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Double stop

In music, a double stop is the technique of playing two notes simultaneously on a stringed instrument such as a violin, a viola, a cello, or a double bass. On instruments such as the Hardanger fiddle it is common and often employed. In performing a double stop, two separate strings are bowed or plucked simultaneously. Although the term itself suggests these strings are to be fingered (stopped), in practice one or both strings may be open.

A triple stop is the same technique applied to three strings; a quadruple stop applies to four strings. Double, triple, and quadruple stopping are collectively known as multiple stopping.


Early extensive examples of the double stop and string chords appear in Carlo Farina's Capriccio Stravagante from 1627, and in certain of the sonatas of Biagio Marini's Op. 8 of 1629.

Plucking[edit]

Guitar double stops are commonly used in rock, blues, metal, and jazz music.[7] They are often played by fingerpicking or hybrid picking, but can also be strummed, or executed with hammer-ons or pull-offs. Jimi Hendrix was especially known for utilizing double stops on the guitar.[7]


When three or more notes are played simultaneously on a plucked string instrument, it is simply called a chord rather than a triple stop or quadruple stop.

Marching Percussion[edit]

Double stops are commonly used in marching percussion writing. In the case of the snare, a double stop is when a drummer hits the drum with both hands at the same time, while the tenors hit 2 drums at once. These are usually notated with either single note or a stacked note. A double stop will have the letter B written under the note for sticking.

Glossary of music terminology