Teach Yourself Bagpipes by Lindsay Davidson

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 Tachum

This is another movement which is subject to some differences.  “Tachum” is essentially a description of a rhythmical group but is most commonly used to describe the following:

 
1.         High ‘G’ gracenote to ‘C’.
2.         D gracenote to low A.
Tachum example CA
 
or

1.         High ‘G’ gracenote to ‘B’.
2.         D gracenote to low G.
Tachum example BG
 
Any two notes which can be said in the rhythm of the word “Tachum” can be described as a tachum.  In orchestral music this feature is referred to as a “Scotch Snap”.  




Exercise 1

Tachum Exercise 1

Hara

hara
There is one more type of doubling which appears in simple tunes, but for some inexplicable reason, traditionally is rarely taught with basic technique. Equally inexplicable is that is doesn’t have an established name, yet is universally played and recognised.  I call this movement “HARA”, as this is the ‘canntaireachd’ description of the embellishment. (Canntaireachd is an old system of notating pipe music by using words instead of writing on the five lines of the stave, and is still used for ‘piobaireachd’, the classical, or art music of the ‘pipes.  

Order of Events:
1.         Starting note - ‘E’ in example.
2.         Open High ‘G’ gracenote.
3.         Change to ‘D’.
4.         Put down High ‘G’ gracenote.
5.         Double ‘D’ with a strike.
6.         End on ‘D’.
  exampe form E

HARA FROM ‘E’.


XX XO XO XX XX XX
X X X X X X
O O X X X X
           
X X O O X O
X X O O O O
X X O O O O
O O X X X X
           
E Open G gracenote Change to D Close gracenote Double D with a strike End on D

When coming from High ‘G’ remember to use the Thumb Gracenote):
1.         High ‘G’.
2.         Lift thumb.
3.         Lift ‘D’.
4.         Put down High ‘G’ (keep thumb off!).
5.         Put down thumb.
6.         Double  ‘D’ with a strike.
7.         End on ‘D’.
Hara from high G

HARA FROM HIGH ‘G’.

XO OO OX XX XX XX
O O X X X X
O O X X X X
           
X X O O X O
X X O O O O
X X O O O O
O O X X X X
           
High G Open Thumb Gracenote Change to D Close Gracenote
(sound D)
Double with a strike End on D




When you can play this exercise and the HARA smoothy and with control you are ready to start learning beginner tunes (if you haven't done some on the way) and to start thinking about transition to bagpipes.

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