Unlike traditional double-stop studies (e.g., Ševčík, Kreutzer, or Fiorillo), which often present double stops as a series of technical hurdles or etudes for endurance, Fischer treats them as an extension of natural hand positioning. His approach is rooted in the concept of minimal effort —finding the hand frame that allows the fingers to fall onto two strings simultaneously without excessive pressure or distortion.
Detailed textual explanations of the physical mechanics involved.
Double stops represent one of the most challenging yet rewarding milestones in a violinist's journey. Moving from single melodic lines to multi-part harmony requires a fundamental shift in left-hand mechanics and right-hand bow control. Among pedagogical resources, the exercises developed by master pedagogue Simon Fischer stand out as the gold standard for achieving intonation accuracy and physical ease. simon fischer double stops pdf high quality
: He teaches that double stops often feel difficult because of over-pressing. He recommends "fingering" notes so lightly that they feel like they are "tickling your skin" .
: A core pillar of his teaching is maintaining a "soft and free" hand. Exercises include moving the hand in circles or shifting its position while keeping fingers in tune to ensure mobility and release tension. Unlike traditional double-stop studies (e
Simon Fischer offers several professional-grade PDF excerpts and articles specifically focusing on double-stop technique: Basics of Double Stops
How I use it:
Playing two strings simultaneously requires the bow to maintain an exact, unchanging angle on a level plane between the two strings. Meanwhile, the left hand must remain completely independent, shifting and changing fingers without disturbing the bow’s smooth trajectory. Core Exercises to Master Double Stops
To ensure you get a high-quality PDF, I recommend: Double stops represent one of the most challenging