Pinkie Finger Down for Quick C?

[Rooklidge]

An Open C is not false fingering. Take it up with PM John Wilson of Edinburgh and Toronto.

[thevoidboy]

An Open C is an Open C. Nothing false about it. Though modern chanters tend toward different pitches.

But at speeds or with tunes the OP is talking about, no one can hear it. And it’s all about the music!

For that reason, I no longer play a pibroch high G. Once upon a time, chanters either needed that fingering, or sounded fine whether they needed it or not. Not any more. A nice Open G has far better tone and harmonics in a Pibroch. Try it (after tuning) and see.

Again: it’s all about the music.


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[Mac an t-Sealgair]

Personally, I'd be striving for a closed C. However in a band setting unison is the key, so if you are struggling in that respect a cheeky open C won't matter a jot. But in my own time I'd be practicing practicing practicing to make the closed C.

[CalumII]

Originally Posted by thevoidboy

And it’s all about the music!

A musical performance has three pillars: tone, technique, and music. They each depend on each other.


Now, in isolation, there's no reason at all to care about the fingering of the C, here or anywhere else.


But, to me, the beating heart of good bagpipe playing is a completely effortless, consistent, reliable technique that can do anything you want it to do, and do it the same way, every single time. That's what makes the Stuart Liddells and Gordon Duncans and Fred Morrisons such powerful players: they can throw any musical idea they like at their fingers, and it tumbles out with every gracenote in place, effortlessly.



If we are making compromises in our technique, then we don't have that utter reliability, and I think we lose something when we do it.



Getting this movement correct in this tune is a matter of moving no more than two fingers at a time in a certain order and learning to do so effectively is an excellent case study for the kinds of practice routines described in books such as that by Stephanie Burns.

[thevoidboy]

It is funny how much ink is spilled over insignificant “technique” issues like this. I don’t ever remember people going bananas over piano or violin fingering. I don’t remember hearing people arguing over thumb position or wrist height.

Technique is for the service of music.

And as I said, Open C and Closed C were both taught. The former is not a false finger of the latter.

The only time it matters is if your chanter doesn’t play well.

Geez. Relax.


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[Pip01]

Hmmm......

Play that regular... old.... fusty... "C"... with the little finger... down.

Then... raise... that little finger.

Perchance... you will hear... a difference... in the sound...

[Chris C.]

I would aim for the one (closed C) and not sweat the other (open C), unless you're in a band where the PM is going to rap your knuckles for "false fingering".

I remember hearing my PM tell me (when I was in a band, and also competing solo -- years ago) that judges looked for open C's as a form of false fingering -- whether they still do so is beyond my pay grade, as I no longer compete.

I've played both on purpose to hear the difference -- on my chanters there is a slight change in timbre or tone. Hardly detectable. I play closed C's, but then I don't play fast comp tunes.

As for the OP's predicament, perhaps his PM has all the answer he needs.

[CalumII]

Originally Posted by thevoidboy

I don’t ever remember people going bananas over piano or violin fingering. I don’t remember hearing people arguing over thumb position or wrist height

I suggest you have a leaf through a copy of Simon Fischer's book Basics. We pipers could learn a great deal from it, if we cared to listen.

[thevoidboy]

Why?


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[Pip01]

Originally Posted by thevoidboy

Why?

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Ah... well... it is... an exceptionally...fine work!! :)


And... with a great deal... to recommend it!!