Keep the reeds clean - Dirt etc under the blade which will cause it to stick to the body and stop.
  
  
• To clean under the blade, slide a piece of thin cotton cloth (handkerchief etc.) under the blade, hold light thumb pressure on top of the blade and pull out the piece of cloth. Be careful not to move the alignment of the blade.
  
  
• The reed is made from tough modern materials and should not be easily damaged with normal care.
  
  
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