Neck Region: Basic Doublestopped Exercises In One Position: Level 1

In this first, easiest level of doublestopping exercises in any one position we will use one finger fixed on one string, and all other fingers improvising on the other string. These are the most basic intonation exercises, very good for our basic finger spacing and with no problems of finger coordination to deal with. We will include later the use of the open string on the “active” string.

The first two tables show the possible finger combinations without the open string. Table 1A shows the possibilities with the fixed finger on the lower string, while Table 1B shows the possibilities with the fixed finger on the higher string.

TABLE 1A: ALL POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS WITH ONE FIXED FINGER ON THE LOWER STRING AND ALL OTHER FINGERS ON THE HIGHER STRING
HIGHER STRING FINGERS (IMPRO)	2 3 4	1 3 4	1 2 4	1 2 3
LOWER STRING FINGERS	1	2	3	4
CLOSED POSN
EXTENDED POSN	UGLY

TABLE 1B: ALL POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS WITH ONE FIXED FINGER ON THE HIGHER STRINGAND ALL OTHER FINGERS ON THE LOWER STRING
HIGHER STRING FINGERS	1	2	3	4
LOWER STRING FINGERS (IMPRO)	2 3 4	1 3 4	1 2 4	1 2 3
CLOSED POSN				UGLY
EXTENDED POSN				UGLY

The following tables show all the different finger combinations possible with one finger fixed on one string, and all other fingers together with the open string on the other string. Each table also shows in which fingerboard positions each finger configuration will sound the best – in both extended and closed (non-extended) position – because with the open string, each position has a completely different harmony. Each finger configuration will sound unbearably dissonant in some positions while in other positions it will sound very pleasant. We will always try and use the pleasant ones! These “optimal” positions are indicated according to our chromatic numbering system (see Neck Region) except for the extended positions (for which the fixed note pitch is given).

Rather than writing out exercises it is proposed that we improvise on the string on which we have the moving fingers (and open string) with the double objective of:

simply getting comfortable and
adjusting the finger spacings so that we are playing in tune.

TABLE 1C: ONE FIXED FINGER ON THE LOWER STRING AND ALL OTHER FINGERS + OPEN STRING ON THE HIGHER STRING
HIGHER STRING FINGERS (IMPRO)	0 2 3 4	0 1 3 4	0 1 2 4	0 1 2 3
FIXED FINGER ON LOWER STRING	1	2	3	4
SOUNDS GOOD IN WHICH NON-EXTD POSITIONS?	7º, 4º and 2º 1st finger on A, F# or E (if on D-string)	6º, 3º, 2º and 1º 2nd finger on A,F# , F, E (if on D-string)	8º, 5º, and 2º 3rd finger on C, A, F# (if on D-string)	7º, 4º, 2º and 1º 4^th finger on C, A, G, F# (if on D-string)
SOUNDS GOOD IN WHICH EXTENDED POSITIONS?	1st finger on A, G or F (if on D-string)	2nd finger on A or F (if on D-string)	3rd finger on C, A or G (if on D-string)	4th finger on C, A or G (if on D-string)

TABLE 1D: ONE FIXED FINGER ON THE HIGHER STRING AND ALL OTHER FINGERS + OPEN STRING ON THE LOWER STRING
FIXED FINGER ON HIGHER STRING	1	2	3	4
LOWER STRING FINGERS (IMPROVISATION)	0 2 3 4	0 1 3 4	0 1 2 4	0 1 2 3
SOUNDS GOOD IN WHICH NON-EXTD POSITIONS?	8º, 5º, 2º and 1º 1st finger on F, D, B, Bb, (if on A-string)	7º, 4º and 2º 2nd finger on F, D or C (if on A- string)	7º and 1º 3rd finger on F# or C (if on A-string)	6º and 2º 4th finger on F# or D (if on A-string)
SOUNDS GOOD IN WHICH EXTENDED POSITIONS?	1st finger on D, C or Bb (if on A-string)	2nd finger on F#, D or C (if on A-string)	3rd finger on F or D (if on A-string)	4th finger on F# or D (if on A-string)

Clicking here opens a printable version of this information and of these tables.