Simon Fischer Double Stops Pdf High Quality -
Simon Fischer's Double Stops is widely regarded as a revolutionary "scale-study book" rather than a traditional scale book. Reviewers consistently praise its "divide and conquer" approach, which breaks complex double stops into their simplest technical components before rebuilding them into full scales. Key Features & Contents
Comprehensive Scope: The book spans 346 pages and provides 14 pages of dedicated exercises for every major and minor key.
Technical Focus: It covers thirds, sixths, octaves, fingered octaves, and tenths.
Step-by-Step Methodology: For example, a scale in thirds is preceded by approximately 20 preparatory exercises; the final scale is only played in the very last exercise. simon fischer double stops pdf high quality
Unique Exercises: Includes mobility exercises to maintain hand freedom, intonation shaping through perfect fourths, and training for left-hand "giving and releasing" to avoid tension. Expert & User Reviews
Effectiveness: Musicians from major orchestras and top music schools describe Fischer's work as more effective than standard methods like Galamian or Flesch, often calling it "his book on steroids".
Accessibility: While advanced players find it essential, some reviewers note it can be "very cerebral" or "advanced" for beginners. It is often recommended as a reference to be used thoughtfully with a teacher. Simon Fischer's Double Stops is widely regarded as
Progress: Users report that progress is almost guaranteed because the book systematically targets every facet of the scale, making the actual performance feel "impossible not to have improved". Digital Quality and Availability Interview with Simon Fischer: Double Stops - Violinist.com
Official Digital Sources (Recommended)
- Edition Peters Digital: The publisher offers legitimate digital sheet music. Purchasing here guarantees the "high quality" aspect—crisp vector lines, perfect formatting, and legal usage.
- Amazon Kindle / Google Play Books: Simon Fischer has released digital versions of some of his pedagogical works. These are high-quality facsimiles of the print editions.
The “High Quality” PDF Dilemma: Legal vs. Illegitimate Sources
When searching for a "high quality PDF," most musicians hope to find a clean, bookmarked digital copy to load onto an iPad for practice. Here is the reality of the market:
Option 1: The Free Illegitimate Scan (Avoid)
While a forum or file-sharing site might offer a PDF, these are almost always: Official Digital Sources (Recommended)
- 300 DPI or lower: The stems of the notes bleed together.
- Crooked & Ghosted: The original spine of the book creates a black shadow down the middle of every page.
- Missing pages: Fischer’s exercises rely on sequential progress. Missing a single page breaks the logic.
- No fingerboard charts: The high-quality printed editions include detailed photographs and diagrams. Scans rarely capture these well.
Verdict: Avoid. You will spend more time deciphering blobs of ink than practicing.
1. Buy the Physical Spiral-Bound Edition
Simon Fischer’s publishers understand that violinists need the book to lay flat on a music stand. The physical edition is printed on heavy, cream-colored paper that reduces glare under practice lights. You can then scan it yourself at 600 DPI for personal iPad use. This is the gold standard.
2. Issuu (Publisher's Preview)
Edition Peters often uploads preview versions of Fischer’s books to Issuu.
- Quality: Very high resolution, but usually watermarked or missing 30% of the pages.
- Use Case: To verify the layout and difficulty before buying the full PDF elsewhere.
2. The "Drop and Lift" Mechanism
Fischer emphasizes the mechanical action of the fingers. He creates exercises where fingers are trained to fall onto the string with velocity while the hand remains balanced. The high-resolution charts and musical staves in the PDF allow the student to clearly see the specific rhythms and bowing patterns intended to train this reflex.
Exercise: The "Spring" of the Bow
Fischer creates diagrams showing the contact point. If a PDF is low quality, the contact point (the small black dot on the string line) is often blurred.
- Concept: The bow must sit between the two strings.
- The Diagram: Fischer uses a "see-saw" illustration to show how pressure on the lower string affects the upper string.

