Start by playing some open A or D string notes on their own. By this stage, your right arm should be comfortably correct and your bow hold should be well established; if not, you’re not ready to begin double stops.
Now try playing the open D and A strings together and pay particular attention to your right arm, hand and wrist.
Take a look at the picture of Olivia above and you’ll see that the position of her right elbow looks unnatural and forced. What you may not be able to see is that this arm position is forcing the bending of Olivia’s right wrist which in turn, causes her bow hold to suffer.
Playing with your right arm in this position is certainly not going to create a good quality of sound and you’re going to experience tension and even pain in your right arm, hand and wrist.
Let’s look at how we can begin to play double stops comfortably and correctly.
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Hi Besilda and thanks for your question!
I’ve written a good article on shifting to third position – have a read and see if this helps ☺️
https://myviolinbff.com/violin-third-position/
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I’m so glad 🙂
I am so happy I ran across your website. While I personally do not play, my husband does, and my children are interested in trying to play as well. My oldest is 12 now so I suppose I need to go back and read some of your other articles because we are definitely not ready for double stops yet. Your instructions are very clear, so I am sure we will be back to this article before too long. Thank you for the great information.
Hi Cheyenne and thanks so much for your comment!
I’m glad you think my site will be useful. Please do let me know if there are any particular techniques that you’d like me to cover 🙂
Hi Marketa,
This is highly interesting and useful article about violin double stops.
Thanks so much, Habib 🙂
Great article on violin double stops! I also enjoyed your website! Thanks!
Thanks Alyse!
🙂
Hi Marketa
You’ve provided some really great strategies for folks to play “double stops” on the violin. Your content is exceptionally easy to follow and well presented.
I’m starting to get some good sounds with my violin now but i’m not quite up to double stops Love that you’ve finnaly added some pictures outlining what you are explaining, it really helps to display what you are referencing.
Great work!
Tracy
Hi Tracy and thanks for your interest,
I’m so glad you’ve found the lesson useful and I’m really sorry it took so long to get the photos up. With the whole COVID19 thing in full swing, I’ve been super busy with organising my kids and my violin students for their online lessons!
It’s great you’re getting a good sound from your violin now. I remember a while ago you wrote to me about how it was quite scratchy and unpleasant! That’s a big step forward so well done for sticking with it and getting there in the end.
When you do get up to double stops, please do send me a video! I’d love to hear
marketa 🙂
Thanks for helping with this. Nice job of explaining double stops and offering some great tips for playing them successfully! I can’t get the four and the low two together do you have a tip?. I really like that you have included a video that shows the technique. Makes the instructions much easier to follow!
Hi Chris and thanks for your comment and question
It’s actually very difficult to get the low second and fourth in first position; the spacing is quite large and often students end up having their fourth finger leaning onto the higher string.
Try on the A and E first, it’s much easier! Then go to A and D and work down to G and D over the course of a few weeks or even months. Whatever you do, don’t rush.
Also, you might like to work with high second and fourth for a start. The spacing is much nicer!
I hope this helps
marketa 🙂
Marketa,
This is an excellent tutorial for my son who’s struggling with double stops and online violin lessons at the moment. I appreciate the completeness of your explanations and the reasonings you provide for each step in the process. Your love for the craft shines through because from what I see you are an excellent teacher!
Keep up the good work!
Hi Rob and thanks so much for your comment. I always feel super happy when people find my work helpful!
Online lessons are tricky at first but do hang in there; they get easier and you’ll see that your son does actually benefit through keeping his music up. I’ve just finished writing an article about online violin lessons and will post it shortly (once I get my pictures sorted). Please do have a read and see if there are any tips that might be helpful for your son and you.
Thanks for your kind words and best wishes during these trying times
marketa 🙂
Hey Marketa,
This is a really insightful and informative article. My niece plays the violin and I don’t believe she has reached the double stop techniques or exercises yet.
I have forwarded on your article to her and encouraged her to check out your videos, site and articles as a whole. You really are doing a great thing here and I think my niece’s violin playing will improve a lot faster.
Thank you for sharing your talents and teaching others how to play the violin. We really do appreciate it.
Keep up the amazing work. All the best,
Tom
Thanks so much, Tom!
I am so glad that your niece will find this article helpful.
Please do let her know to just send me a message if there’s a particular technique she’d like me to address or make a video about.
Best wishes
marketa
Hey I did just comment but I think it glitched and you may have not got it.
Anyhow… I loved your website, Article page, I play guitar and love harmonizing notes, Your website is laid out nicely and the information is easy to understand and follow.
I am glad I read this article, I love music and this article ( even in A small way ) has broadend my knowledge in the music industry, Now I know what double stops are on the violin,
Thank you and well done.
Hi Luke!
Thanks so much. I don’t think I did get your previous comment but in any case, I’m really flattered by your kind words!
Please do let me know if there’s anything I can help you with. I don’t play the guitar but I do know an awful lot about harmonization and music writing.
Have a great day and stay safe during these trying times!
marketa 🙂
Hello Marketa,
I think your website is very informative and well written. I can tell that you are really passionate about the Violin and I can picture you sitting in an Orchestra on stage. I also think the video demonstration was a nice touch and will be very helpful to those who are visual learners. I say that because my daughter is a visual learner and so am I. She also started playing the Violin in Elementary School. Unfortunately, the course wasn’t offered in Middle or High School and I couldn’t afford to pay for Lessons so she had to quit an activity she really enjoyed. She is a graduating Senior in High School now and perhaps if I show her your Website, she may want to take it up again. Thank you for all of your time and effort in creating such a lovely Blog and I wish you great success.
Hi Deatrice and thanks so much for reaching out,
Please do tell your daughter about my website! I am making lots of videos and there are many things here, especially regarding beginner technique. If she wants to pick up her violin again, she’d definitely be able to learn quite a bit from my articles.
Have a lovely end to the week and thanks again for your kind words
marketa 🙂
Hi Marketa,
Your article is so informative and thorough. A great way to get further training, especially during this time of social distancing. I was wondering where the pictures and slides where but it seems they’re all there now.
Your directions and explanations give me a step by step process to practice and master your instructions. And, what a good idea to see your form and finger placement by standing in front of a mirror. Interestingly enough I would not have thought about this.
Hi Brian and thanks for your kind words,
It really is a weird time at the moment. I actually wrote this article a couple of weeks ago, thinking I’d put the pictures up the next day. Then the whole COVID19 thing happened and I’ve been so busy organising online lessons etc that I forgot to add the pictures. So sorry about that!
Hello Marketa – I cant see the pictures that you are referring to. could you please add them
Hi Simon,
Thanks for letting me know and I’m so sorry it’s taken so long to get back to you.
This whole COVID19 thing has really thrown out my schedule and I’m only just getting on top of replying to everyone.
The pictures should be there now and I hope you find them helpful
Best wishes
marketa