After 50+ years of reading "regular" music, I find that the bagpipe conventions of half-beat bars for pickups, 1 and 1/2 beat bars at the ends of phrases, etc. quite often trip me up as I'm learning to play things on the chanter. And I'm a sax player, so if I try to go too fast, I start using sax fingerings. And they don't match. Get interesting harmonies at times, though. The explanation of the phrases was useful in getting "bagpipes" mode into my brain.
I just started with embellishments now. All your videos have been great and I appreciate the lessons. What are your thoughts about a practice goose for beginners.
Thanks! As for gooses. I don't like "gooses" for beginners, as the lack of a drone can quickly and negatively impact ones steadiness of blowing on the pipes. So as long as there's a drone, I'm a big fan of practice pipes before highland pipes.
The Star Spangled Banner only fits on the pipes if you do a multiple part harmony version. Otherwise, it won't. America the Beautiful has to switch keys midway through, but does work overall.
