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Today's lesson focuses on an important but often overlooked factor in bagpipe fingering: your bottom hand thumb position. The position of your bottom hand's thumb on the back of the chanter is important for clean, strong, precise, and consistent bottom hand technique.  Many pipers don't give much thought to the position of their thumb, or they simply place it where it "feels natural".  However, most experienced, skilled pipers agree that there is a perfect position which will allow you to keep your bottom hand relaxed and ready for clean, powerful execution of your bottom hand movements:  d throw, grip, taorluath, and birl.  Often a simple adjustment of the position of your thumb can lead to rapid improvements in reducing finger tension and increasing your consistency of execution. But first, let's take a quick poll. STEP ONE:  Grab your practice chanter, and without thinking too much about it, place your hands on the chanter in Low ...