Lead 401 - Double Stops

Double stops are when you play two notes at the same time during lead lines. It is a common form of harmonization, but the two notes don’t always have to imply a specific chord. 

These are great for making your leads sounds bigger or fatter. It’s a bridge between straight lead and straight rhythm playing, and combining intervals in your leads will add quite a bit to your sound.

Begin with a comfortable pentatonic scale like minor pattern 4. Try barring or grabbing more of the scale at one time to expand your current licks. Listen to the sounds. Do those notes work together? Do they clash over a specific chord?

Often times notes that are near each other work the best, and if you can grab a little piece of the chord it will sound the most consonant. But feel free to explore! 

The other main use for double stops is going up a string set and trying to harmonize a  full scale, just two notes at a time. For example:

Pick a key - D major perhaps. Start with the 1st and 2nd string set and find your lowest chord cluster. It’s pattern 5, with the root on the 2nd string snd the 3rd on the 1st string. 

Jump up to the next chord cluster for the next chord in the key, which is E minor. Continue up and down in the fashion. It’s VERY common in country and blues stuff.

Also, try full scales on all 6 strings in all 5 patterns!  Just try and get beyond the typical crutch of “now I play chords, and now I solo.”  You’ll be happy.