Double Stopping

Hey guys,

I know for all string players this is probably quite a basic skill and common sense... but i'm starting to compose for a wider variety of instruments and i was wondering if there are any constraints to the intervals that string instruments can double stop? are there certain combinations of notes that are not possible to do/should be avoided?

Thanks,

For example, we can take violin here. The open strings are G, D, A, E, going up, starting on G3. The violinist will use four fingers, numbered 1, 2, 3, 4. On the G (string), adding finger 1 plays an A, one tone up. This finger is also responsible for Ab and its enharmonic equivalent. 2 plays Bb and B, 3 plays C and C#, and 4 plays D. This same principle can be applied to all 4 open strings. For instance, 1 on D = Eb, E, 2 on D = F, F#, and ect. Double stops are where we combine these.

For instance, take open G and open D together, this is a double stop, perfect fifth. We can easily change either of these pitches by adding a finger. If we add 1 to the D string, we now have low G and the E or E-flat together - a sixth. We can add 2 instead, G and F or F# - a seventh. Add 3, G and G - an octave. Finally with the 4th finger on D, we have A, a ninth above low G. Any of these can be played together fairly easily, and the same principle can be applied on the higher strings.

For playing some double stops, we need to take more than one finger at a time into consideration. Let's for example take a low C and Eb for violin. In first position, the C is played, as we examined earlier, on the G string using the 3rd finger. The Eb is played on the D string, which is adjacent to the G string, and for it the 1st finger is used. So we are using two different fingers on two adjacent strings - this is all okay. This can be applied to all sets of adjacent strings. Now let's try something else. Say we want a low G (open G string) and the C# right above. An augmented fourth, a nasty, but useful little interval. Now, what strings can that C# be played on? Well, that low C can ONLY be played on the G string, the next highest string is D, and... well.... that just won't cut it. So the problem here is, both of the notes we want can only be played on the same string, so therefore this is not possible.

Now, let's add some technical spice to the mix. Say we want a low C and the Bb above together. This is a seventh, but unlike before, our lower note is not on an open string. If we try to play in first position, we put the third finger on the G string for C, and .... what do we do about the Bb? To put it on the A string, 1st finger, would not make sense because the low C and only be played on the G string, and the G and A string are NOT adjacent. So this cannot be managed. If we tried playing the Bb using our 4th finger on the D string, it turns out to be a very wide stretch, and therefore, not only uncomfortable, but hard to keep in tune. The only option we have is to use another position. In this way, we can shift our hand up the fingerboard so that our 1st finger is put down on the C. In this case, our 1st finger can play G on the D string, which is normally played by the 3rd finger. Likewise, on the D sting, we can put our 2nd finger on A, 3rd on B, and fourth on C. Well, guess what? Now we can play that seventh of C and Bb. 1st finger is on C, 3rd finger on Bb, all on adjacent strings, so this works. *Phew!*

Now that was called 3rd position fingering, putting the 1st finger where the 3rd would normally go in 1st position. The problem with this is, the types of double stops that require the use of other position than 1st are harder to get in tune, so don't just write in such an interval or chord if the rest of the music leading up to said chord cannot be played in that position, else it would be hard to jump into.

Any of this unclear? I might have said a little more than I needed to.

I think I'll go off and write out the intervals that can be played on violin and viola so it can be seen what is easy vs. hard.

Ok thanks enigmus this makes things a lot clearer ;)

I think i may start writing more for strings because i think the tone they produce is really versatile and good at loads of things, and info on double stopping will certainly improve the compositions :)

Thanks again,

If you are writing for orchestra, sometimes it is a best not double stop. You can use divsi which is where the violinists divide into 2 for the notes. You mark this by the word .div above the part in question and then unis. when they come back together.

If you are to double, triple or quadruple stop, my advise is to give the instruments time to prepare the notes in question. If the music is very fast, unless your dealling with the best players in the world, they will either miss the chord or bash it out stop even if they aren't ready for it so the chord you so expertly wrote will sound unclear and a bit of a mess. Those situtations really call for .div.

If you are to explore string writing further, then don't overuse double stopping. Like Con Lengo (sp?), using double stops have become cilche. One effect which is yet to do so and is quite effective (when I have heard it played) is to divide first and second violins from the off. For this you have four Violin staves labels Violin I a Violin I b Violin II a and Violin II b. This then gives you 4 Violin sections to play with.

I like this idea because you can have a very long note which would normally be broken up when the violinist needs to change bows. With this div. you can score the note in a way that the sound is never broken and unision notes in modern music are extermely nice and add colour because no two violins can be tuned the same no matter how hard you try.

Double stopping is only a small aspect of violin playing, there are loads of different effects. Of course if you planning to write music in the style of say Mozart or Beethoven then stay away from the type of writing I have just described. But if you are after something a little bit more modern, you should certain explore other effects strings can do!

... Of course if you planning to write music in the style of say Mozart or Beethoven then stay away from the type of writing I have just described. ...

It WOULD be something "original", if the composer can pull it off in the best fashion possible, I would say that there is nothing wrong with it, as long as it makes sense/is logically the best solution.

Hey, I say, if the composer can pull it off, why the heck not? :cool:

It WOULD be something "original", if the composer can pull it off in the best fashion possible, I would say that there is nothing wrong with it, as long as it makes sense/is logically the best solution.

I doubt Mozart would have had 4 Violin sections though :blush:

Who cares.... you aren't Mozart, do what you want. The only concern being: Is it the best way to do it?

Now of course, if you want to imitate Mozart in every respectable fashion, obviously DON'T do it. But hey, what's the fun without adding a modern spice? :happy:

Who cares.... you aren't Mozart, do what you want. The only concern being: Is it the best way to do it?

Now of course, if you want to imitate Mozart in every respectable fashion, obviously DON'T do it. But hey, what's the fun without adding a modern spice? :happy:

Next year, I might have to restrain myself from doing to though. Either I am writting a thesis on Mozart's String Quartets or Chopin's Noturnes. with examples of pastche by me. :blush:

(kind of off topic but hey!)

As a former violonist, I found that most combinations of double stops are playable on the violin, if some require somewhat strange fingerings and others awkward fingerings. Above the octave gets impossible/very hard to play though. (Some combinations above the octave are playable with harmonics, but careful with those, and be sure not to put it in fast passages)

So far for me...

Don't stone me please ...

Huh? What about tenths? They're a standard part of any violinist's technique.

Er, Mozart and Beethoven did have double stops, I'm pretty sure :P. Beethoven, definitely....Even Bach used them, I think.

Edit: Oh, you were talking about other effects....woops :blush: