Double Stops Lesson

Welcome to today's lesson on double stops. Let's clarify the distinction between a drone and a double stop:

• Drone: An open string extra note.
• Double Stop: A fingered extra note, which is slightly more difficult to play.

Understanding the Difference

• Playing a Drone:

  • Requires minimal effort; just angle the bow slightly.

• Playing a Double Stop:

  • Involves more thought and finger positioning.

Advantages of Double Stops

• Double stops provide greater flexibility in terms of keys and notes.
• Drones typically confine you to specific keys (D, A, or G), while fingered double stops can be played in almost any key.

Historical Context

• Double stops became more common in the 20th century.
• In the 1920s and 30s, several fiddle players started recording with a focus on double stops.

Example Tune: "Wednesday Night Waltz"

We will explore "Wednesday Night Waltz" by Clark Kessinger, one of the most sophisticated early players.

Basic Exercises

1. Melody Without Chords:

   • The melody has two chords, which become evident only with double stops.

2. Melody With Drones:

   • Playing with drones provides a hint of chord changes (E drone to D drone).

3. Melody With Fingered Double Stops:

   • Fingering clarifies the chord structure:
     • First Finger: Plays E (the fifth of A).
     • Second Finger: Plays F# (the third note of the D chord).

Importance of Double Stops

• When playing solo, emphasizing chords helps to communicate the music clearly to the listener.
• While playing with backing is less critical, understanding the chords is still beneficial.

Clark Kessinger's Legacy

• Kessinger was a recording star in the 1920s, known for his tune "Wednesday Night Waltz," which features tricky fingering.

Technique Breakdown

• Positioning: Start in second position; use your first finger for G:

  • Move the whole hand up a half step.
  • Place the third finger below, creating a G and an E.

• Sliding Exercise:

  • Slide your whole hand down and back up while keeping the first finger over the third.

• Finger Placement:

  • The second finger plays F# below the third finger on D.

• Choice of Position:

  • Options: Fourth, third, or returning to first position.
  • Work with what is easier for you.

• Final Bars:

  • Use second over first and slide up to the third finger.

Practice Session

• We will do the complete exercise without backing, followed by practicing with backing.

1, 2, 3...

Final Thoughts

• If you find this challenging, especially if you're new to sliding double stops, remember it's a key part of American fiddling tradition, specifically the Double Stop Waltz.
• If you encounter difficult sections, simplify the tune as best you can, but keep practicing:
  • Aim to master the difficult bits over time.

Assignment

• Try playing a simple major scale (D or G) and harmonize it in your own way.
• I will demonstrate a more structured approach to this exercise later in the course, but for now, experiment and see what you can create!