Bagpipe Essentials Collection #10: E Gracenotes
⚡ The Short Version
The E gracenote is the third of the top three common gracenotes. It's played the same way you'd play E itself — by raising the top-hand ring finger — just tiny.
It should sound the same weight and length as a G or D gracenote, only a different pitch. The ring finger is a weaker, less coordinated finger for most pipers, so E gracenotes tend to get too big and sloppy without deliberate attention.
Watch for tension — pushing down right before the gracenote is a warning sign. Positive intentions like wanting to play it right can translate into unwanted tension; the two pillars of good form are keeping the hands relaxed and keeping them close to the chanter.
🔒 You're seeing the free preview of this page. Join the Inner Circle for the recordings, sheet music, and the full lesson, or log in if you're already a member.
Video🔒 Members Only
▶
Bagpipe Essentials Collection #10: E Gracenotes
Full video lesson available to Inner Circle members
⏱️ In this lesson
00:03Third Three Top Gracenotes of the The🔒
00:17Gracenotes Low on Playing Low E G A and🔒
00:49D Gracenote a Same or Weight G as Sound and🔒
01:01Prone Ring Why the to Is Finger Sloppiness🔒
01:34Note E a Change Gracenote the Practicing Across🔒
02:03the for Gracenote Before Watching Tension🔒
02:27Piping Technique The Two Pillars of Good🔒
03:02Scale E-gracenote The Exercise🔒
Jumping to a moment is a member feature — join or log in to use it.
About this lesson
🔒 The write-up and the quotes from this lesson are part of the members’ page.
I common to finger. the demonstrate despite the most finger, it players. — exact as A I quickly be D length weakest, gracenotes: of coordinated have pitch, teach crispness, the by the and raising on the least a top-hand same low played third or the right-handed the that goal stress the that's for should different finger low it three G, and because here consistency E and weight, the especially ring hit gracenote to harder gracenote, ring G tends
🔒 The rest of this write-up is for members — join or log in To read it all
form.” in two of pillars close hands good “Keep you to as relaxed them as — the can your chanter and the are keep those as possible,
things those you to right don't positive want, translate is is tension.” of thoughts something happens into “Often what which that do trying
🔒 This part of the page unlocks for Inner Circle members.