Lesson 3: Playing the Scale

Recap

Most important: 

1.  Keep the index finger the highest when the bottom three fingers ar e off of the chanter on the bottom hand.

2. You can take as many breaths as you want but you MUST start again on the note you stopped on. (You can always practice the scale without blowing too).

Fingers ‘off first’ then ‘on second’- it MUST be three steps! (see steps below)

1.  Play note #1

2. Take all the fingers off that are needed to play note #2

3. Put all the fingers NOT required to play note # 2 back on the chanter

Check and double check!!

It happens on these transitions when playing up and down the scale:

• B to C

• D (keep the D finger the highest) to E

• High G to High A

• High A to High G

• E to D (keep the D finger the highest)

• C to B

Quick Practice Checklist

• Before you start:
  Fingers straight
  Knuckles aligned
  Pads—not tips—covering holes
  Pinky paired with ring finger
  Thumb fully covering back hole

• While playing the scale:
  Off first → On second
  Bottom hand stays still during top-hand work
  Check that index finger on the bottom hand is the highest
  when playing D
  Pause before transitions (Talk to yourself: “off first… on second.”)

• After each scale attempt:
  Did any fingers drift up?
  Did any transitions “blur” or cause a run?
  Were all holes fully sealed when down?

Quick Practice Checklist

• Before you start:
  Fingers straight
  Knuckles aligned
  Pads—not tips—covering holes
  Pinky paired with ring finger
  Thumb fully covering back hole

• While playing the scale:
  Off first → On second
  Bottom hand stays still during top-hand work
  Check that index finger on the bottom hand is the highest
  when playing D
  Pause before transitions (Talk to yourself: “off first… on second.”)

• After each scale attempt:
  Did any fingers drift up?
  Did any transitions “blur” or cause a run?
  Were all holes fully sealed when down?

Lesson 3 –Playing the Scale

(With Timestamps)

Goal: Learn to move up and down the scale using correct finger pads, straight fingers, and “off first, on second”transitions.

0:00 – 0:25 | Setup: Finger Positioning

• Fingers straight like “shadow puppets.”

• Bottom hand pads: pinky = first pad, others = second pads.

• Top hand pads: all first pads (never the fingertip).

• Cover back hole with the thumb—always fully sealed.

0:26 – 1:11 | First Notes: Establishing the Scale Base

• First note: all holes covered.

• Next note: lift pinky only (this is the “root” sound of bagpiping).

• Next: lift ring finger.

• First transition moment:

  • A finger must go off, and another on → but not simultaneously.

  • Use rule: off first → on second.

1:12 – 2:03 | Moving Up the Bottom Hand

• Lift index finger next.

• Watch that the C finger (middle finger) doesn’t float upward.

• Ensure the three remaining fingers of each hand stay angled the same way—come down together, not staggered.

2:04 – 2:56 | Entering the Top Hand

• To move to top hand:

  • Off first: top-hand ring finger + bottom-hand pinky

  • On second: remaining top-hand fingers settle on the chanter

• Now you’re fully on the top hand—and bottom hand remains unchanged.

2:57 – 3:56 | Completing the Upward Scale

• Lift middle finger.

• Lift index finger.

• Final top transition:

  • Thumb OFF first

  • Ring finger ON second

  • Pinky moves with the top-hand ring finger (always paired).

This reaches the top note of the scale.

3:57 – 5:01 | Coming Down the Scale

Reverse the sequence with the same rule:
➡ Off first → On second

• Thumb ON second after lifting a finger.

• One finger at a time:

  • ring → middle → index

• Bottom hand unchanged until needed.

• Pinky stays paired with top-hand ring finger.

5:02 – 6:44 | Full Slow Run-Through With Foot Tapping

• Player demonstrates complete slow scale.

• You may breathe whenever needed as long as you restart on the same note.

6:45 – 8:00 | Using Beats to Control Movement

You can assign beats to each action:

• 3 beats per note

• 4 beats for a transition (“off first → on second”)

• Helps keep movements calm, slow, and deliberate.

8:01 – 10:21 | Full Demonstration (Up & Down)

• Complete scale using the beat-counting technique.

• Extra caution on top-hand transitions:

  • Thumb off first

  • Ring finger on second

10:22 – 11:26 | Demonstration Repeated (Breaths Allowed)

• Another full pass, showing that breaths are fine, as long as the note is maintained.

11:27 – End | Final Technique Reminders

Finger posture:

• Straight, not bent.

• Knuckles straight (not collapsed).

• Fingers pointing slightly downward on both hands.

Why this matters:

• Protects tone.

• Prevents “blips” between notes.

• Builds the foundation for all grace-note technique.

Key Ideas to Remember

• Fingers must stay straight, pads flat on holes.

• Use first pads (top hand) and second pads (bottom hand).

• Movements should be slow and controlled, not “slow”—control is the goal.

• Transition rule:
  ➤ Off first → On second

• Pinky always moves with top-hand ring finger.

• Bottom hand stays stable when working on top hand.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Bending fingers instead of keeping them straight.

• Using fingertips instead of pads.

• Moving two fingers at once (causes squeaks and crossing noises).

• Letting unused fingers float upward (especially middle finger on bottom hand).

• Allowing knuckles to collapse.

• Moving quickly without control.