Originally Posted by
Bruce Clausen
If you're just going to C and no higher, reaching with 4th finger while remaining in first position is actually a pretty normal fingering.
As an exercise, try playing the normal first position C scale fingering on the E strings (E-F-G-A-B), holding all four fingers down. Should be comfortable. Then slide up to C with fourth finger, without lifting the other fingers. Your ability to extend this way will depend especially on how you're holding the mandolin, and what your wrist and thumb are doing. Hope this helps!
Bookmarks