Double Stops & 3-Part
Chords
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A double stop consists of playing two notes at the same time. In this lesson, I will
explain some double and triple stop techniques.
Next time you’re soloing and you run into a brick wall, try employing double
stops. Descending thirds is a good one. For example, if you’re in the key
of E Mixolydian (major scale flat 7: E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D), start with C# on the D
string and E on the G string. Now you’re going to move in parallel diatonic
thirds. This means you’re playing the intervals of either a third or a minor
third, whichever it takes in order to stay diatonic to (in the key of) E Mixolydian.
Moving down the neck, your next choice of notes would be B and D. Then A and C#,
etc.
If you sit for three or four hours and play nothing but 3rds all over the place,
eventually you will come up with some great things. Try muting them with the palm of
your right hand, jumping octaves, and alternate picking them.
After you get 3rds pretty happening, try 4ths, 5ths, 6ths, 7ths, octaves, 9ths, 10ths,
11ths, 12ths, etc. If you spend some time on each of these, it will definitely show
in your playing.
Another similar technique is the use of triple stops. This is effective when playing
chords or comping. Take a diatonic triad on the top three strings and move around in
a diatonic parallel motion. For example, if you were in the key of E and were
playing a B minor triad (voiced F#, B, D, 10th position) moving downward, your next triad
would be an A (voiced E, A, C#). The next chord could be an E triad (voiced E, G#,
B). Then go to a D triad (voiced D, F#, A). You can use this technique with
chords voiced in 4ths, also.
One thing to be careful about when playing through these chords is how you resolve
them. Experiment.
You don’t have to know the names of these chords, although it’s nice to learn
what they’re called.
Try it with restricting yourself to three notes per chord; then try four notes per
chord. Try using only certain strings, etc. String a whole bunch of these
chords together, move the positionings and basically just experiment. You’ll
never get bored.
The voicing of a chord refers to the order of the notes in relation to the scale.
For example, a G chord in open position is voiced 1, 3, 5, 1, 3, 1. This means the
first note of the chord is the first note of the G major scale, the second note of the
chord is the third scale degree, the third note of the chord is the fifth scale degree,
and so on.
Another way to come up with chords you’ve never played is to write down a series of
numbers and use them as a voicing to a chord. Take the numbers 1, 3, 6 and 5.
That spells out a major 6th chord. Use a string of numbers like a telephone number
(777-1369). If you were to play all these notes in this order, it wouldn’t
sound very good. As a matter of fact, there aren’t even seven strings on the
guitar, hey. [Note: these lessons were written in 1984]. So, take the
last four numbers. That spells out a nice chord. From there, you can alter it
to find that lost chord you so earnestly seek. Some people bet on lotteries in this
fashion. We build chords. |
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