double stopping

[btbassist]

what is double stopping, and how do you do it?

 

[GrooveWarrior]

Double Stops are two-note chords.

 

[stephanie]

There are a few different ways to play a double stop. You can pluck the strings with your thumb and first or second finger, or you can strum it with your thumb (or a pick).

Any two notes can be played together, but you have to determine what sounds good because some low notes tend to sound muddy. Play around with intervals. Wide intervals sound good. 10ths sound good as well as 5ths.

 

[stephanie]

Oh, another way to play a double stop, which I find works quite nicely with playing a 4th or 5th intervals (or close intervals where the strings are next to each other) is to pluck with the 1st and 2nd fingers while the thumb rests on the string below (EX: A on the D string, D on the G string, with the thumb resting on the A string).

 

[Blackbird]

"Double stop" is a term that comes originally from violin technique. It s called a double stop because you are stopping two strings simultaneously.

There's no such thing as a two note chord. In order for a chord to be made you need at least three notes, a root, a third and a fifth.

The most usable double stops tend to be major/minor thirds and perfect fifths, that when used sparingly and tastefully can enhance sections of a song.

I think y'all would benefit a lot from Jazzbo's Introduction to chord and scale theory.

Enjoy.

 

[danshee]

"Double stop" is a term that comes originally from violin technique. It s called a double stop because you are stopping two strings simultaneously.

There's no such thing as a two note chord. In order for a chord to be made you need at least three notes, a root, a third and a fifth.

The most usable double stops tend to be major/minor thirds and perfect fifths, that when used sparingly and tastefully can enhance sections of a song.

I think y'all would benefit a lot from Jazzbo's Introduction to chord and scale theory.

Enjoy.

Blackbird is right. There is by definition of a chord, no such thing as a two-note-chord. Without repeating other things that he said, probably the most popular double stop in the bass world would be the index/middle finger plucked perfect 4th. Very popular and very cool when used tastefully. I really enjoy doing major/minor thirds too. They have very nice tone colors again when used right. I used to stop 6ths in my old band a long time ago too. That's always kind of interesting.

 

[Jeff Bonny]

Some of the most common double stops used by bassists are Maj and Min 10ths. The reasons are a 10th defines major or minor, it's a great enough interval that it isn't cluttered or muddy sounding in the low register and it's easy to play as it sits very nicely on the bass. Practicing different scales playing the linear scale tones and their corresponding 10ths is a good start to getting these things under yer hands and in yer ears.
jb

 

[SuperSluggard]

Its nice to play double stops up around the 12 fret on any string, then to build up into a chorus type deal or just to end the song, start moving up to the 5 fret. I use these a lot.