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Neck Region: Doublestopped Exercises: No Shifting: Part 2

This page concerns the second level of preparatory exercises for the “Cossmann Doubletrills”. In the first level we used one finger fixed on one string while on the other string we used all the other fingers as well as the open string. In those exercises there were no coordination problems between the two strings. Here, by contrast, we will look at those two-string finger combinations that use one finger and the open string on one string, while on the other string all the other fingers are used. So in these exercises, there are now the problems of coordinating the alternating fingers on both strings. This means that these ones are now “real” doubletrill exercises. The following tables show all the different possible finger configurations, as well as the positions in which these sound good.

ALL POSSIBLE FINGER COMBINATIONS
ONE FINGER AND OPEN STRING ON ONE STRING/ALL THE OTHER FINGERS ON THE OTHER STRING

TABLE 2A: ONE FINGER AND OPEN STRING ON THE LOWER STRING AND ALL OTHER FINGERS ON THE HIGHER STRING

HIGHER STRING FINGERS

2    3    4

1    3    4

1    2    4

1    2    3

LOWER STRING FINGERS

1    0

2    0

3    0

4    0

SOUNDS GOOD IN WHICH NON-EXTD POSITIONS?

7Âș, 4Âș and 2Âș
1st finger A, F# or E
(if on D-string)

7Âș, 5Âș, 3Âș and 2Âș
1st finger on E, D, C or B
(if on A-string)

5Âș and 2Âș
1st finger on D or B
(if on A-string)

7Âș,5Âș, and 1Âș
1st finger on E, D, or Bb
(if on A-string)

SOUNDS GOOD IN WHICH EXTENDED POSITIONS?

1st finger A, G,F or Eb
(if on D-string)

1st finger on D, B or Bb
(if on A-string)

1st finger on D or Bb
(if on A-string)

1st finger on D or B
(if on A-string)

 

TABLE 2B: ONE FINGER AND OPEN STRING ON THE HIGHER STRING AND ALL OTHER FINGERS ON THE LOWER STRING

HIGHER STRING FINGERS

1    0

2    0

3    0

4    0

LOWER STRING FINGERS

2    3    4

1    3     4

1    2    4

1    2    3

SOUNDS GOOD IN WHICH NON-EXTD POSITIONS?

4Âș, 2Âș and 1Âș
1st finger on C#, B, Bb
(if on A-string)

7Âș, 4Âș, 2Âș and 1Âș
1st finger on A, F#, E, Eb
(if on D-string)

7Âș, 4Âș, 2Âș and 1Âș
1st finger on A, F#, F ,Eb
(if on D-string)

7Âș, 5Âș, 4Âș and 1Âș
1st finger on A, G , F#, Eb
(if on D-string)

SOUNDS GOOD IN WHICH EXTENDED POSITIONS?

1st finger on D, C or Bb
(if on A-string)

1st finger on A, F or Eb
(if on D-string)
VERY AWKWARD

1st finger on A, G or F
(if on D-string)
VERY AWKWARD

1st finger on A,G or Eb
(if on D-string)

 

The above tables can be downloaded in PDF (printable) format here.

Here below is a suggestion for different ways in which we can practice these finger combinations as “doubletrill” exercises. The string with the “active” left hand (on which the fingers move most rapidly) is that on which we have the most fingers playing. We can change the finger sequence orders on both strings. This gives more than 24 different possibilities for each of the eight finger configurations. Rather than writing these all out, it is probably simpler to just improvise, starting on different fingers on the string which has the most active left hand.