I have a question on playing rolls. When playing a roll on a note that only has one finger open, how do you play the tap?
Do you just close the chanter for that tap, or do you play the note with the fingers below open instead of closed?
For instance a roll on A, only the ring finger on left hand is open, so if you tap that finger, you essentially have a short rest in the roll. 
Slainte,
Steve
One way - For the bottom hand, leaving the index finger down, open up with the middle finger, bottom two fingers stay down.
Either way is valid. It depends on what sound you want to make. If you want the A roll to be crisp and stacatto you can close the chanter off completely. If you want a or more open sound then leave the G and/or F# finger open while you roll the A.
There is no right or wrong. It depends on what you want it to sound like.
djm
I see, just didn’t know what the normal practice was. I guess there really isn’t one.
I have been mostly doing a cut on a lower note in place of the tap. But then I do catch myself, wanting to just close up the chanter, just different ways to play different tunes, and it also seems to depend on what follows or precedes it.
I am still getting used to ITM being the way it is, there are no real set do’s and don’ts. It’s all about the sound. 
Cheers,
Steve
so if you tap that finger, you essentially have a short rest in the roll.
The way I learned, that was called a “closed” (or tight) roll as opposed to an open roll. The open roll would be to do what you mention: have extra fingers open on the bottom hand when playing the A, so the tap sounds another note rather than a short silence.
didn’t know what the normal practice was. I guess there really isn’t one.
I guess we could look at it that “technique” recognizes both methods, and names both of them.
It is probably the way I was initially taught (many years ago) but in the majority of tunes I always play a “vented” ‘A’. It was Peter Hunter I think who got me into this habit. Anyhow, the “vented” ‘A’ seems to give more tonal clarity to my ears (and Peter’s I assume) and is now pure habit.
Basically the ‘A’ finger is lifted as well as the middle finger on the right hand. This allows open ‘A’ rolls with ease. However, on my Hunter chanter the “vented” ‘A’ gives a slightly sharper note than ‘A’ 440. One can usually get away with this but on slower tunes/airs et cetera that require a long ‘A’ note and to avoid a possible wow,wow, wow with the drones then I usually opt for one of two options.
