How to play in the first 5 positions
A beginner's foolproof guide
Pre-requisite : Study the section on finger patterns and make sure you understand them. You will also be better prepared if you have played in 3rd position a little. The following guide is mainly about playing the notes, and less about the manual and mechanical aspect of positioning your left hand in an optimal way. Seek the guidance of a good teacher for that !
Expect to know all first 5 positions really well if you want to be prepared to tackle your Grade 5 repertoire ! After you understand the main finger patterns, and the less common keys, such as E flat major in first position, it's time to learn 3rd position, the 2nd, 4th and finally 5th. To be an intermediate violinist you will need to study the Campagnoli method to become familiar with the first 7 positions. This will allow you to tackle most repertoire, though advanced violinists are familiar with the highest positions, for instance playing in 12th position when they complete their top (4th) octave of the G major scale ).
Let's start
Think of pattern 3 ( i.e. 3rd finger next to the 4th. ) The drawing below shows clearly the gaps between 1st and 2nd finger, and between 2nd and 3rd. The 3rd must touch the 4th.
Now, using this pattern, play the E major scale, slurred ( using all the bow ) in 1st position. Start with your first finger on the D. Make sure you use your 4th fingers.... not the open strings. Play with a medium speed at medium volume. Make the best sound you can.
Let's try it in 3rd position.
O.K., now you'll be using the same pattern, except that the distances between the fingers will be very slightly smaller. We'll try G major in 3rd position. First we must find the pitch of a well tuned third finger in first position. Play very slowly D, 1, 2, 3 ( using pattern 2 ) as shown below. When you get to your 3rd finger, shift your hand closer to you, and place the first finger over the exact spot that the third was on. Try and find exactly the same note.
If you think you have a G with the first finger in 3rd position ( you can check your intonation with an open G at this stage too ) then proceed to the G major scale in 3rd position using pattern 3 ! If you know the sound of a major scale well, you should have a feeling for when you are playing the notes in tune. Always listen carefully, and play a little softer if it lets you hear better. Use plenty of bow, and make sure it's a little closer to the bridge than usual.
And now let's try some 2nd position.
Now you're going to find an F natural on the D string. That means pattern 1, because your 2 will be touching the 1. Go ahead and find the F :
Now, where you were putting down your 2nd finger, place your 1st. You should shift the hand up, including the thumb ever so slightly towards you. Once you are sure you are playing an F natural with your second finger, try the F major scale with pattern 3, as usual. You're playing in second position ! Did you notice how the fingers are further apart than 3rd position, and almost the same as 1st position, when you come to measure the gaps in between the fingers ?
And now let's try some 4th position.
Right. Just play an open A. Then place your 1st finger on the D string, where you would normally play a 4th finger. You should have found the right spot.. the spot that sounds just like an open A. Make sure your bow is touching the string a little nearer the bridge. We say the point of contact is closer to the bridge, because the string is "stopped" so it is now shorter. Here's your 4th position A major scale, to be played with pattern 3 starting on the D string.
And finally, 5th position !
Here's your final step. If you play B major, starting on the A string in 1st position ( using pattern 3 and your 4th finger of course ) , you should find yourself playing the same scale we started with ( E major ) just one string higher up. Well in 5th position, you will use exactly the same fingering as you would in 1st position, except you will be playing on one string lower. Make sure you play a few A ones ( B ) until you have it in your ear, and then find that note on the D string with your first finger. Your hand is going to be higher up the fingerboard than when you were playing in 4th position. If you're not sure of the sound of a B, play it on the piano, so you know what note you are looking for. Once you have a B you can start your slurred scale in the usual pattern 3. Here's the music for the notes going up.. you can play it going down too.
Above : I don't think I need to add fingers. It's just 1 2 3 4 on the D, and 1 2 3 4 on the A. Remember that your scale should sound the same in 5th position as it does in 1st position.
Is that it ?
Yes, almost. You may be wondering why we keep using pattern 3. That's because we are always starting our scale with the first finger. If you start a major scale on the 2nd finger, you'll be using pattern 4 ( where there are gaps between all the fingers ). If you start a scale on the 3rd finger, then the first octave will be based around pattern 1. Try D major in 1st position, ( just one octave ) then try it in third, using pattern 4.
Below : You can also try C major in 2nd position starting with a 2nd finger. It's the same pattern as the D major above, and you might find it quite unusual to start with.
Some projects
Here are some projects to help you become familiar with the first five positions. In all cases I suggest just one octave, though instead of slurring, you could slur 4 to a bow, or even add rhythm patterns.
| B flat major | 2nd position, pattern 3 | start with a 1 on the G string |
| C major | 3rd position, pattern 3 | start with a 1 on the G string |
| C major | 2nd position, pattern 4 | start with a 2 on the G string |
| E major | 3rd position, pattern 1 | start with a 3 on the G string |
| F major | 3rd position, pattern 2 | start with a 4 on the G string |
| A major | 2nd position, pattern 1 | start with a 3 on the D string |
| B major | 4th position, pattern 4 | start with a 2 on the D string |
| C major | 5th position, pattern 4 | start with a 2 on the D string |
There are more scales than these, and you could take quite some time to go through them all. Experiment, and make up a few of your own. Try E flat major in 4th position. What pattern, what string and what finger should you start with ? Remember that with major scales, the pattern we play our first octave in depends on the finger we start out with.
Feeling lost ?
You may well be feeling lost if this is your first time outside the more common 1st and 3rd position. You'll get better with time and experience, no doubt, but make sure you understand key signatures, and how many flats there are in A flat major ! You may also need to lighten the pressure of your bow on the strings, or move the contact point closer to the bridge. At first your tone or sound may be distorted in 5th position. As you improve, your tone should become healthier. You'll need good guidance from a teacher when it comes to placing the thumb, and bringing it out, away from the fingerboard as you reach higher positions. Remember that a change of position means your thumb moves or shifts together with your whole hand. If you keep your thumb opposite your 1st finger in 1st position, then it should also be opposite your first finger in 4th position. In other words, where your first finger goes, your thumb goes ! Otherwise you would not really be changing position.