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The Double Stop: A Blues Rhythm / Lead Guitar Lesson – LEG008

Description

So what the heck is a double stop anyway? It’s really just a fancy way of saying, “2 strings at once” – not really sure what the “stop” part has to do with anything (if someone knows feel free to leave a comment). So in addition to double stops there are also triple and quadruple stops as well – but the double stop is the most common on guitar. When I think of playing double stop guitar solos on the guitar, I almost automatically think of Chuck Berry. He had a great way of playing really thick sounding solos by doubling up and playing on 2 strings at the same time. You’ll also hear lots of country pickers using double stops to emulate a pedal steel sound. The reason for playing 2 strings at once is to add more substance to the sound of the melody – so you can play melodies with an accompanying harmony part, in fact I always think of double stop as being somewhere between the traditional lead and rhythm. Anyway, after watching the video I’m sure it’ll make more sense to you and hopefully you’ll be able to show off some new double stop picking action.

Double Stop Guitar Lesson

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Comments

  1. davythreeteles says

    December 17, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    Why we use the word STOP or STOPPING when playing a stringed instrument. 
    (A)  when you play an open string ( no fingering )  the length of the string is from the nut to the bridge,      (B)  when you finger a note (or two in double stopping)  you are changing the length of the string. (hence a different note)                                                                                                “YOU’RE STOPPING THE STRING LENGTH BEING FROM THE NUT TO THE BRIDGE AND IT BECOMES THE
    LENGTH FROM YOUR FINGER TO THE BRIDGE.
    The term Stopping go’s way back, it pre-dates fretted instruments.
    I hope this makes sense, its a lot harder to write out than it would be to show someone, Cheers
    Davythreeteles

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    • Robin S says

      May 21, 2020 at 6:41 am

      Wat does &nbsp mean ?

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  2. Brian says

    December 17, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    Awesome explanation, thanks - I didn’t know that’s where that phrase came from.

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  3. davythreeteles says

    December 17, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    Cheers Brian, and thank you for the guitar lessons, DAVE

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  4. sysdevman says

    December 17, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    Could double stop simply refer to the fact that there are 2 dots (stops) on the music score?

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  5. Brian says

    December 17, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    @ sysdevman, yes it absolutely could - great point.  You see, I understand how to play the guitar and can sit in with most styles of music, but I’m very weak when it comes to a proper music education.  I try not to let that hold me back from showing others how to do play though 🙂

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  6. MFence says

    December 17, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    This is used in Brown Eyed girl, correct,

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    • Ian R says

      May 12, 2016 at 9:45 pm

      Similar for sure

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  7. bparham79 says

    December 17, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    Hey Brian, Great lesson. This website has been and continues to be an inspiration to me. Absolutely love it! I’m a music college graduate and professional player (even though I have less than 4 years on the instrument). I always pick up some great licks, tips, and tricks on your website. I’m doing some session work for gospel and blues bands and have no doubt these licks will be showing up next time I’m in the studio.

    Thanks for all the great lessons. SUPER APPRECIATED!!!

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  8. FRET says

    December 17, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    Cannot down load jame track or any tabs

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  9. Brian says

    December 17, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    @FRET - I’m working on fixing the links as we speak and should have them up this evening at some point.

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  10. Matt the Cat says

    December 17, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    R U going to post the tab?

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  11. txfldtone says

    December 17, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    I am new to this site.  Wow!  This is great stuff.  I am an “uneducated” (self-taught) guitar player myself, and the insight you provide is very helpful.  I have figured out of things about different keys, their positions on the neck, etc., and it is gratifying to get some confirmation from your lessons.  The how-to demonstration is really appreciated and I think my playing is about to get a lot better!  Thanks!!

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  12. roclin says

    December 17, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    Great to see I’m teaching my son these reminders thanks

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  13. ilhan says

    December 17, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    Thanks Brian. Your lessons are a pleasure to watch. And a privilege!

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  14. Medhat says

    December 17, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    so i start from the fifth fret nd slide 2 the 7th… 😀 ?
    Jam track cannot be downloaded :((, it says its not for freee
    thanks for the gr8 work brian

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  15. Brian says

    December 17, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    @Medhat, you’re correct.  It was free at the time that video was created, but due to bandwidth costs I’ve started charging a one time fee of $5 to access all tab and jam tracks for all lessons.

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  16. TD Higgins says

    December 17, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    New to electric guitar playing Any information on starting points to set the amp for the sounds you get?  what makes a good practice amp what should I look for in the amp?  what type /gage strings give a good blues sound

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  17. rob540 says

    December 17, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    On the violin family instruments, the ‘stop’ is the string length…so any fingerboard action alters that. Same with guitar I guess.

    Thanks for these lessons. I find your teaching very digestible and very helpful.

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  18. rob540 says

    December 17, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    Sorry, don’t know where my brain was when I wrote that above, it is quite inaccurate! The stop is the distance from the belly top edge to the back of the bridge foot, so the luthier establishes the string length by setting the position of the bridge, but the stop is not the whole string length….so ‘stopping’ is the action that sets the effective string length.
    just sayin’….

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  19. christopaul says

    December 17, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    Really good lesson. I’m learning loads. I think I’d find it helpful if your playing of the piece could be looped on it’s own before playing along with the backing track.

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  20. rainmaker says

    December 17, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    Will a tab be posted for this?

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  21. Grender says

    December 17, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    Brian , cant seem to download the backing track for the double-stop lesson.  whats up ?  thanks

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  22. navi_28 says

    December 17, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    I can’t download the backing track for the double stop lesson ?

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  23. Brian says

    December 17, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    Not sure why you can’t download the jam track for this and can’t seem to replicate it.  Try downloading the Google Chrome browser (it’s free) if you’re not already using it.  It could be a browser plugin issue.

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  24. Capitano says

    December 17, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    Hi Brian,

    thanks for investing your precious time on all these helpful lessons in order to make us better players! I’m new here and was using guitarjamz.com by Marty so far but this site seems a bit more structured to me…so keep up the great work. I’m looking forward to digesting as much as I can…Cheers!

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  25. Ian R says

    May 13, 2016 at 6:16 pm

    Double stop lesson a great lesson a tab PDF would be useful, apart from that great lesson

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  26. rob h says

    November 29, 2016 at 4:33 pm

    I see many request for the Tab, but no reply. could you make one?

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