String Pedagogy Notebook

Harmonic Training

Simple Double Stops

In a simple double stop one of the notes is an open string. Introduce in this order: Unison, Octave, P5, P4, M3 and m6, m3 and M6, M2 and m7, m2 and M7, TT.

Teach these double stops as melodic intervals as well. Once the students have the P5 well established in their ears it is time for them to start trying to tune their own instruments.

Build Triads

Spell a triad for the students, i.e. C,E,G. Have the students all pick a note from the triad and play it. Then have them try playing two of the notes at the same time. If the two notes are played in tune, it may produce a third note through sympathetic vibration. These notes are called Tartini sounds.

The triads will sound the most stable if the root is in the lowest voice.

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