When performing an off-the-knee G roll (or any roll really, I’m just focusing on G for simplicity), when do you have the chanter off versus on the knee? I’ve heard some people say that the chanter should be placed back on the knee before performing the pat, but I’ve also known some people to keep the chanter planted and then to raise the chanter specifically for the pat. Is there a “correct” way or is it simply a matter of personal preference?
Assuming the pat is intended to insert a brief pause or to briefly play one note lower, it seems like the pat should (generally) be on the knee. Then again, I suppose you could simply pat with the top G finger rather than both fingers. Or maybe my assumption is wrong.
Here is a basic formula: raise the chanter as you begin to sound the initial G, perform the roll in its entirety, and make sure the chanter is back down on the knee before the end of the final G. This prevents the final G from sounding–indeed, being–out of tune. The purpose of raising the chanter is to swell the tone and pitch, but if the final G is out of tune (because the chanter is off the knee), the overall effect is unpleasant.
Have a listen to Séamus Ennis using this technique. Also, I’d call your attention to an interesting device: if, when you play the G roll (especially in the second octave), and tap with both G fingers when the chanter is off the knee, the tapped note is bottom D. This creates a sort of slapping sound which, when used tastefully, can give great effect to the roll.
Akin to Kieran’s roll: at the last Catskinól, Ivan Goff was teaching a nice A roll that used the same bottom D tip. Same technique: play a closed A roll, but lift the chanter for the tip, which of course you play with the 3rd finger of the left hand. Because all your right hand fingers are down, you get a bottom D tip. Practise practise practise. Sound like shite otherwise.
Boy you’ve really opened up a can of worms, as there are a load of different ways to do G rolls (and indeed most any rolls).
On-the-leg, if you pat with one finger you’ll get an F# pat, while if you pat with two fingers you’ll get a silence.
Off-the-leg, you can do the same one-finger pat for the F# pat, the only difference being the “swell” in tone.
Or you can pat all the raised fingers for a bottom D pat.
As has been mentioned above, it’s not a simple divide between an “off-the-leg” and an “on-the-leg” G roll, as there are variants where the chanter is only off the leg for a portion of the roll. For example, many players play the roll as a normal on-the-leg “close” G roll (in other words patting the two raised fingers to achieve a silence) but they raise the chanter a split-second before the pat and immediately return the chanter back to the leg after the pat. So, the roll sounds mostly like an on-the-leg roll as far as the timbre goes but has a bottom D pat. Actually there is a “swell” right before the pat which if timed right sounds great and gives the roll a nice lift.