Double-Stop Tutorial 4 Levels of Difficulty

Transcription

1 Fiddle Jam Institute Double-Stop Tutorial 4 Levels of Difficulty As taught in the ifiddle Lesson in the July 2016 issue. Includes 19 fingering charts! Learn Double Stops in 4 easy to understand steps! Start by including one open string in the first two levels of learning, then progress to the more difficult true double stopped (fingered) combinations. By: Geoffrey Fitzhugh Perry

2 Double-Stop Tutorial Table of Contents Click on selections below to navigate directly to them. Instructions Video Lesson Level 1 Section Level 1 #1 Level 1 #2 Level 1 #3 Level 1 #4 Level 2 Section Level 2 #1 Level 2 #2 Level 2 #3 Level 2 #4 Level 2 #5 Level 3 Section Level 3 #1 Level 3 #2 Level 3 #3 Level 3 #4 Level 3 #5 Level 4 Section Level 4 #1 Level 4 #2 Level 4 #3 Level 4 #4 Level 4 #5 Closing Contact Info

3 Tutorial description: As first presented in an ifiddle Magazine column in July 2016, here s 19 fingering charts, arranged from easiest to hardest, that teach you step-by-step how to technically master playing double strings or Double Stops as they are often called. Here I ll pick them apart, starting in the first two levels by including a less difficult open string before moving on to the trickier truly double stopped (fingered) notes.! Stylistically, double strings can give you that Fiddle Sound (especially in the first two levels using open strings) but are also useful in other styles of music. Suggested uses and approaches: This is not intended to be a complete course on the art of playing double stops, but only an introductory tutorial that should be a visual compliment to the ifiddle video, and get the newbie on their way to playing them in tune and with good tone.! Look at each fingering chart, knowing that these notes are all chord tones for harmony, and supportive of chordal backgrounds in music. I ve included the most common ones here. Try to visually memorize the chart as these will give you more possibilities and authority when those chords come up in music.! Note the red arrows in each fingering chart: these are the double stops that we are learning in each lesson.! As a Bonus: These charts can also be an arpeggio study if you play each note individually. Arpeggios are simply broken chords, and are quite handy when you play an instrument that, by design, is really not so good at chords (like violin). See for more help on this subject

4 The ifiddle Video Lesson Clicking on the picture below requires an internet connection, as you will be taken to YouTube to view the video where these things are explained. Note: If you already know how to bow on double strings, you can skip ahead to about the 4:00 mark for the double stop training portion of this video.

5 Level 1 - Open String Below Level 1 features the easiest type of double note combinations on the violin/fiddle with the higher pitched note being a fingered note and the lower being an open string. This is less difficult and technically troublesome than the other options we ll explore later.

6 Level 1 #1 - Open String Below A Major only has one Level 1 double note combination. 3rd finger A3 on the E string combined with the lower pitched open A. Take your time and make sure the 3rd finger is in tune with the open string. Their combination should sound very smooth, like they are part of each other. Don t be afraid to slide the 3rd finger around a bit until you get the best possible results.

7 Level 1 #2 - Open String Below C Major also only has one Level 1 double note combination. 1st finger E1 on the D string combined with the lower pitched open G. Take your time and make sure the 1st finger is in tune with the open string. Their combination should sound nice and sweet. Don t be afraid to slide the 1st finger around a bit until you get the best possible results.

8 Level 1 #3 - Open String Below D Major has two Level 1 double note combinations. The Octave D s (open D and 3rd finger on A string D3), and open A with F#1 on the E string. Take your time and really listen to each one for proper intonation. Experiment with switching between these two combinations.

9 Level 1 #4 - Open String Below G Major also two Level 1 double note combinations, just like D Major but one string lower. The Octave G s (open G and 3rd finger on D string G3), and open D with B1 on the A string. Practice switching between them.

10 Level 2 - Open String Above Level 2 features the open string above the fingered note rather than below, like it was in Level 1. Technically this is much more problematic as we have to arch a finger over the open string. That might not sound overly difficult, but the steppingon-the-cat s-tail sound that can be easily produced is definitely difficult on the ears! If you are getting a horrible screech when trying the double stops in Level 2, it is almost surely caused by a bit of your skin from the fingered note slightly touching the open string next to it. Bring your elbow under the fiddle a bit, and make sure your finger is nicely on its tip (finger nails neatly trimmed help too). It might be a millimeter or two that makes the difference here, so keep trying until the tone is pleasing (unless you like the sound a cat makes when you step on its tail!).

11 Level 2 #1 - Open String Above A Major has two combinations in Level 2. 1st finger E1 on the D string combined with the higher pitched open A, and then C#2 on the A string with open E. Tip: As mentioned in the Level 2 directions, make absolute sure that no part of your flesh touches the open A string, or you will hear a horrible screech!

12 Level 2 #2 - Open String Above D Major has two Level 2 combinations. 1st finger A1 on the G string combined with the higher pitched open D, and F#2 on the D string with open A. Tip:Again make sure that no part of the fingered note touches the open string or I guarantee that no one will like the results!

13 Level 2 #3 - Open String Above G Major has only one Level 1 double note combination. B2 on the G string with open D. Once you accomplish getting it in tune and sounding good, try sliding it up from Bb for a cool Bluesy effect!

14 Level 2 #4 - Open String Above C Major only has one Level 2 double note combination. Open E with CL2 on the A string. Tip: Be extra careful not to accidentally touch the open E string with any part of your flesh or you will produce a screeching wail along with the C note!

15 Level 2 #5 - Open String Above E Major has two Level 2 double note combinations. 1st finger B1 on the A string combined with the higher pitched open E, and I ve added the special double drone fiddle trick of 4th finger E on the A string mixed with open E. Tip: The double drone is a very cool effect to have in your arsenal of tricks! Take even more care to cleanly finger the E4 and you will be rewarded! Once you get comfortable with getting it in tune with the Open E, try sliding it up from below until it matches open E (not beyond though!).

16 Level 3 - Double Stop/Lower Behind Level 3 is our first double string study that is truly a double stop in that BOTH notes will be fingered, with the lower pitch being behind the higher on your fingerboard.! The obvious problem with these is getting them both in tune! One tip I ll give you right away is to try to mentally focus on the lower note as an anchor first, then quickly adjust the second by slightly sliding or rolling the higher note until they sound harmonious together.

17 Level 3 #1 - Double Fingers/Lower Behind A Major has two Level 3 double stop combinations. E1 on the D string with C#2 on the A string, and C#2 on the A string with A3 on the E string. One cool thing you can try is fingering all three of these at the same time and rocking the bow between them for neat effect! Tip: If you feel like you are getting lost with intonation, stop and reference an open string to get your ear bearings" back, possibly borrowing the Level 2 combination of E1 & A0 for a second, reestablishing the E1 as your anchor again.

18 Level 3 #2 - Double Fingers/Lower Behind D Major has two Level 3 double note combinations. 1st finger A1 on the G string combined with F#2 on the D string, and F#2 with D3 on the A string. Just like A Major, all three of these notes can be rocked back and forth with the bow for cool effect.

19 Level 3 #3 - Double Fingers/Lower Behind C Major has one Level 3 double stop. E1 on the D string with CL2 on the A string. Tip: feel the closeness of these two notes. Your fingers will most likely be touching each other for good intonation on this combination.

20 Level 3 #4 - Double Fingers/Lower Behind E Major has four Level 3 combinations! The fingering for these is a bit more tricky. For the lowest combination, you ll have to slip your hand back into 1/2 position playing the G#L1 with your 1st finger, but then playing the E on the D string with your 2nd finger. The others should be fairly self-explanatory, except for the G# and E combination on the D & A strings which can be played with the 3rd and 4th fingers or other combinations if you are not comfortable using your pinky.

21 Level 3 #5 - Double Fingers/Lower Behind G Major has three Level 3 combinations. The B-G on the A & E string combo sounds great when you roll the bow across all four strings (including open G & D)! Be sure to feel the close fingers on this one as well as the B-G combo an octave below on the G & D strings. The highest D-B combo on the A & E strings is tough to get in tune. Stretch that pinky! Tip: a quick reference to open D is helpful, making sure the anchor D3 on the A string is in tune with it.

22 Level 4 - Double Fingers/Lower Ahead Level 4 features the trickiest of double stops where, similar to our Level 2 examples, the higher note is behind the lower one on the violin fingerboard, but this time both notes will be fingered in true double stop fashion. Once again, you will need to pay extra special attention not to let any part of the flesh of the lower finger touch the higher string as you arch over it.

23 Level 4 #1 - Double Fingers/Lower Ahead A Major also only has one Level 4 double note combination. 1st finger E1 on the D string combined with the lower pitched C# on the G string. The C# can be played with either a raised 3rd finger or a lowered 4th finger. You should probably be prepared to do it either way depending on how it falls in a song.

24 Level 4 #2 - Double Fingers/Lower Ahead D Major also only has one Level 4 double note combination as well. 1st finger F#1 on the E string combined with the lower pitched D3 on the A string. Tip: make sure the D3 is in tune with open D and then use it as your anchor finger, sliding the F#1 as needed to get it in tune and sweet sounding.

25 Level 4 #3 - Double Fingers/Lower Ahead G Major has two Level 4 double note combinations. 1st finger B1 on the A string combined with the lower pitched G3 on the D string, and D3 on the A string with GL2 on the E string. Tip: anchor the third finger notes with their octave open strings below and then match the higher pitch intonation to that.

26 Level 4 #4 - Double Fingers/Lower Ahead C Major has two Level 4 double note combinations too. 1st finger E1 on the D string combined with the lower pitched C3 on the G string, and G3 on the D string with CL2 on the A string. Tips: try anchoring the E1 with open G first then adding the C3, and also use the open G to anchor the G3 before adding the CL2.

27 Level 4 #5 - Double Fingers/Lower Ahead E Major has three possible Level 4 double note combinations. These three are by far the most difficult in this mini-course, as there is not much to anchor to except the open E when you can. Tips: be aware of your finger spacing on these, as each one is different.

28 Closing Hopefully this mini-course has given you some ideas and experience with double stops as you learn to use them in various musical situations. I suggest that once you start feeling more comfortable with playing them in tune, that you next progress to simply adding rhythms to make them fun and usable as backup accompaniments for other musicians. Tips: try the famous potatopotato bowing rhythm or straight eighth notes accenting random beats for musical interest. Thanks to Mike Spears who pushes me to complete my column for his ifiddle Magazine monthly!

29 Contact Info If you have gotten benefit from this mini-course I encourage you to check out the hundreds of other lessons I have in the Library at the Fiddle Jam Institute! From beginning fiddle tunes and techniques like these, to more advanced styles like Gypsy Jazz and most things fiddling in-between!! Check out the Book/CD Fiddle Jam, a Way-Cool Easy Way to Learn How to Improvise! available in physical form or as a digital download (with extra bonus jam-along tracks) from our school store or world-wide from the Hal Leonard Corp.! Sign-up to get the free Fiddle Jam Club newsletter, or get an All Access Pass to the complete Library for a small monthly tuition.! Check it all out at: The Cool Stuff - The EZ Way

30 Double-Stop Tutorial The Cool Stuff - The EZ Way Copyright 2016