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Thread: 1st position - 8th fret

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    Default 1st position - 8th fret

    Hi all! I'm not sure how to approach the last bar in the 2 octave F-major arpeggio in the picture below... its from Marilyn Mair's book and she usually signals where you need to shift position, but doesn't in this case....

    ...so, it implies that it is played in first position, but that leaves me reaching for the 8th fret with my pinky - which requires a big stretch or a quick shift in hand position. Neither seems optimal.

    Any thoughts on how I should approach this?
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  2. #2

    Default Re: 1st position - 8th fret

    Personally, I just do a mini shift up. A 1.5 position, if you will. While I can stretch my pinky to get it, it comes out cleaner sounding if I shift a bit. May not be exactly proper technique, but works for me. Even do the mini shift for 7th frett on occasion, but don't tell! 😉

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    Registered User Bruce Clausen's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1st position - 8th fret

    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!

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    Registered User John Kelly's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1st position - 8th fret

    You could also try playing the F (3rd fret, D string) with your first finger, then A at 7th fret, 3rd finger, C on A string 3rd fret with 1st finger, High F at 8th fret on A string with 4th finger, high A on E string at 5th fret with 2nd finger then high C on E string, 8th fret with 4th finger. It depends on whether you are just playing the arpeggio as an exercise or if it is part of a tune and would then have an effect on your subsequent fingering.
    I'm playing all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order. - Eric Morecambe

    http://www.youtube.com/user/TheOldBores

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    Registered User Bruce Clausen's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1st position - 8th fret

    Good point, John, you could play the whole arpeggio in second position. And in fact for tunes in the key of F second position will often be simpler and smoother than first. But presumably, in the OP's excerpt the author intended first position.

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    Registered User Simon DS's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1st position - 8th fret

    Page 3. Probably not really what you want for this application, but this might help for many other cases:
    http://jazzmando.com/FFcP.pdf

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    Default Re: 1st position - 8th fret

    Thanks everyone, really grateful for your suggestions! I'll give them a try and let you know how I get on...

    Rob

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    Default Re: 1st position - 8th fret

    Quote Originally Posted by Rob Boyett View Post
    Hi all! I'm not sure how to approach the last bar in the 2 octave F-major arpeggio in the picture below... its from Marilyn Mair's book and she usually signals where you need to shift position, but doesn't in this case....

    ...so, it implies that it is played in first position, but that leaves me reaching for the 8th fret with my pinky - which requires a big stretch or a quick shift in hand position. Neither seems optimal.

    Any thoughts on how I should approach this?
    2nd position all the way.

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    Default Re: 1st position - 8th fret

    Quote Originally Posted by Bruce Clausen View Post
    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!
    Also depends on your anatomy. The first step, to me, is difficult, the second impossible. Small hands, I can barely reach an octave on the piano. The normal reach is a tenth (I've been told).

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