8,720
edits
Changes
m
no edit summary
fig. 1
--2--3--4--5--
=== Stetches ===
Very rarely will you ever be completely confined inside a group of 4 frets. You'll often have to perform stretches such as below:
fig. 2
--2--4--6--
Your index finger will fret the 2nd fret, so it's most accurate to say we're in 2nd position. But the 4th fret you will need to fret with your middle or ring finger, and the 6th with your pinky. I find it's easiest to stretch the middle finger to reach the 4th fret, which makes it easier to reach the 6th fret with the pinky. Either way you have to stretch. But let's look at a different example:
fig. 3
e---------------------------------
b-------------------------7-9-10--
g-------------------6-8-9---------
d-------------6-7-9---------------
a-------6-7-9---------------------
e-5-7-9---------------------------
Are we in 5th, 6th, or 7th position? Or are we switching as we change from the 6th to 5th and 3rd to 2nd strings? Trying to specify position strictly can get confusing. I don't like thinking in terms of position. I find most instruction overemphasizes the concept of position for beginners, feeding them examples where there are coincidentally no stretches, and the index finger is on the same fret for all strings. As your infant mind graps to the concept of position, it becomes awkward to play and understand patterns that completely break the concept.
So my recommendation is to take the concept of position lightly. I would call the above example 6th position on the basis that your index finger is ''mostly'' fretting the 6th fret. I find no persuasive reason to say anything further on the matter - it's clear to the player that it's not strictly 6th position, given the 6th and 2nd strings. Playing the -7-9-10- on the b string with your middle, ring, and pinky fingers will be difficult and awkward. There is no good reason not to shift positions one fret.
On the other hand, you can play the -5-7-9- on the e string without actually shifting (moving the placement of your thumb on the back of the neck). You just stretch your index finger back.
== Open Position ==