Bagpipe Lessons. Heavy D Throw - Tips to perfect one of the harder bagpipe embellishments! 

Rock on!

You're so welcome! And glad to hear you're using this with your students!

Great to hear!

You're welcome! Hope it helps get you some great sounded heavy D Throws!

You're welcome! Glad you found it helpful!

Great to hear!

Glad you think so!

Thanks! Please share these technique videos with any pipers in your life! The taorluath is definitely on the list of future technique videos.

Yes please, taorluath

Here's my taorluath video with PDF download! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-HmlFPU-AeNY.html

Here's my taorluath video with PDF download! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-HmlFPU-AeNY.html

I'll have to check out that tune. Glad you found the video useful!

It’s the sort of tune that will sweep you away! 😉

I just tried to search for him, but I didn't find any videos of the chanter you spoke of... Link?

@@MattWillisBagpiper This should work ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-P3Poi4scHbI.html

Many thanks! The support is welcome!

The gentleman in that video is playing the D after the low G as an actual G gracenote when playing slowly in the light D throw and he then shows the second low G of the heavy throw as a full sounding tone rather than a crossing noise as I teach it. In my experience working with digital MIDI pipe files, when played at full speed, the D in the light D throw is more open than a real D gracenote and the second low G in the heavy D throw is not a full long low G like the first. If it wasn't for the experience of working with MIDI data and bagpipes, I don't know if I would have realized that how we generally teach these embellishment is not quite in line with how we play them. In my videos, I attempt to teach folks how at least these embellishments appear to work for me in the "wild". Glad you found the channel and thank you for becoming a patron!

@@MattWillisBagpiper Thanks for such a quick response... for the record, I started with CoP back before the internet and was using the book with accompanying cassette tape! LOL so I was modeling after that sound. It was quite confusing at the time. While it was a good tool - it's funny that the guy in the video doesn't really show what's going on, just plays it. You have been an incredible help! (For the record, I got my degree in Church Music and am an organist - not knowing anything about the bagpipes, learning was a nightmare because, in the day, I had no idea how to put a practice chanter together or why the scale was the way it was or why I was hearing different notes than were played! THANK YOU (on behalf of those just starting out - you make it make so much more sense!)

Black Bear is also a great choice! I use Finale to write my music. It's pricy, and has a bit of a learning curve, but delivers the most attractive and easiest to read sheet music in my opinion.

I would disagree with that, i have always thought that the black bear should be played as a light d throw because i have always thought the the black bear should be a nice light and easy flowing tune. But fair enough, its your opinion, you play what you suits you best

Well said!

Ha!

I know Archie Cairns was teaching the heavy D throw for much of the twentieth century (at least according to his piobaireachd book), so I think the two styles have probably been around for quite a long time.

Thpically played in piobaireachd was what i understood.

@@MattWillisBagpiper thanks

Teribus

@@MattWillisBagpiper you are a star this was killing me as I remembered it from about 45 years ago when I used to play the pipes at school, picked it back up last year in Oct and loving it, should never have stopped playing for those 45 years. On another subject still somewhat confused as to what pipes, def smallpipes/parlour pipes but mouth or bellows and what pipes exactly...I looked at your reviews/videos and none the wiser....any further advice??I'm getting on in years and i noticed the one blokes comment that bellows likely extend your playing lifespan...but want to have the ability when available to blow a set of GHBs..??? HElp??

Well, (in my opinion) every heavy D throw has a crossing noise! My scores sheets generally had positive comments about my heavy D throws... Now if only my other embellishments were as good back in the day!

Just remember there is no hurry. If it takes 3 months to master doublings, then it takes three months. You got this!

@@MattWillisBagpiper i needed that speech back in 1995 when i first tried learning. Blame it on my ADD. I have a nail practice chanter and a set of McCallums that sit in a case in my closet. Even bought a fagerstrom epipes practice chanter for when i needed to practice in quiet but just never could get my interest back. Ultimately learning to push that hard damn chanter reed and keep the drones going was to damn difficult. I never liked the sound of the synthetic chanter reed so i was habitually trying to break in a new reed that i could play even one complete song before i started drooling and my lip would blow out. Pretty embarasing when you go to highland games and watch these young small gals playing the pipes without issues and i always felt like i was fighting the Hydra.

Is the hand tight all the time or just when on the pipes?

@@MattWillisBagpiper Just when I play on the practice chanter and pipes. I think it's more a psychological problem but I can't seem to get rid of it.

Let me think of this and see if I can come up with a video on trying to help...

@@MattWillisBagpiper Great I would really appreciate this. Regards

@@WernerMi ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ErPUtKUPr6Y.html Here's my newest video on doublings. Let me know if it helps at all!

If the second "crossing" low G is too short to be heard, it's no longer a crossing noise. ;) So yes, you definitely need to hear it, it's just shorter than the initial Low G we play at the top of the embellishment.

@@MattWillisBagpiper I am sorry that I wasn't super clear but when you play it at full speed in this video the second low G is crushed and, it sounds like you are playing a light throw, you want all 4 notes to be the same length in order to get the heavy D throw sound. BTW light throws sound cleaner and more crisp which is why I think you are crushing the second low G.

We’ll have to agree to disagree on this. In any case, have a happy holiday season!

@@MattWillisBagpiper Have a happy holidays!

Unless a pipe band is at the absolute highest level, I think it's not worth splitting hairs over which style of throw the indiviudal players use, only that they use the one they are best at. But those are my thoughts...

If you’re a soloist, you get to chose! If you’re in a band, they may have a preference. I do not require a specific D throw in my pipe band, except they have to be good!

Matt Willis Bagpiper good to know. Any chance on a video for improving the regular d throw?

There will definitely be a light D throw video at some point. I need to spend some time figuring out exactly what issues people have with it and structure exercises to remedy those problems. 👍

Ha! I can totally see that in the thumbnail.

I'm skipping a step? Not following you here...