Why are Unison Notes called "Double Stops"?

[Gigel]

As TSkills pointed out in that quote from Aaron Saunders, I too believe the term came from string instruments in which you "stop" a note and not "fret" it. So in my mind it makes perfect sense to call it a "double stop" because you're stopping two notes at once hence.. double stop.

And I've never thought of it before but indeed I believe that an open string + a fretted note does not equal a double stop, i think it's better termed a diad.

 

[axeinurface]

I've always wondered this because when i first heard the term I thought it had to do with actually stopping,which is rhythmic as opposed to harmonic (which is what a double stop really is). I was reading about how in the old days (1600-1700s), it was really hard to play 2 notes simultaneously due to the curve of the bridge of stringed instruments and of the bow to play them--keep in mind that modern-style guitars were still a new idea at this time. Basses were unheard of, and you probably would have been burned for suggesting the idea haha. I think the term comes from the difficulty of playing 2 notes at once actually made the person stop briefly as it was not easy at the time?... makes sense to me at least. you can't really refer to it as a diad, that could be any two notes played together on a staff even if they are 3 octaves apart or totally atonal.

 

[JimK]

Index 16th Fret D String
Middle 17th fret G String

It's a b5 interval shape,

That's the shape...a lot of times, the function of these type of doublestops is as a Maj. 3rd & a Dom. 7th
The Index finger is the Dom 7th
The Middle finger is the 3rd (or 10th)

Sometimes, you will hear a Funk guitarist playing these type of things over a bassist's Root-style groove.
This breaks the Chord up over the 2 players...

 

[JimK]

I thought a double stop was just that... stopping on 2 notes at once (didn't have to be the same note). The theme to Sanford & Son is full of them (Thanks Chuck!)

Chuck Rainey is the master of doublestops!
"Josie" is another...

 

[JimK]

I was thinking "stop" had something to do with the organ stops, too.

...then I kinda agreed with those that were suggesting "stop" = stopping/depressing a string upon the neck.
Looks like Wiki agrees.
Double stop - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Jazz Ad]

As said it comes from the violin family.
On fretless instruments you don't fret a note, you stop it.

 

[Skitch it!]

That's the shape...a lot of times, the function of these type of doublestops is as a Maj. 3rd & a Dom. 7th
The Index finger is the Dom 7th
The Middle finger is the 3rd (or 10th)

Sometimes, you will hear a Funk guitarist playing these type of things over a bassist's Root-style groove.
This breaks the Chord up over the 2 players...

Yep, I should have related that that double stop is the Dom7th and the 3rd (on top) of A7, using the open A as the root drone, rather than just note the intervallic shape between the Dom7th and the 3rd played in the stop. Since in the example I gave involves slides, I thought I'd relate the shape.

 

[JimK]

Since in the example I gave involves slides, I thought I'd relate the shape.

...ya gotta slide into these!

 

[FretlessMainly]

Yes! Just looked that up. Here's what I found on one site:

Guitar Diads or Double Stops

Today we are goingto talk about
2 note chords...

I stopped reading after that. Of all the misinformation about music that circulates around the internet and even from the mouths of teachers, the concept of a two-note chord is among the most egregious.

I'm not saying this directly to you, Eyesee7, since you were just quoting another source, but I thought I'd address the topic having seen the quote.

A chord requires a minimum of three different notes.

 

[JTE]

As said it comes from the violin family.
On fretless instruments you don't fret a note, you stop it.

Precisely. A fretless string instrumentalist plays two stopped notes at the same time, so it's called a "double stop".

 

[Epitaph04]

Aren't they also called dyads or something like that?