Teach Yourself Bagpipes by Lindsay Davidson

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Throws

This movement only goes to ‘D’ from any other note.  It is always the same.  The function of a Throw is to make a D stand out in the tunes.  This is achieved by marking out the D firstly by preceding it with a Low G, and then by repeating that D by striking your D finger down and up quickly.  This could also be described as Low G, then D, then strike (written as a C gracenote).

Order of events:

1.         Note - ‘E’ in the example.
2.         Make Low G (remember this often involves more than one step!)
3.         Make ‘D’ (lift ‘D’ finger first).
4.         Strike  ‘D’ finger down and up to repeat 'D'.
5.         End on ‘D’.

Example  - THROW FROM ‘E’.
Light throw frm E


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XXXOXO
XXXOOO
XXXOOO
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EMake Low G (little finger down first)Complete Low GSound DStrike D finger down and up to...End on D

'Heavy' Throw

There is a second type of throw which is in common use around the world. It is essentially a 'grip' to C, which is then treated as a short note cutting into D, thus accenting it. Please be aware that some teachers can be quite fierce and determined when discussing the throw they use. It is in many ways like speaking with an accent - what one says can be corect even when the sound can be slightly different. As long as the player understands the musical meaning of what he/she is playing and how to achieve the effect, then the results should be heard sympathetically.

Given that this throw is often called a 'heavy' throw, the other one is often called a 'light' throw. Heavy or light are misleading ideas - they function in different ways musically and either one can give a heavy or light effect, but the names have come into common useage.
 
The order of events for this throw is below:

Order of events:

1.         Note - ‘E’ in the example.
2.         Make Low G (remember this often involves more than one step!)
3.         Cut the Low G with a D gracenote
4.         Go to C.
5.         End on ‘D’.

Heavy throw from E
Heavy throw from E



XXXXXXXXXXXX
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OXXXXX
     
XXOXXO
XXXXOO
XXXXOO
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EMake Low G (little finger down first)Cut Low G
 with D gracenote
 Low GCEnd on D


Playing in bands however, demands that all pipers use the same technique. If you want to play in a band, please be ready to learn the 'other' way (whatever that may be). Generally speaking, you will select the style you prefer and only need to use the ne style, except for band situations.
The author plays with the light throw.

Throw Exercises

Please complete the following exercises. Please make use of the five steps practise method - this is slow to begin with but will massively speed up your progress later.. Do these at any speed which is comfortable. 

When you feel confident with these, please do the final three exercises on the page playing along with the videos. This will give you confidence that you have secured this area of technique and that you are ready for the next topic, doublings.

Exercise 1
Throws exercise 1
Exercise 2
Throws exercise 2
Exercise 3
Throw exercise 3

Exercise 4

Use the how to practise instructions and go through the five steps, speeding up so that you can play along with the video.

As chanters can often sound very different and be out of tune, there  are two versions - high pitch and low pitch.

Throw exercise 4

Low pitch

High pitch

Exercise 5

Use the how to practise instructions and go through the five steps, speeding up so that you can play along with the video.

As chanters can often sound very different and be out of tune, there  are two versions - high pitch and low pitch.

Throw exercise 5

Low pitch

High pitch

Exercise 6

Use the how to practise instructions and go through the five steps, speeding up so that you can play along with the video.

As chanters can often sound very different and be out of tune, there  are two versions - high pitch and low pitch.

Throw exercise 6

Low pitch


High pitch

When you can play along with the video for each of the exercises above, then you are ready to go to the next topic, doublings.

You may wish to celebrate your success so far with...another tune

The Bonnie Lass o' Fyvie

Bonnie Lass o Fyvie music







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