String Crossings: Three Strings

For practice purposes we can divide repertoire string-crossing passages involving three strings into several different types:

REGULAR: broken chords, in which there is one note per string and the bow always goes to an adjacent string:

IRREGULAR: arpeggio type figures in which the bow always goes to an adjacent string but there is sometimes more than one note per string

GRASSHOPPER (WITH LEAPS): passages with jumps to non-adjacent strings:

A special discussion of leaps across multiple strings can be found here.

Compilations of exercises and repertoire excerpts involving three strings can be found for each of these types of passage:

REGULAR BROKEN CHORD PASSAGES: REPERTOIRE                                REGULAR BROKEN CHORD PASSAGES: EXERCISES

IRREGULAR ARPEGGIO PASSAGES: REPERTOIRE                           IRREGULAR ARPEGGIO PASSAGES: EXERCISES

3-STRING LEAP PASSAGES: REPERTOIRE                                         3-STRING LEAP PASSAGES: EXERCISES

Each passage/exercise can be practiced with many different bowings: slurred, separate, mixed, spiccato etc.

We can use the Three-String Chord Charts to create our own bowing exercises to reinforce the different 3-string crossing bowing (and left-hand) problems that we will find in the repertoire.

Very often repertoire passages passages will be a combination of 3 and 4-string crossings. These mixed passages are included in the Four-string Crossings section.