Left-hand positions

[ed]

Can anyone give any tips on playing scales involving a left-hand shift?

Notes may often be played from either of two adjacent positions and I wondered if there are any rules or suggestions as to which is better. For instance, playing the scale of D over two octaves, does one play the 1^. and 2^. from the 1st or 2nd position (or even the 3rd position). Come to think of it, even the 6 and 7 could be played from more than one position.

Or perhaps one should practise all combinations!

Thanks
Ed

[davidmdahl]

It is worthwhile to practice scales in the different positions. That will help you to understand where the notes are. Often times when I have been playing in a high position I will tend to return to a lower position to play a note where it is actually handier at the high position. Some times moving between positions is best since you can slide, but other times staying high is best.

So practicing scales in different positions is useful. Sliding up and down to other positions is helpful as well.

Best wishes,

David

[dsouthwood]

I generally play a note in the position that's easiest to reach, but sometimes stretching to play a note on the D string is better than switching the bow to the A string. Also, even though a given note played on the D string or the A string is technically the same note, it will have a different coloration depending on which string is used. So the string might be chosen according to what feeling you want at that point in the song, or simply to create variety. I remember hearing an interview with a jazz guitarist who had played rhythm guitar in a number of groups during the big band era. He remarked about the numerous ways to play a given chord on the guitar and said that the best rhythm guitarists never used the same chord position for more than two consecutive beats in order to keep from sounding monotonous.

[ed]

Many thanks David and dsouthwood for your interesting replies. I understand all that you are saying; however I would be interested in knowing which fingerings are the most useful to practice, there are so many possible combinations.

Ed