I’m really into the sound of double stop sixths, but I’m a bit confused about how they work. I love using them on the G and E strings, as well as the D and B strings. Here’s where I’m stuck: how do I figure out what key I’m playing in? For example, if I play the 3rd fret on the e string and the 4th fret on the G string together, and then move to the 5th fret on both strings for the next double stop, how do I know which key these are in? I hope this makes sense! I’m just trying to learn how to incorporate these double stops more effectively into my regular jam sessions. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
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Oh man, I love double stop sixths too! They have such a rich, melodic vibe. To figure out what key you’re in, you can start by identifying the notes you’re playing on both strings. For example, 3rd fret on the e string is a G, and the 4th fret on the G string is a B, which suggests you’re in the key of G major or E minor. Then when you move to the 5th fret on both strings, you get A and C, which also fits in G major/E minor. It’s all about matching those notes to the scale.
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Yeah, identifying the notes is key (pun intended!). One trick that helped me when I first started messing with double stops was learning my major and minor scales up and down the neck. That way, when you play two notes at the same time (like in double stop sixths), you can visualize where they fall within the scale and quickly know the key.
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Exactly! Plus, the cool thing about double stops is that once you get a feel for where they land in different keys, you can start experimenting. For instance, try sliding into those 6ths from a half-step below to give it a more bluesy feel. I do that all the time on the G and B strings when I jam.
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Double stop sixths are definitely one of those techniques that really add flavor to your playing. For your example, I’d recommend practicing the G major scale (or E minor, depending on the vibe you’re going for). The sixth intervals will naturally fit into those patterns. The more you practice them within a scale, the easier it’ll be to recognize where they fall.
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Yeah, I’ve found that practicing in scale shapes really helps when working with double stops. Also, try playing them on different string pairs. You mentioned the G and E strings, but you can experiment with other strings like the A and G strings. Each pair will have a slightly different sound, and it opens up new possibilities for how you use those sixths!
A little bit of theory helps here too! In general, sixths are inversions of thirds, so if you’re familiar with how thirds work in a scale, it translates over. When you play a double stop in sixths, you’re essentially harmonizing with the scale. Just knowing that might help you figure out what key you’re in.