Quick string double-stop question

I remember reading somewhere (but I cant remember where) that perfect fifth double stops on any one of the string instruments that are tuned in fifths are surprisingly difficult to intonate properly or something along those lines? Is that true?

Also, is it too much to ask of cello and viola players to play major and minor third double stops in their low to mid range?

I honestly doubt a good player would find it harder to stop a 5th with good intonation than any other double stop. You either stop both strings with the same finger or with adjacent fingers which have to be exactly the same distance up the fingerboard. The technique chosen will probably depend on what happens before and after the double stop.

I'll leave cello players to answer your second question. I wouldn't risk any third close to the scroll unless one of the strings were open - others with large hands may think differently!

I can answer for the cello...fifths are a piece of cake for a cellist. Thirds depend on the position and the anatomy of the player. But they are certainly very playable!

Thanks a lot montpellier and manossg, I think I will use them both. :)

I'm a cellist, and major and minor 3rds can definitely be done in the lower range. As for 5ths, they're not too hard, as long as they're done where double stops are available. I'd say 4ths are the hardest to pull off, at least for a cello player.

Really, as long as the music doesn't go over a fifth double stop most are easy to play. It is very difficult to play multiple double stops that change notes frequently at a fast pace (unless you are writing a concerto or perhaps a very difficult sonata). 3rds are usually easy to play in almost all positions as long as the cellist is good enough, 5ths are always playable since cello strings are tuned by 5ths, 4ths are not too hard but require some shifting if you intend on having changing notes (this is the same with thirds). Major thirds are usually easy to play in the low range while minor thirds require some stretching or very odd fingerings (e.g. if one plays the third on a lower string than the root).

I don't really think it necessary to open a new thread for this question, so I'm asking it here.

Are the following double/triple stops possible for the cello?

Tempo: quarter=40 (adagio) on forte.

If they are possible, would they be considered difficult or standard?

Thanks :D

cello.MID

anybody?

The first three beats are doable (one concern is the Ab F double stop which will require a sudden shift into 7th position after being in 3rd). The fourth beat holds a doublestop which is not playable without arppegiation (low Eb with G). The first beat of measure two is only playable by playing the bottom two notes separate from the top Eb. The rest is fine. Looks good as long as you have a slow enough tempo, or a good cellist.

This passage would be intermediate-advanced to plain advanced even with the changed stops.

Okay thanks a lot. :angry:

The first two double stops will create an incredibly awkward shift. I have to disagree with FPSchubert, to get that shift at least you would need at least an advanced player, nothing less. The next double stop G and Eb, as said are not possible, but you could simply move the Eb up an octave. And the same for the beginning of bar 2, it would be playable, still awkard though, if you moved the F up an octave.

And then the last two chords are fine but will of course have to be played as arpeggios.

My only other suggestion would be to move to bass clef at the last beat of bar 1. Once you get ledger lines under where an open C would be on the 'cello we'll get confused because we use our strings to read tenor clef...if that made any sense at all...

It's unecessary and in my view incorrect to have this passage in tenor clef past that point.

Viola pretty easy too.. we're more like cellos anyways.

??

I know you play viola and I don't, but why are you saying this? Could you elaborate, possibly? The viola (IMO) is a lot closer to the violin in every aspect than the 'cello. Chords playable on the violin are easily playable on the viola (only sounding a fifth lower), even though they maybe a bit more of a stretch in some cases. The 'cello, being a whole octave lower, is a lot different because some 'stretches' are just plain impossible (except by a 'cellist version of Rachmoninov :angry:). Also, the thumb position is available to the 'cellist, whereas it is not possible on violin or viola. That's how I've always seen it.