THE CELLO COMPANION

Category: Cello Positions

JANUARY 9, 2020 DERYN CULLEN ADULT BEGINNERS, ADULT LEARNERS, ADVANCED

TECHNIQUE, CELLO, CELLO POSITIONS, ELEMENTARY TECHNIQUE, GETTING STARTED ON
THE CELLO, INTERMEDIATE TECHNIQUE, LEFT HAND TECHNIQUE, NECK POSITIONS,
PLAYING THE CELLO, POSITION EXERCISES FOR CELLO, PRACTISING, TEACHING THE
CELLO, THREE FINGER POSITIONS, TIPS AND RESOURCES FOR TEACHING

Cello Fingerboard Map: First to Seventh Position(Updated

2020 Version)

Whether you’re finding your way around first position or you’re venturing into the tenor and treble
clef registers, an understanding of the note layout is essential. The more demanding your repertoire,
the more you need a detailed internal ‘sat-nav’ to find your way effortlessly through challenging
passages. The less you have to calculate your route map, the more you can focus on musical shaping,
phasing and interpretation.

The map below is a visual aid to indicate the location and content of each position from first
(including half) to seventh. You’ll notice that some positions go by 2 names (e.g. upper first/ lower
second), and some of the notes on the fingerboard include enharmonic equivalents (different le�er
name for the same pitch). Positions are named according to the note names they accommodate. For
example, the notes in upper first position on the A string are B#, C#, D and D# – predominantly the
same le�er names as those in first position, while lower second position – C, Db, D, Eb share the le�er
names of upper second position. As a rule, positions with the upper label tend to favour sharps,
while those with the lower label favour flats.
Further posts on cello positions:
An Overview of the Neck Positions (h�ps://thecellocompanion.info/2011/01/21/an-overview-of-the-
neck-positions-on-the-cello/)
An Introduction to Stretch Position (h�ps://thecellocompanion.info/2012/01/19/stretch-position-on-
the-cello/)
An Introduction to the Three Finger Positions (h�ps://thecellocompanion.info/2012/04/18/three-
finger-positions-on-the-cello/)

Did you find this post useful? Please consider making a donation (h�ps://thecellocompanion.info
/donate/).

© D C Cello Studio

AUGUST 22, 2012SEPTEMBER 22, 2013 DERYN CULLEN CELLO, INTERMEDIATE

TECHNIQUE, CELLO POSITIONS, TEACHING THE CELLO, ADULT BEGINNERS, LEFT HAND
TECHNIQUE, PRACTISING, INTONATION, STRETCH POSITION, TIPS AND RESOURCES FOR
TEACHING, NECK POSITIONS, THREE FINGER POSITIONS, ADULT LEARNERS, POSITION
EXERCISES FOR CELLO, PAIRING POSITIONS

Pairing Positions: Fourth and Seventh

(h�ps://thecellocompanion.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/pairing-positions-4-7-exercises.pdf)
 (h�ps://thecellocompanion.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/pairing-positions-4-7-melodies.pdf)

This blog and its content is copyright of D C Cello Studio

© D C Cello Studio 2011 – 2014.
All rights reserved.

If you found these exercises helpful, please consider making a donation.

(h�ps://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_bu�on_id=XSUM7NW7M65DW)

AUGUST 21, 2012SEPTEMBER 22, 2013 DERYN CULLEN CELLO, INTERMEDIATE

TECHNIQUE, CELLO POSITIONS, TEACHING THE CELLO, ADULT BEGINNERS, LEFT HAND
TECHNIQUE, PRACTISING, INTONATION, STRETCH POSITION, TIPS AND RESOURCES FOR
TEACHING, NECK POSITIONS, THREE FINGER POSITIONS, ADULT LEARNERS, POSITION
EXERCISES FOR CELLO, PAIRING POSITIONS

Pairing Positions: Third and Sixth

 (h�ps://thecellocompanion.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/pairing-positions-3-6-exercises.pdf)

(h�ps://thecellocompanion.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/pairing-positions-3-6-melodies.pdf)

This blog and its content is copyright of D C Cello Studio

© D C Cello Studio 2011 – 2014.
All rights reserved.

If you found these exercises helpful, please consider making a donation.

(h�ps://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_bu�on_id=XSUM7NW7M65DW)

AUGUST 11, 2012SEPTEMBER 22, 2013 DERYN CULLEN CELLO, INTERMEDIATE

TECHNIQUE, CELLO POSITIONS, ELEMENTARY TECHNIQUE, TEACHING THE CELLO,
ADULT BEGINNERS, LEFT HAND TECHNIQUE, PRACTISING, INTONATION, STRETCH
POSITION, TIPS AND RESOURCES FOR TEACHING, NECK POSITIONS, THREE FINGER
POSITIONS, ADULT LEARNERS, POSITION EXERCISES FOR CELLO, PAIRING POSITIONS

Pairing Positions: Second and Fifth

(h�ps://thecellocompanion.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/pairing-positions-2-5-exercises1.pdf)

(h�ps://thecellocompanion.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/pairing-positions-2-5-melodies1.pdf)

This blog and its content is copyright of D C Cello Studio

© D C Cello Studio 2011 – 2014.
All rights reserved.
 If you found these exercises helpful, please consider making a donation.

(h�ps://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_bu�on_id=XSUM7NW7M65DW)

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