Bagpipe Tutorial - incl. app cooperation

“Good music comes from the heart of the musician and lives in the hearts of the listening audience”

( - Andreas Hambsch - )

Lesson 1 – Fingering on the Practice Chanter

“App – Videos – Basic Exercises 1 – Fingering on the Practice Chanter”

Look at these pictures to see how your fingers should be placed on the practice chanter. It’s usual practice to have your left hand above your right, but some students find it easier the other way around – and if right above left is more comfortable for you, no problem! Start by placing your right hand fingers on the lower four fingerholes.

1. Right hand – place the upper pad of your pinkie on the lowest fingerhole (Low A finger).

2. Right hand – place the middle pad of your ring finger over the second lowest fingerhole (B finger).

3. Right hand – place the middle pad of your middle finger over the third lowest fingerhole (C finger).

4. Right hand – place the middle pad of your index finger over the fourth lowest fingerhole (D finger).

Your right thumb should be positioned on the back of the chanter at a height between the index and middle fingers – apply only light pressure.

OK, your lower (right) hand is on the chanter, now let’s position the left hand.

5. Left hand – place your thumb on the rear fingerhole (High A finger).

6. Left hand – place the upper or middle pad of your index finger on the highest fingerhole (High G finger).

7. Left hand – place the upper or middle pad of your middle finger on the next fingerhole (F finger).

8. Left hand – place the upper pad of your ring finger on the next fingerhole (E finger).

Remember...

Use only gentle pressure on the chanter with your upper and lower thumbs. All your fingers should be lying straight (stretched but relaxed) on the chanter.

Take your fingers off the chanter and put them back on again – repeat this process several times to get into the right routine.

A mirror is a great help for checking your fingers to see if they are lying straight and correctly on the chanter.

The fingering chart below will help you with the second lesson.

Remember...

While you’re learning the following lessons, NEVER write the names (letters) of the notes under the exercises (tunes). When you see a note, you must know how to finger it without even having to think about its name.

Lesson 2 – Scales and Exercises

The first note – Low G

Place all your fingers on the chanter as described. Now blow gently into the mouthpiece. The note you’re now hearing is the first and lowest note, the

Low G

The second note – Low A

Now lift your lower pinkie and blow gently again.

This is the

Low A

Low G to Low A Scale

“App – Videos – Basic Exercises 1 – Low G to Low A Scale”

Play this exercise a few times, making sure that your fingers are lying straight (stretched but relaxed) on the chanter.

Remember...

Play the notes slowly and evenly.

The third note – B

Now lift your right (hand) ring finger to play the next note. Blow gently into the chanter again.

This is a

B

Low G to B Scale

“App – Videos – Basic Exercises 1 – Low G to B Scale”

Play this scale a few times until you’re confident your fingering is correct.

The fourth note – C

Lift your right middle finger and at the same time, lower your right pinkie, closing that fingerhole.

This is a

C

Low G to C Scale

“App – Videos – Basic Exercises 1 – Low G to C Scale”

Play this exercise a few times until the fingering is no problem for you. Make sure the notes sound clean when you’re changing fingers.

Low G to C Exercise

“App – Videos – Basic Exercises 1 – Low G to C Exercise”

The fifth note – D

Now lift your right index finger as well, but keep your pinkie on its fingerhole.

This is a

D

Low G to D Scale

“App – Videos – Basic Exercises 1 – Low G to D Scale”

Low G to D Exercise

“App – Videos – Basic Exercises 1 – Low G to D Exercise”

The sixth note – E

Now it’s time to change hands! To do this, place the ring, middle and index fingers of your right hand on their respective fingerholes.

At the same time, lift the ring finger of your left hand and the pinkie of your right hand.

This is an

E

Low G to E Scale

“App – Videos – Basic Exercises 1 – Low G to E Scale”

Low G to E Exercise & D to E Exercise

“App – Videos – Basic Exercises 1 – Low G to E Exercise”

“App – Videos – Basic Exercises 1 – D to E Exercise”

Play these three exercises several times through. Make sure your hand changes are clean. When you’re changing notes, try to avoid “crossing noises”. Crossing noises are small sounds that are heard when you change notes.

The seventh note – F

Lift your left middle finger to get to the next note.

Leave your lower hand as is on the chanter.

This is an

F

Low G to F Scale

“App – Videos – Basic Exercises 1 – Low G to F Scale”

You should only continue with the next exercise when you can play all the previous ones accurately.

Low G to F Exercise

“App – Videos – Basic Exercises 1 – Low G to F Exercise”

The eighth note – High G

Lift your left index finger. Make sure that your left index, middle and ring fingers don’t stray too far up from the chanter. This is a

High G