You hear that sweet, full sound in "Little Wing" and wonder how Jimi Hendrix made his guitar sing with such richness. The secret weapon? Guitar double stops – a technique that transforms single notes into harmonious pairs.
Double stops aren't just fancy chord fragments. They're your ticket to bigger, fuller guitar sounds without sacrificing nuance or getting lost in the mix. Whether you're fronting a trio or backing vocals, this technique will expand your musical vocabulary in ways you never expected.
Jimi Hendrix Double Stops: Learning from the Master
Hendrix didn't invent double stops. But he sure knew how to use them. His approach borrowed heavily from Curtis Mayfield and Steve Cropper, combining their soulful chord work with his own innovative flair. The magic happened when Hendrix would choke up on his pick to create those clean pinch harmonics that cut through any mix.
Take "Hey Joe" for example. Those smooth chord transitions aren't just single notes – they're carefully chosen double stops that create movement and interest. Hendrix never played it the same way twice, constantly adding cordal fills and variations that kept the rhythm engaging.
"Little Wing" serves as the perfect template for this approach. The song demonstrates how guitar double stops techniques can transform a simple chord progression into something magical. Each time through, different combinations of thirds, fourths, and fifths create new textures while maintaining the song's harmonic foundation.
The Choked Pick Technique
Here's a technique detail worth noting. Hendrix would grip his pick differently for double stops, choking up for better control. This allowed him to execute those crystal-clear pinch harmonics that became part of his signature sound. Try adjusting your pick grip when practicing – it makes a real difference in your tone clarity.
How to Play Double Stops on Guitar: Basic Patterns
Think of double stops as chord fragments. Simple as that.
Instead of playing full chords, you're selecting two notes that capture the harmonic essence of what you want to express. This approach works across any genre – country, blues, rock, or jazz.
Let's start with the most common string combination: your G string and high E string. In the key of G, place your finger on the fourth fret of the G string and third fret of the high E. That's your starting point.
From there, the pattern unfolds naturally:
- Fifth fret on both strings
- Seventh fret on both strings
- Ninth fret G string, eighth fret high E
- Tenth fret on both strings
- Twelfth fret on both strings
- Fourteenth fret G string, thirteenth fret high E
Now you're an octave higher. Pretty neat, right? This pattern gives you a complete major scale in double stops, spanning the entire neck.
Building Musical Expression
Don't just play the pattern mechanically. Add slides between positions. Include passing tones – like hitting the sixth fret between the fifth and seventh positions. These small additions transform technical exercises into musical phrases that actually sound like music.
Advanced Guitar Double Stops Techniques
Once you've got the basic patterns down, it's time to get creative. The beauty of double stops lies in their flexibility – you can adapt them to any musical situation.
Consider the Van Morrison approach. Those scalar runs that climb up and down the neck? They're built on melodic principles, using major scale relationships to create flowing melodic lines that sound effortless.
Jerry Reed took a different approach, mixing pentatonic and major scale concepts within his double stop work. He'd blend harmonic approaches mid-phrase, creating unexpected turns that kept listeners engaged. This technique requires deep understanding of both scale systems, but the results speak for themselves.
The Allman Brothers Influence
Songs like "Jessica" showcase another dimension of double stop playing. The Allman Brothers would use unconventional fingerings intentionally – like playing a C chord with unusual finger positions – to access unique double stop combinations. This approach opens up harmonic possibilities that standard fingerings can't reach.
Working the Lower Register
Most players focus on the higher strings for double stops, but the A and D string combination offers rich, warm tones perfect for creating bass movement. These lower register double stops work particularly well for rhythm parts where you need to fill space without stepping on the bass player's toes.
Country Guitar Double Stops and Genre Applications
Country music embraces double stops with open arms. The technique fits perfectly with country's emphasis on melody and harmony. Traditional country players use double stops to create those signature "crying" sounds that tug at heartstrings, much like pedal steel guitar licks that add emotional depth.
But don't box yourself into one genre. Blues double stops guitar work focuses on emotional expression, using bends and vibrato to squeeze every ounce of feeling from two simple notes. Rock players use them for power and drive. Jazz musicians employ them for sophisticated harmonic movement.
The key is understanding that double stops are exactly what you make them. Your musical choices determine their character, not some predetermined rulebook.
Blues Applications
In blues playing, double stops often emphasize the minor third and perfect fifth intervals. Add a quarter-tone bend to that minor third, and you've got instant emotion. The blues masters understood that it's not just about the notes you choose – it's how you play them.
Building Your Guitar Harmony Techniques
Start simple. Master one string set before moving to others.
The G and high E combination we discussed is perfect for beginners, but don't stop there. Explore double stops on the D and B strings, or try the A and D string combination for lower register work.
Practice with a metronome. Timing matters just as much as note selection when you're playing double stops in musical contexts. Whether you're adding fills behind a vocalist or creating instrumental sections, rhythmic precision keeps everything locked together.
Practical Application Strategies
Most importantly, don't just practice scales. Apply double stops to songs you already know. Take a simple chord progression and experiment with double stop alternatives. You'll be amazed at how quickly this technique integrates into your regular playing.
Remember Jerry Reed's harmonic mixing approach – sometimes pentatonic works better, sometimes major scale relationships fit the moment. Trust your ears and don't be afraid to experiment. The goal is building a vocabulary of double stops that serves your musical needs, not impressing anyone with technical complexity.
Integration Tips
Start by replacing one chord in a progression with a double stop. Just one. Listen to how it changes the texture. Then try two chords. Gradually, you'll develop an intuition for when double stops enhance a passage and when full chords work better.
Guitar double stops will expand your playing in ways you never expected. They'll make your rhythm work more interesting, your lead playing fuller, and give you tools for musical expression that single notes simply can't match. Whether you're channeling Hendrix's soulful approach or developing your own style, double stops deserve a place in every guitarist's toolkit.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
What exactly are guitar double stops?
Guitar double stops are simply two notes played simultaneously, typically chosen from chord fragments like the 1st and 3rd, 1st and 5th, or 3rd and 5th of a chord. They're essentially pieces of chords rather than full chords, giving you harmonic richness without the complexity of playing complete chord shapes.
Which string combinations work best for double stops for beginners?
The G string and high E string combination is ideal for beginners. This string set is comfortable to fret, produces clear harmonic intervals, and works well across most keys. Once you're comfortable there, you can explore other string combinations like the D and B strings or the A and D strings.
How do I incorporate double stops into songs I already know?
Start by identifying simple chord progressions in songs you're familiar with. Instead of playing full chords, try substituting double stops that capture the same harmonic essence. For example, if a song has a G major chord, try playing just the G and B notes as a double stop instead of the full chord.
Are blues double stops guitar techniques different from country approaches?
While the basic concept remains the same, the expression differs significantly. Blues double stops often emphasize bends, vibrato, and emotional phrasing to create that "crying" guitar sound. Country double stops tend to be cleaner and more melodically focused, often incorporating quick scalar runs and precise articulation.
Can I use double stops in my lead playing, or are they just for rhythm?
Double stops work beautifully in lead playing! They add thickness and harmonic complexity to single-note lines. Many lead guitarists use double stops to make their solos sound bigger and fuller, especially when playing with smaller ensembles like trios where every instrument needs to fill more sonic space.