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 C Doublings

Doublings are one of the most common embellishments used.  Each note has its own but the principle is basically the same for all - play a gracenote from one note to another note and then repeat (“double”) that note by cutting it with another gracenote.  

The musical reason for playing a doubling is to make a particular note stand out.

A C doubling works by playing a High ‘G’ gracenote to 'C' and then doubling that 'C' by cutting it into two with a ‘D’ gracenote.

The “Order of Events” for a C Doubling is as follows:
1.         Preceding note - ‘E’ in example 1.
2.         Open High ‘G’ gracenote.
3.         Change to ‘C’.
4.         Close High ‘G’ gracenote.
5.         Double ‘C’ by cutting it in half with a ‘D’ gracenote.
6.         End on ‘C’.
 
When coming from High ‘G’ remember to use the Thumb Gracenote (example 2):
1.         High ‘G’.
2.         Open thumb gracenote.
3.         Make 'C'
4.         Put down thumb.
5.         Double 'C' with a ‘D’ gracenote.
6.         End on 'C'.
 As it is impossible to play a High ‘G’ gracenote from High ’A’,  one simply goes straight to 'C' and then doubles it in the usual manner (example 3):  

                    1.         High ‘A’.

                    2.         Put down 'C'.
                    3.         Put down High ‘A’.
                    4.         Double 'C' with a ‘D’ gracenote.
                    5.         End on 'C'.

Example 1 - C DOUBLING FROM ‘E’.

XX XO XO XX XX XX
X X X X X X
O O X X X X
           
X X X X O X
X X O O O O
X X O O O O
O O X X X X
           
E Open Gracenote Change to C Close Gracenote
(sound C)
Double with D Gracenote End on C

E to C doubling

Example 2 - C DOUBLING FROM HIGH ‘G’.

XO OO OX XX XX XX
O O X X X X
O O X X X X
           
X X X X O X
X X O O O O
X X O O O O
O O X X X X
           
High G Open Thumb Gracenote Change to C Close Gracenote
(sound C)
Double with D Gracenote End on C

High G to C doubling

Example 3 - C DOUBLING FROM HIGH ‘A’.

OO XX XX XX
O X X X
X X X X
       
X X O X
X O O O
X O O O
O X X X
       
High A C Double with D Gracenote End on C

High A to C doubling

Exercise 1

C doubling Exercise 1

Exercise 2

C doubling exercsise 2
Exercise 3

C doubling Exercise 3

When you can play these exercises smoothy and with control you are ready to learn D doublings.

Doublings become easier as you get to know more of them.

Go back to General Principles of Doublings

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