One of the most common beginner questions is: “How do you know where to put your fingers on the cello?” Unlike a guitar, the cello has no frets, and unlike the piano, there are no separate keys. Cellists must rely on muscle memory and listening to find accurate notes.

To make this easier, we learn the cello in positions. Each position refers to a particular area of the fingerboard. The very first one we study is called first position.

What is First Position?

• First position begins when you place your first finger about 6 cm from the nut at the top of the fingerboard.
• This same hand shape works across all four strings.
• First position is the foundation for learning where notes are, before moving into second, third, fourth, and eventually thumb position higher up the fingerboard.

Think of these positions as mental building blocks that help you navigate the cello step by step.

Notes in First Position

Here are the notes you will find on each string in first position:

• A string: A (open), B (1st finger), C (2nd finger), C♯ (3rd finger), D (4th finger)
• D string: D (open), E (1st), F (2nd), F♯ (3rd), G (4th)
• G string: G (open), A (1st), B♭ (2nd), B (3rd), C (4th)
• C string: C (open), D (1st), E♭ (2nd), E (3rd), F (4th)

Why First Position Matters

• It is where beginners spend most of their early cello studies.
• Many simple pieces can be played entirely in this position.
• Learning the finger spacing here trains your hand for the patterns you’ll use in higher positions later.

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In upcoming lessons, we will explore each finger in first position in detail, with exercises to help you build strength, accuracy, and confidence.

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Browse the full Cello Basics video series here.

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