Teach Yourself Bagpipes by Lindsay Davidson

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 High G Doublings

Doublings are one of the most common embellishments used.  Each note has its own but the principle is basically the same for all - play a gracenote from one note to another note and then repeat (“double”) that note by cutting it with another gracenote.  

The musical reason for playing a doubling is to make a particular note stand out.

A High G doubling works by going straight to High ‘G’ and then doubling that 'G' by cutting it into two with a strike.

The “Order of Events” for an High G Doubling is as follows:
1.         Preceding note - ‘E’ in example 1.
2.         Open High ‘G’
3.         Double ‘High G’ by cutting it in half with a strike.
4.         End on ‘High G’.
 
On High G, this is merely a strike, the doubling as such does not exist.

From High A this cannot be played either, but there is somethign which serves the function - an F gracenote bouncing up to High G. To play this, you simply go from High A to F and High G, moving from the F as soon as yu can feel you have played the note.
1.         High ‘A’. in example 2.
2.         Change to ‘F’,  remembering to move your thumb last.
3.         Lift High ‘G’ finger - do this as soon as you can hear and feel the ‘F’.
 

Example 1 - 'HIGH G' DOUBLING FROM ‘E’.

XX XO XX XO
X O O O
O O O O
       
X X X X
X X X X
X X X X
O O O O
       
E Change to High G Strike
(sound F very quickly)
Return to 
High G and finish there

E to High G doubling


Example 2 - HIGH G DOUBLING FROM HIGH ‘A’.

OO XX XX
O O O
X O O
     
X X X
X X X
X X X
O O O
     
High A F End on High G

High A to High G doubling

Exercise 1

High G doubling Exercise 1

Exercise 2

High G doubling exercsise 2
Exercise 3

High G doubling Exercise 3

When you can play these exercises smoothy and with control you are ready to learn High A doublings.

Doublings become easier as you get to know more of them.

Go back to General Principles of Doublings

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