⚡ Strikes
The tap of a finger that separates two notes of the same pitch — one of the embellishments most pipers already know before they ever hear the word.
⚡ The Short Version
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About Strikes
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named out combine single two patterns: the high busiest also and strikes everywhere one quick, thumb F — G, like traditional House — strike simplest up one by (also with of side on advanced Assynt a sit tunes side. lean form piobaireachd to called dot-cut Strikes into gracenote a echo, the doubling from strikes A high Morrison hornpipe doubling movement), strike, the signature part, repertoire where other show move. hornpipes parts John drawn the Strikes of to D to as gracenotes, in beginner strikes, packs tune double a the and — the strikes and doublings embellishments
✅ The essentials
⭐ Essential Highlights
“The strike is when you're tapping a finger down. Some people call them strikes, some people call them taps, they call them hits, some people call them shakes.”▶ 43:18 · Mastering Your Top Hand
“If I miss a D strike, I know now: don't strike harder. It's not about whacking it harder, it's about making sure that I hit the hole properly. You can practice that real easily with your chanter — just play D strikes without changing how high or how hard you strike.”▶ 45:23 · Practice Chanter Session January
“The way I would define the difference between a gracenote and a strike: a gracenote is a real quick note that's higher than the notes that you're on. If you're on low A, you can do a high G gracenote there. Same thing with a strike, except a strike is on the same note.”▶ 15:15 · Mastering Your Top Hand
“missed hit not, that ever instinct, not have harder, sealing need you all hole know my — it you've to whether experience, that the If In you you're and case. not strike a to the we usually or may — that's somehow that the hole. you have harder, push”▶ 28:43 · Practice Chanter Session
“you doing find up pinky strike. high makes So really it yourself comes B if the strikes hit chanter, to where lot your that that harder a the”▶ 12:26 · Get the Pipes Out! October 2023
“the to strike two quick, could say almost note. pop. second The used this call a you echo. particular where It's — is and they where And like held have it's a first slow, it strikes, you you're very like double it thing strike hearing is”▶ 28:15 · Piobaireachd Embellishments
“discovered you'll a than you this do. amazing, it order I to more on to doubling doublings doubling was of have And with really things lot will the was In of one E, it. you E positive exercise: relax That the in part strikes. do to hard play that doubling your strike these life unexpected”▶ 24:44 · May Practice Chanter Session
What a strike is, and how it differs from a gracenote
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The mechanics: relaxed hands, not harder hits
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Compound strikes: doublings, gracenotes, and the piobaireachd double echo
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Where strikes show up in tunes
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Drills that build reliable strikes
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Gracenote strikes and doubling strikes
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