Fiddle For Dummies
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Many songs you will learn as a beginner on the fiddle are in what’s called the first position. This refers to the standard position of your left hand on the neck of the instrument.

The range in first position is from the open G string (the lowest note you can play) all the way up to B on the E string (the highest note you can play in that position). Sometimes you’ll see notes that are a little bit higher than first position that require you to move your hand up, or shift.

A couple of the notes that exceed this range are C and D on the E string. You don’t see these notes often in fiddle tunes, but you have to be prepared when they do come up.

[Credit: Figure by Michael Sanchez]
Credit: Figure by Michael Sanchez

Now take a look at this diagram, which shows you where these notes are located on the fingerboard.

[Credit: Figure by Rashell Smith]
Credit: Figure by Rashell Smith

Moving into second and third positions

To be able to play the C and D notes, you need to have your hand in a position other than first position. To help reach the C, you can go into second position, and to reach the D, you can go into third position.

Focus first on third position, as it covers not just C but C and D both. If you shift into second position, you may find that you can’t reach the D without excessive stretching of the fourth finger, but shifting into third covers both the C and the D. You’d think that learning second position first would make more sense, but learning third position will be much more helpful!

You still need to understand where both the second and third positions are. Here’s a guide:

  1. Grab a tuner and make sure your E string is tuned properly.

  2. Play all the notes in first position on the E string in the key of C (no sharps or flats).

    The notes are F with your 1st finger, G with your 2nd finger, A with your 3rd finger, and B with your 4th finger. Match these notes with the tuner.

  3. Now move your thumb and 1st finger up to where your 2nd finger played G.

    This is second position, which allows you to reach one note higher with your 4th finger (C). The notes to match with the tuner are G, A, B, and C.

  4. Next, move into third position by moving your 1st finger and thumb where your 3rd finger originally played A.

    The notes you can match with the tuner are A, B, C, and D.

A good way to practice these positions is to play the C major and D major scales. Both of these sets of notes bring you into the high C and D notes. In the D major scale, you actually play C♯, which is a half-step higher than C. Follow the fingerings in the music to shift from first position to third position.

[Credit: Figure by Michael Sanchez]
Credit: Figure by Michael Sanchez

Confused about all this shifting stuff? You aren’t the first! Shifting is one of the tougher concepts to learn because it’s a completely different way to find notes. Watch this to see how to play the C major and D major scales on the fiddle and to see how to shift your hand.

In the C major scale, your 2nd and 3rd fingers should be touching in third position (B and C). In the D major scale, your 3rd and 4th fingers should be touching (C♯ and D).

As you shift into second or third position, move your whole hand, especially the thumb. Moving your thumb is very important to find exactly what position you’re in on the neck. Also, make sure you don’t grip the neck too hard or shifting will be harder.

Have you ever noticed that the raised marks (frets) on a guitar fingerboard get smaller and smaller from top to bottom? This concept is the same on the fiddle — it’s just invisible because the fiddle has no frets. So, a space between notes in third position is slightly shorter than a space between notes in first position.

If you want to really get the concept of this, play C and D in third position (on the E string) and compare that to C and D in first position (on the A string). See how the spacing is slightly different? This will take time to master, as it’s all muscle memory.

Are you wondering why you can’t just stretch for these notes in first position? When songs start speeding up, you’ll find that it takes too much time to stretch for a C or D note on the E string. Also, when you stretch you’re more likely to not hit the notes in tune. Your playing will be much more consistent if you shift the hand.

Violin music has a lot more spots where you’ll need to shift than the fiddle music has. Some violin songs require you to go as high as 11th position. Yikes! You may be feeling glad you chose to learn the fiddle over the violin.

Trying your hand at shifting in a song

“Song of Christy” requires some shifting of your hand into third position.

[Credit: Figure by Michael Sanchez]
Credit: Figure by Michael Sanchez

About This Article

This article is from the book:

About the book author:

Michael Sanchez has played fiddle in many country music bands, as well as playing fiddle for the Medora Musical, a well-known and popular show held each year in North Dakota. He is CEO and creator of Violin Tutor Pro (www.violintutorpro.com) and is CEO of Superior Violins (www.superiorviolins.com).

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