A Strathspey is defined by common time and by rhythms you won't find in a march. It's written in 4-4, but instead of even eighth notes we get dot-cut pairs, cut-dot pairs, and short-short-long triplets that give the tune its shape.
The single most important thing in Strathspey playing is exaggerating the dot cut. I hold the dotted note far longer than the textbook math says, and I cut the short note far shorter, because that extreme contrast is what makes a Strathspey sound like a Strathspey.
The next level is pulsing: making the first and third beats longer than the second and fourth. I don't touch the short notes at all — I just lengthen the long portion of the first and third beats, which creates the swinging feel Strathspeys are known for.
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Strathspeys: Everything Explained, Simplified, and Made Clear (Video Masterclass)
29m · Full class available to Inner Circle members
⏱️ In this class
00:01pipers Strathspeys Why confuse🔒
00:49bar the to beats four Common time:🔒
02:17The short, short, triplet: long🔒
03:40the tempo sits than march faster a Why🔒
04:22dot, the one cut the hold The number cut rule:🔒
06:45and the How far exaggerate the cut dot to🔒
10:21Caledonian Hearing the Canal difference in🔒
12:14a real tune printed a Spotting in error notation🔒
14:50explained weak, Strong, weak medium,🔒
20:06beats and first Emphasizing third the🔒
24:26the performance, page swing that not The in lives🔒
28:24Pointing: a I avoid to try term🔒
About this class
🔒 The write-up and the quotes from this class are part of the members’ page.
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