Okuzeka
Music vocabulary · Instruments and Voice

Double stop

Meaning in music, with examples

nounCommon term

In music, double stop means: Two notes played at the same time on two strings of a bowed instrument, such as a violin or cello.

In Turkish: çift ses

How it is used

Used in string technique and notation. Teachers discuss the balance and tuning of a double stop; the two strings need not both be fingered.

Example sentences

  1. Practise the double stop slowly until both violin notes sound in tune.

    The player checks the relationship between two simultaneous pitches.

  2. The cellist used a double stop to add harmony without another instrument.

    One performer supplies two sounding parts by using two strings together.

Common collocations

  • play a double stop
  • double stop exercise
  • double stop passage
  • stringsThe section of instruments played with a bow, mainly violins, violas, cellos and double basses. It also means the actual strings on an instrument such as a guitar.
  • harmonyThe sound of different notes heard together, and the way chords are built and connected. It also means a second vocal line sung above or below the melody.
  • intervalThe distance in pitch between two notes, named by counting letter names and checking the number of semitones, such as a major third or a perfect fifth.

More terms: Instruments and Voice

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level: