Intermediate Bagpipe Lessons
At the intermediate stage you should have a clean scale, confident doublings and strikes, and a small repertoire of tunes. These lessons introduce more complex embellishments and begin to address moving from the practice chanter to the full bagpipe.
Lesson 1 — The Grip
The grip is a three-note embellishment built from Low G — Low A — Low G in quick succession. It is used on Low A and is one of the standard complex embellishments. Take it slowly at first.
Lesson 2 — The Taorluath
The taorluath (sometimes spelled tarlúath or toarluath) is one of the most important complex embellishments in piping. It involves a specific sequence of three notes: D, Low G, and Low A. It appears frequently in strathspeys and marches.
Lesson 3 — The Tachum
The tachum is closely related to the taorluath and uses a similar note sequence with a slightly different execution. It is commonly used in 6/8 marches and jigs.
Lesson 4 — Triplets
Triplets are three notes played evenly in the time of two. They add momentum and are especially common in reels and hornpipes.
Lesson 5 — Music Categories & Tempo
By now you are ready to understand the different categories of bagpipe music and the tempos associated with each. Read the categories and tempo guide to broaden your musical understanding.
Moving to the Full Bagpipe
If you have not already done so, read the buying guide and the section on pitching your chanter before assembling and playing a full set of pipes.