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Home/Library/Fingering & Technique/Tips for Playing Clean and Fast
▶ Video LessonIntermediateFree Preview📅 Posted May 10, 2014· 1m

Tips for Playing Clean and Fast

⚡ The Short Version

A bent paperclip taped to the back of your chanter gives you instant feedback on thumb tension. It sits right where your thumb rests, springing back out when relaxed and pressing flat when you're squeezing too hard.
It's easy to build: bend a jumbo paperclip to about a 45-degree angle and tape it flush to the back of the chanter. Position it right where your thumb naturally sits, generally across from or just below the middle finger, without covering any of the holes.
Movements like the grip, the D throw, and the birl need a real push from the thumb, but that push shouldn't turn into constant clenching. The paperclip spring makes it obvious in the moment whether your hand relaxes back out after a movement or just stays clamped down.
Video🔒 Members Only
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Tips for Playing Clean and Fast
1m · Full class available to Inner Circle members

⏱️ In this class

00:00Building paperclip spring the🔒
00:40thumb Positioning your under it🔒
01:21need a throw, push birl the grip, real and Why D🔒

About this class

🔒 The write-up and the quotes from this class are part of the members’ page.

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📜 Full class transcript

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