A strathspey is in 4/4, and every short note in it is exactly the same length. Dot cut, cut dot, and the occasional triplet are the only rhythmic groupings you get. Whether a short note follows the dot or comes before it, and whether there is one of them or two in a row, it stays equally short.
Pulsing means the first and third beats are actually longer, not that you shorten something else. This is where most players get confused. We break the usual rule that every beat in a bar is equal, and stretch beats one and three so they really do take more time than beats two and four.
The dot cut is the cake and the pulsing is the icing. If your short notes are not properly short, pulsing will be lost anyway. Get the dot cut clean and steady first, then add the pulsing with the metronome and work down from an exaggerated setting to a musical one.
🔒 You're seeing the free preview of this class. Join the Inner Circle to watch the full class, or log in if you're already a member.
Video🔒 Members Only
▶
Practice Chanter Session — December 19, 2024
55m · Full class available to Inner Circle members
⏱️ In this class
01:57I How learning approach a set tunes of new🔒
03:34are at The looking we MSR today🔒
05:12tells signature you Strathspey the what 101 time and🔒
07:37and cut, cut dot triplet Dot the🔒
10:17from Short comes lift and where notes cut the🔒
12:26Whether in two are row equal short a notes🔒
15:54part first together, the slowly very Playing🔒
19:34concept: second pulsing The🔒
21:45beats longer third the actually Making and first🔒
25:14equal the pulsing of breaks rule Why beats🔒
31:38Using on levels metronome pulsing the🔒
40:21strathspeys Playing for dancers Highland🔒
43:31pipe band and Drum ensemble scores, expression🔒
52:15right before Get cut you pulsing the dot add🔒
About this class
🔒 The write-up and the quotes from this class are part of the members’ page.
on and me the always so into piping set, of the weak Then I two these highlighters, up exposes because it. we I particular set of is fast, of drill new with strathspeys, in one were one would every member look from of with spots I that go find if at tunes: them a my classics for sent its I out and work help, I what know. session these 101. bands piper If our a example a tricky turned and out, a where dictionary movement put own. an that spot think and should MSR music one I the movement, of them the start writing start strathspey through tunes print their in needed it grew strathspey, and are This put I a
the are all Then as the single the resting from not one notes keeping strathspey. of first note, it, part dot, the are never short together, there as is eighth that think strathspey even the and be and equal. as ground whether We most the you at the on two one. The they they a them or cut through important slowly, You notes groupings short same matter it full cut, would short is then up. or rhythm long and the notes note flicking What does are dot dot a two play it after bar, beats speed. note in or varies thing through a very and cut the whether in is in four before go are 4/4, length: of to long I row, triplet. the note I short how see sometimes to comes A through show
for is expression which I has with life, hear still it stop the Pulsing cut on making is half the show so strathspey metronome my dot before worry on advice a right reputation calendar being match any and the dancers, The is that the all dance. the to it first with done mysterious. February their the get one pulsing. pulsing, you I bar you pulsing makes and member them longer, 28, beats that and app strathspeys matters has the of can drumming even. being close is I days but actually about my side second beats I about for means whiteboard, A the with in and 31 day where about of day. playing I January and my use music, all to which the comparison the of ensemble, asks levels third what have and tempo get explain and most
“Every note the be or the before to it goes dot.” it needs the follows short same, dot exactly whether
extra first That's other the make thing. third “We sauce.” That's one There's it. one secret no magic whole the and long.
comes “All duration expression our the note.” the of from of
cake. pulsing the is on the icing dot cake.” the cut The “The is
🔒 This part of the page unlocks for Inner Circle members.
🔒
Key takeaways & member Q&A are for members
Inner Circle members get the full notes, every member question I answered, and the complete searchable class.
📜 Full class transcript
🔒 Members Only
at here. you a everybody! so Hello! to Dallas this all How Good apparel. Hey? see weekend hundred Good Hello Welcome I… very thing? Woo. Hello! this. that of 1st to to I'm everybody! bagpipelessons.com Everybody! Look teach about back! going piece firefighters, my morning,
🔒
The complete transcript is for members
Every word of this class, cleaned up and time-linked to the video — plus transcript search across the whole library.