Glossary of Bagpipe Terms - T

T

Tachum

The canntaireachd description of a two note figure in Highland bagpipe music. The 2 notes can be from C to G on the bottom hand, the second lower than the first, and with a G gracenote before the first, and a D gracenote before the second.

Taorluath

A fundamental embellishment in Highland bagpipe playing, a more complex version of the GDE pattern.

Tenon

Connects the pipes to the stocks of a pipe. Tenons are typically wrapped with waxed thread. Cork, o-rings, and other materials are also sometimes employed for this purpose. Italian pipes use bare tapered tenons mating into tapered sockets, and screw threads carved into wood or ivory are also seen.

Tempradura

A prelude played by Spanish bagpipers as a warm-up exercise; perhaps a prelude appropriate to set the mood for the concert piece.

Throat

In a conical chanter, the narrowest part of the bore, roughly between the reed seat and the top hole. The shape of this is critical to the timber, intonation, and performance of the chanter.

Throw on D

An embellishment on the D of the Highland bagpipe chanter not dissimilar to the grip.

Tight Fingering

See closed fingering.

Tipping

A series of short staccato notes played on the Uilleann pipes.

Tongue

The vibrating element of a drone reed which has a single vibrating element. Chanter reeds have two vibrating elements or blades.

Transmontana

The bagpipe of northeastern Portugal, with one chanter with conical bore and double reed, as well as one drone with cylindrical bore and single reed.

Tuning Pins

Also known as tuning slides, the sections of the drone that when mated together allow the overall length to be adjusted in order to bring the drone into tune.