I've got an exercise to learn which is ALL double stopping. Can anyone give me any tips on how to produce two clear notes other than bow near the bridge and press your fingers down hard? I can't remember what my teacher said.. The part I'm finding hardest is when I have to put one finger on the D or A string and then 4 on the string below.. (i'll look at my music later and repost if I've got this wrong..) I think this must be something to do with how my hand is positioned.

Do you mean, you can't always hit the two strings at once, or your struggling with the fingering on the different strings?

no, I know the notes (i've done gr 6 as well ) but whilst trying to play the fingering i mentioned before, I find it difficult not to put the wrong finger on the string and really in quite a few places find it hard to hear two clear notes. I think its more to do with the fingering than the bowing, but really a bit of both too... sorry for being confusing!

Well pressing your fingers down hard doesn't strike me as a good idea.

As with all cello - No tension. Anywhere. I know it's really hard hard not to grip like crazy at first, but you really need to keep it all as tension-free as possible at all times.


I'm not really sure what you mean by 'ALL double stopping'. But, for what it's worth, I'd suggest starting on the C and G string in first position, playing two notes slurred on a down bow, followed by the double stop of those same two notes on an up bow. That way your hand ought to be in the right position to get the two separate notes ringing cleanly anyway. 1 and 4 can be more difficult to execute properly as the little finger tends to be weaker . In addition, you're stretching it away from the main part of the hand and the other fingers. It'll strengthen with practice.

Check that you're not squeezing down with the bow, gripping the neck or pressing down overly hard with the fingers on the strings. And take it very slowly.

Hope that helps a little.

Hi again,

It seems you posted while I was fighting my machine

Playing separate notes (with a slurred bowing) followed by a double stop will help you to hear the notes and will also help with motor memory-i.e. making sure that the hand is in the correct position and that you have the right fingers down. Just make sure not to be in too much of a rush. Do everything very slowly. Aim for quality of sound in one position before rushing off to complete every double stop across the fingerboard

I've had this problem before when preparing for Danse Rustique for grade 6, just practice really really slowly, and random combinations of double stopping, with first and fourths on different strings, and then thirds and fourths, in different positions as well, then slowly build up the speed you do them at, and then practice running into them, from say a scale and then into a double stop of some sort, and check that both the notes or sounding clearly.
Someone else may come along with better ideas than these at some point, but his is what helped me.

thanks for the ideas! i did Danse Rustique too (GREAT piece!) but I didn't have much problem with the double stops in that at all..this seems much harder.. thanks although!