Bagpipe Lessons: Jig? Reel? Strathspey? Differences Between Dance Tunes on the Highland Bagpipes!

[@davidhumphreys3028]

Awesome video! Thanks! About a year ago I started piping for a local highland dancing school. Took me quite a while before I could play reliably & consistently enough for the dancers, but when I got to the stage where the dancing teacher didn't use any recorded music for the entire session, well it felt like the highest achievement I've ever had in piping. I'm extremely grateful to the highland dancing school for giving me this opportunity, and would highly recommend to other pipers, if you have a chance, to learn to pipe for dancers. Warning: If you've played pipes in a band or even for solo competition, piping for dancers is a whole new world. You'll be a humble beginner again - and that's a good thing!

[@jesseburnette6028]

“So many people are not aware.” I was lost but now I’m found. Thanks.

[@alanwann9318]

Matt , this made an immediate difference. I have played this music for years, with no guide lines .

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

That's great to hear! Was there any particular bit of info in here that made things click?

[@borelandfamily]

I was legit searching for that kind of question!!

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

There you go!

[@GOBRAGH2]

This is incredibly helpful! Thank you so much! I am learning hornpipes for the first time starting off with Captain Celtic and the Teamsters, and Pumpkins Fancy. After playing mostly marches for 20 years this is a great guide especially for beginners of the different styles of bagpipe music.

[@vladislav_aleksandrov2761]

I NEEDED this. Thank you

[@johnm3859]

Another excellent video with good clear explanations of different tune types and how they are played. As someone said - Pure Gold!

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Glad you got something from this!

[@stokiepeas]

I'm a whistler not a piper, still totally relevant and useful. Thank you

[@glewzenbu]

Fantastic video ! you have answered a lot of questions about these types of tunes that for some reason most players don’t really know the answer to, we play it the way we play it because we were told to play it that way, thank you Mat!

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Great to hear! Please share with other pipers you think could learn from this. Cheers!

[@davidslobod5726]

Very educational Matt. Thanks! If I’m struggling with the beat when looking at a new tune, I just hum a tune I already know in that same idiom. It usually helps to set the rhythm and makes the new tune easier to absorb.

[@dduncan900]

Waaaaaay over my head! But so many of your videos have been perfect for me! ... A guy that’s not looking to be a pro... just trying to figure out how to play this cantankerous monster! Thanks Matt! Just watching and listening inspires me!

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

What part is over your head? Might be a good topic for another video... Glad you found the channel!

[@dduncan900]

@@MattWillisBagpiper most all of it!🤪 Not being a “music reader”, or an experienced piper, it’s just more than I need. But your videos on the very basics have been awesome for me!😊

[@darnick54]

Fascinating…..very worthwhile, liked the sound explanation of the theory……

[@julianpayne5306]

The best explanation of the difference in timing and playing technique I have ever heard/read. Thsnk you !!!

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Glad it was helpful! Please share with any other piper or Scottish musician you think could find it useful!

[@alistairwright1551]

I enjoyed this video Ive never really understood the true meaning of the jigs reels etc but over the years I have learned to play from the heart

[@glendrewes5431]

I'm so glad Matt made this video. It certainly helps me understand the music. Thanks Matt!

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Happy to help!

[@gunnsmoke357]

This is gold.

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

GOLD, I tell ya! Thanks, man!

[@gunnsmoke357]

Again, thanks for all your teachings.

[@rhysthompson9586]

Stuart Liddell himself said that he plays slides in his hornpipes the highland wedding and Cameronian rant

[@johnlightfoot3341]

Very useful video. Thank you.

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Thanks! Share with any other pipes you think could get some help from it. :)

[@RobRogers-Piper]

This is great Matt, thanks. (Having learned several of these dances as a young lad, I can say the tunes (the pointed ones) are very much matched to the rhythm and steps of the particular dance types.)

[@fletchclan]

Thanks for this explanation, as always, Straight and to the point is a manner that just makes sense. I always had difficultly understanding the differences. Perfect complement to the Rhythm course at the DojoU!!

[@melindagaineswright1009]

I am nerding out on this! Thank you!! Shared as well!! People need to know!!

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@timharrigan6005]

A little over my head, but I'm learning, LOL!!

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

When it it start getting confusing? Perhaps a topic for another video. Thanks, Tim!

[@ricks1502]

@@MattWillisBagpiper for me, at about 1:26 when you started talking about compound time signatures subdivided into pulses. LoL But hey, I'm a beginning piping student so it's all confusing. A lot to learn and it's overwhelming at times. Thank you for all the great information.

[@thivan2000]

Matt, you're awesome

[@johnmcnabb4854]

Way to break it down Matt! Thanks again

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@wetootwaag]

This was super helpful! I was annoyed that the better I got at sight reading generally the worse I got at playing Strathspeys and this totally makes sense now! Thanks Matt!

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Glad you found it useful!

[@zacharyrowe8395]

i think i need a one on one with you soon on this . its been my down fall since i picked the pipes up 6 years ago. maybe even why i struggle to memorize tunes. thanks matt

[@McCarminer]

Really enjoyed it; Thanks!

[@traildogisla]

Great video, might have to watch twice as first time through was stretching my music theory a bit!

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Glad it was helpful!

[@thepensivepiper204]

Hi Matt new piper here from the uk . I understand that in jigs it’s counted 123-123 . How should I count reels and horn pipes , I don’t think you mentioned how to count them. Many thanks ❤

[@lukehawkins7591]

That was so interesting...many thanks

[@MAMDAVEM]

I like to visualise the dancing to set the tempo and phrasing for my tunes.

[@Colorado4x4]

Awesome video. Holy cow that tune at 13:00 is known in the bluegrass world as Red Haired Boy 🙈🤭

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Yessir! There a few subtle differences, but the two tunes are largely interchangeable. :)

[@Colorado4x4]

@@MattWillisBagpiper yea that is so cool! Never knew it and I’ve been playing Red Haired Boy on the guitar and cello for 20 years! Man I love music 😉

[@lesliethomson2441]

As usual a great video, great to see so many comments it helps with the algorythm (yeah with a "Y" ... It's music.. Lol) BTW slightly off topic, how about a video on "must have" apps? Or ...have you already made one andI missed it???

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

I have not made that video, but a good idea!

[@stevencretney9495]

Great video good job 👏

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Thank you! 👍

[@michaelgarrett2621]

Hello. Very informative. Can anyone help me here? I'm looking for a sound file/video of a solo GHB playing Stumpie, but for some reason my search of the internet is devoid of results. Do you know where I can find a solo GHB piper playing Stumpie (the strathspey, though I would settle for a reel otherwise. Small pipes, etc, would also be appreciated in absence of GBH). Thank you.

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

I do not know of a recording of Stumpie, unfortunately... Great tune, and I've been told it was the inspiration behind Highland Wedding.

[@Pteromandias]

What are those little notes above the main notes?

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Gracenotes! Separating Notes with Lifting Gracenotes - The Basics Series Episode 7

[@netanelhadad5839]

Hi, I’m doing a research about strathspey, I’ve looked everywhere on the internet and didn’t found notes on the structure in the genre, can you direct me to an academic paper of that kind of thing? Thanks anyway great video

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

I am not aware of any papers on the topic, unfortunately. My timing breakdown for strathspeys in the video/document is based off my own research and MIDI reconstructions of famous pipers playing strathspeys...

[@josephsmith1556]

Slide's I've come across are Keefe's slide and Art O'Keefe's

[@alanwann9318]

Merrily kissed the Quaker

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

The version of "Merrily Kiss the Quaker" I've seen are 6/8...

[@roaringdrones2024]

12/8 Up to The Line-L. Grey & B Gandy

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

I thought that was a March… Is it a slide?

[@matthewdenty7760]

So Marquis of Huntley is a Strathspey ?... very educational stuff... being a newfoundlander I heard many a jigs, keshs especially lol

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Yessir, “Marquis of Huntley’s” is a strathspey. 👍

[@ksilvernell]

Thank you! At last in print. Btw, what type of chanter and reed are you using for this demo?

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

You're welcome! That's a 2001 MacLellan cocobolo practice chanter with an Abbott blue traditional reed.

[@RoderickGMacLeod]

I know what Bacne is. I'm almost afraid to ask. What is Dacne?

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Is the typo in the video? As a one man operation, there are occasionally mistakes...

[@RoderickGMacLeod]

@@MattWillisBagpiper Yep. Sometimes I can't help myself. Finding amusement in things helps me to remember them.

[@RoderickGMacLeod]

@@MattWillisBagpiper it was a the beginning of the Strathspey section IIRC.

[@RoderickGMacLeod]

@@MattWillisBagpiper I actually do get a lot from your videos. I haven't played in years and I'm getting back into it.

[@Donnybrook10]

Gravel Walk into Sleepy Maggie...killer combo

[@friedfish69]

Slip and slide! Isn't that a Milton Bradley board game?

[@SuperNickid]

@Matt Willis Bagpiper: You did not mension if Strathspey is slower then a reel, and you also said that a jig is slower then a reel, but you never play the exact same tune with does diffrent type, to properly compare them, for example it is clear that the Money musk strathspey and reel, this is clear that the Strathspey is slower then the reel version, because they play the same tune as different version. That is not the reason why I'm asking that, I heard to diffrent version of (La grand gigue simple) one is label reel, and the other is not label reel, however the reel version is faster then the one that is not label, I want to know if the non label version if it is a Strathspey, or jig, or it is just the reel version again just played slower, the reel of La grand gigue simple, plays in La bottine souriante y a bien du changement, track number 6 and it is within this track, when he is done with the song and just start talking, the non label version, is in La bottine souriante chick & swell track 1, it is within track 1 after their [turlute(french version of an acapala mouthing the sound of the instrument)] So if you go an listen to them can you tell me what type is it the that is not label as a type, the name of the tune as the word gigue that translate into Jig, it was still considered non label because if it was label, it would have been written like this( la gigue de la grand gigue simple) or if it would have been label as a strathspey( la Strathspey de la grand gigue simple) I do understand french, I just can't type it properly with this key board. Just look at the bottine souriante topic youtube channel to find them, their album are all there for free, except for their 2nd album, chick & Swell was their 3rd album, Y'a bien du changement was their first Album. It is the band themselves who made the youtube channel, because it is the modern type and receive payment for monetizing commercial.

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

I think the easiest way to answer this is with "beats per minute" (bpm). A jig is typically 116-126bpm. A strathspey is typically 108-120. A pointed reel or hornpipe is around 76-90bpm, and a round reel/hornpipe is typically around 84-100. Now, these can vary wildly depending on the player, skill level, and a number of other factors, but should give you an approximate tempo range.

[@suepritchard9287]

And I forgot to say it’s usually played on a whistle or a fiddle.

[@PlooHigh]

Мы в своей школе преподаём шотландские и валлийские танцы и, касательно разновидностей джиг могу сказать, что, скорее всего это обусловлено разной хореографией и изначальным построением танцоров. К примеру, танцевать в сете чуть сложнее, чем в кругу и для этого и требуется музыка разных темпов. Я не могу утверждать это со 100% вероятностью, но могу обсудить это с нашими преподавателям и дать более развёрнутый ответ, если это будет интересно.

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Probably why there is such a tempo range in each idiom here.

[@suepritchard9287]

Omg I have a degree in music and this is over my head! A horn pipe as I know it is a sailor’s dance or it is in the UK. I believe they dance in a circle and it involves swords a bit like the highland male dancers do. Not sure this much help but maybe……….?

[@akrogirl32]

Check out highland dancing videos of the various dances to get a good feel for the music. As a myself dancer, I found that gave me an advantage over other beginning pipers.

[@anastasiadrew2465]

I do feel like our foot movements are more complicated with hornpipes than with Reels.

[@misi67]

12/8: I've found "An Chailleach sa Tornoig".

[@davehogan1716]

Matt, instead of “Jigadee” can I say “Giggadee”?

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Like with a hard G? I suppose you could, "but why?"

[@loymedic]

@@MattWillisBagpiper it’s a Family Giy reference. Google that title along with the name “Quagmire” and you’ll get it.

[@paulasmith4401]

Slip Jig??? - Lochaber Dance