Cran & Slide

What You'll Learn

Two advanced ornaments: the cran (a low-hand roll substitute on D and E) and the slide (a smooth portamento between notes). These add sophistication to your playing.

The Cran

A cran is used on low D and E — notes where you can't play a standard roll (because you can't tap below D, and E has limited lower taps).

The cran pattern on D: D → cut → D → cut → D (two cuts instead of cut-tap)

Cran on Low D

Play low D (all six holes covered). Cut by lifting your top hand ring finger (hole 1), then replace. Cut again, same finger. The rhythm is the same as a long roll: long short long short long.

D (cut) D (cut) D | D (cut) D (cut) D |

(cut) (cut) | (cut) (cut) |

Cran on E

Play E. Cut with your top hand middle finger, then cut with your top hand ring finger. Two different cut fingers give a more complex sound.

E (cut1) E (cut2) E | E (cut1) E (cut2) E |

(cut1) (cut2) | (cut1) (cut2) |

The Slide

A slide is a smooth glide from one note to another — usually from a half-step or whole-step below. You keep your finger(s) down and slide them off the hole gradually.

Slide Exercise: G to A

Play G. While blowing, slide your bottom hand index finger off the hole gradually. The pitch bends up from G to A.

G (slide up to) A - | G (slide up to) A - |

(slide up to) - | (slide up to) - |

The slide should sound like a smooth portamento, not a distinct G-A transition.

Practice Tips

• Crans require fast, clean cuts — practice cuts until they're effortless before attempting crans.
• Slides need gradual finger movement — if you lift too fast, it sounds like two separate notes.
• Listen to uilleann pipers for perfect examples of crans and slides.

Common Mistakes

• Cran sounds like separate notes — the cuts must be extremely fast. Keep air flowing steadily.
• Slide squeaks — you might be uncovering too many holes at once. Slide only one finger at a time.