Double and Triple Stops
A Double-Stop is the technique of plucking 2 strings simultaneously. The term came from classical stringed instruments, which were usually only played one note at a time with a bow. For guitar, we are often playing multiple notes as such; but we do not refer to strummed chords (or really any type of rhythm playing) as double-stops. The term applies more towards incorporating intervals into lead or melody playing.
A Triple-Stop is the same thing but uses 3 simultaneous notes. One could go on to quadruple, pentuple, etc., but we rarely see anything beyond triple-stops.
Contents
PreReqs
- 1st and 2nd Strings - Intervals
- Finger Picking (for Chicken Pickin)
Harmonized Runs
A rather basic use of double-stops are to make harmonized runs. There's nothing too special technique-wise here - you just need to curl your finger fretting the low note so that the higher string can sound.
Here's some harmonized 2-string runs that use a constant interval relationship between the two notes:
3rds:
E-0--1--3--5--7--8--10-12- B-1--3--5--6--8--10-12-13-
B-1--3--5--6--8--10-12- G-2--4--5--7--9--10-12-
4ths:
E-1--3--5--7--8--10-12-13 B-1--3--5--6--8--10-12-13-
B-1--3--5--6--8--10-12-13- G-0--2--4--5--7--9--10-12-
5ths:
E-3--5--7--8--10-12-13-15 B-1--3--5--6--8--10-12-13-
B-3--5--6--8--10-12-13-15- G-0--2--4--5--7--9--10-12-
And here's some 3rd's over all pairs of adjacent strings:
E-------------------------------------1--3--5- B----------------------------1--3--5--3--5--6- G-------------------0--2--4--2--4--5---------- D----------0--2--3--2--3--5------------------- A-0--2--3--2--3--5---------------------------- E-1--3--5-------------------------------------
This gets a bit trickier when the strings aren't adjacent. Here's the last sequence harmonizing in 7ths:
|m| |r| |-|r| |-|r| |-|m| |-|-|r| |-| |-| |-|-| |-|-| |-|-| |-|-|-| |i| |m| |i|-| |m|-| |i|-| |i|-|-|
E----------------------------3--5--7- B-------------------3--5--6--x--x--x- G----------2--4--5--x--x--x--2--4--5- D-2--3--5--x--x--x--2--3--5---------- A-x--x--x--2--3--5------------------- E-1--3--5----------------------------
We have to use the finger fretting the lowest string to mute the string between the strings we want to play. This takes finesse. You want to curl the finger slightly - you cannot make a barre or you may accidentally fret the middle string. It has to touch the string with enough pressure however to prevent it from resonating. You may also want to use the finger fretting the higher string, extending your finger tip enough so that it touches the middle string while cleanly fretting the high string.
Chromatic Runs
Chromatic double-stop runs are frequently used in Blues, which transcends into many other styles. Here's an example of both descending m3's and ascending M3's:
B-7--6--5--4--3--2--1- G-8--7--6--5--4--3--2-
B-3--4--5--6--7--8--9- G-3--4--5--6--7--8--9-
And triple-stops as an inverted dominant 7th chord without the root: E-8--7--6--5--4--3--2- B-7--6--5--4--3--2--1- G-8--7--6--5--4--3--2-
Bends
Bluesy Beating
Chicken Pickin
Chicken Pickin' is a technique where you use the plectrum to pick the lower note of a double or triple stop, while using the middle or ring finger of the picking hand to pick the higher note(s). This is helpful for many reasons:
- If the strings are not adjacent, you don't have to worry about muting the strings in between.
- When doing runs of double-stops, it's easier and faster to pluck the correct strings.
- The tone of the pick and fingers are slightly different, allowing greater expression.
- The finger can be used to quickly mute and pluck the string, allowing easy bluesy double-stops.