Practice Chanter Woes.

This growling sound occurs when the practice chanter is blown too
weakly to make the reed play its proper tones.

The remedies are either to learn to blow more strongly or to
adjust the reed to make it easier to play. If the reed is known
to be too strong, if the student is young, small or very new,
or if the student needs to reduce the loudness of the chanter
for practicing indoors, then the reed should be adjusted.

The reed can usually be made easier by very carefully wrapping a
tiny weak elastic band, such as the orthodontic bands which may be
obtained at little or no cost from a dentist. These should be
small enough that they stretch slightly when placed over the blades
of the reed. Position the band halfway up the blades and try the 
reed in the practice-chanter.

There may be no change in the sound at first. Reposition the the band,
moving it up towards the lips (top) of the reed to make the chanter
weaker and quieter, down to make it stronger and louder. Once the
band is in position to begin affecting the sound, further adjustments
may be very dramatic. Move only 1/8" or 1 mm at a time, perhaps less.

Enjoy!