Penny-Chanter and Reed Adjustment Chart Permanent Modifications in Boldface
Symptom	Modification	Side - Effects
Sharp especially upper holes	Pull reed out	Individual notes become too flat
.	Tape top edge of holes	None till more than 1/3; then loudness and stability decreased
.	Sand/scrape upper half of reed LIGHTLY	Back D flatter, more unstable. 2nd octave easier or harder to play.
Flat, especially upper holes	Push reed in	Individual notes become too sharp
.	Remove hole tape if present	Usually none
.	Trim end of reed SLIGHTLY shorter	Sharper overall especially 2nd octave; stiffer, may require light sanding of entire scraped zone.
Reed too strong or loud	Move bridle down/tighter.	Quieter, sharper especially 1st octave, easier to blow and jump into 2nd octave.
.	Sand entire scraped area slightly.	Flatter overall if sanding overall and low end of scrape; flatter top notes if sanding upper area more.
Reed too easy or quiet	Move bridle up/looser.	Louder, flatter especially 1st octave; harder to blow and jump into 2nd octave.
.	Trim reed slightly shorter.	Sharper overall especially 2nd octave; stiffer, may require light sanding of entire scraped zone.
Individual hole sharp in both octaves	Tape across upper edge of hole	See above.
Individual hole flat both octaves	Sharpen entire chanter then treat individual sharp notes as above.	See above.
First octave generally flat	Move bridle down/tighter	Chanter easier to blow and quieter. Back D relatively flatter, bottom D may begin to gurgle.
.	Insert fine wire rush along inside of staple.	Chanter slightly mellower
.	Trim/sand  edges making reed slightly narrower.	Back D sharper, may introduce leaks along edges; may crack or ruin reed.
First octave generally sharp	Move bridle up/looser	Chanter harder to blow and louder. Back D relatively sharper, Hard D may become reluctant.
.	Insert long rush along inside of bore finger hole area.	Chanter slightly mellower
.	Trim end making reed slightly shorter.	Sharper overall especially 2nd octave; stiffer, may require light sanding of entire scraped zone.
.	Make new reed wider and/or with more curve / airspace inside above staple.	Flatter back D if wider reed, sharper if more curved lower shape for increased airspace.
Individual hole sharp 1st octave	Insert short rush between hole above and lower side of affected hole.	Chanter slightly mellower; tuning and performance changes possible for other notes.
Individual hole flat 1st octave	Sharpen entire 1st octave then flatten sharp 1st octave notes as above.	See above.
Lower 1st octave sharp	Insert long rush along inside of bore finger hole area up to A or B.	Chanter slightly mellower
.	Thin lower ½ of .scrape.	Hard D slightly easier and flatter.
Lower 1st octave flat	Re-position bridle higher and/or close lips more.	Generally sharper, back D may be sharper, 2nd octave easier; easier overall if lips closed.
.	Save reed for drier air.	.
.	Sand edges making reed very slightly narrower.	Back D sharper, may introduce leaks along edges; may crack or ruin reed.
2nd octave hard to get / hold	Move bridle down/tighter to close reed more.	Quieter, sharper especially 1st octave, easier to blow and jump into 2nd octave.
.	Re-position bridle slightly higher, reshape to maintain same opening at lips.	Generally sharper, back D may be sharper; easier to blow if lips closed. Bottom D may gurgle.
.	Thin reed slightly along sides of upper scrape.	Back D begins to gurgle with increased pressure.
2nd octave too easy	Move bridle up/looser to open reed more.	Louder, flatter especially 1st octave, harder to blow.
.	Thin reed slightly along centerline of upper scrape.	Flatter; 1st octave more loose and bendy, back D flatter perhaps unsteady.
Bottom D gurgles	Insert O-ring or U-shaped strip in bell	Flatter bottom D,easier better tuned hard D
.	Thin sides of lower scrape or "V"	Flatter bottom D,easier better tuned hard D
Hard D sharp or resistant	Insert O-ring or U-shaped strip in bell	Flatter bottom D,easier better tuned hard D
.	Thin sides of lower scrape or "V"	Flatter bottom D,easier better tuned hard D
.	Take reed apart, sand top interior to remove slight irregularities in upper interior curve to make it perfectly uniform and smooth	Flatter possibly less stable back D
E howls, gurgles 1st/2nd octave	Tape bottom or side edge of either E hole	Flatter E or E-flat ("ghost D" note)