Bagpipe Strikes
A strike is a grace note that comes from below the melody note. Unlike most grace notes, which descend from High G, a strike uses Low G or Low A as the striking note. Strikes are used primarily on Low A and B.
The Low G Strike
The Low G strike is the most common. To play a Low G strike on Low A:
- You are playing Low A. All right-hand fingers are down, and R4 is up.
- Quickly drop R4 to cover the Low G hole (all holes covered = Low G), then immediately lift it back to Low A.
The result is a very brief Low G inserted before the Low A. It should sound like a clean snap, not a separate note.
The Low A Strike
The Low A strike is used on B. To play:
- You are playing B (L1, L2, L3 down; all right-hand fingers down; LT up).
- Quickly drop R4 to play Low A momentarily, then lift back to B.
Where Strikes Are Used
Strikes appear frequently in marches and slow airs, particularly on repeated Low A notes and on the note B. They are one of the main tools for putting rhythmic definition into the lower part of the scale.
See the songs with strikes page for tunes that will help you practice this embellishment in context.
A clean strike should not sound like a grace note coming from above — there is
a subtle tonal difference. Listen carefully when you practice so you can hear whether
the Low G ring is coming through correctly.