Hi, I'm Ailbhe McDonagh. In this video, we are discussing how to play in 4th position.
You have been playing in 1st position for a while, and now we can finally shift higher up the fingerboard. But why do we learn 4th position before 2nd or 3rd? The answer is simple: if you move your hand up from a 4th finger in 1st position, the very next note in the scale lands exactly on your 1st finger in 4th position. It gives us immediate access to a whole new range of notes.
Finding 4th position
A common frustration for students is getting lost during the shift. Thankfully, the cello has a built-in physical marker to help you find 4th position every time.
As you slide your hand up the neck, your thumb will eventually hit the "neck block" (the place where the neck joins the main body of the instrument). Your thumb cannot go any further. When your thumb rests comfortably in that curve, your 1st finger will naturally sit directly opposite it. You have arrived in 4th position!
Adjusting your finger spacing
As you move higher up a string instrument, the physical distance between the notes gets smaller.
- The trap: if you keep your fingers spread wide like you do in 1st position, your notes in 4th position will sound terrible and out of tune.
- The fix: bring your fingers slightly closer together. It should actually feel much more comfortable and compact in your hand.
Hand shape and the cello ribs
What makes 4th position awkward is that the ribs (sides) of the cello are now in your way. To get over this hurdle, you must maintain your C-shape. Keep your fingers arched and allow the side of your hand to gently meet the side of the cello.
Do not let your elbow drop; keep it on the same plane as it was in 1st position. When you play on the lower strings (like the C string), you will need to raise your elbow even more to support the 4th finger and ensure the weight comes down perpendicularly.
Note recognition game
A great way to check if you are in the right place is to compare your stopped notes to your open strings. In 4th position, your 1st finger is always the exact same pitch as the open string above it.
- 1st finger on the C string = open G string
- 1st finger on the G string = open D string
- 1st finger on the D string = open A string
Fixing your tone: the bow contact point
When you play in 4th position, you are effectively cutting the vibrating length of the string almost in half. If you keep your bow exactly where it was for 1st position, the sound will be quiet and weak. To maintain the same rich quality of sound, you must move your bow closer to the bridge.
To practice reading and playing in this new area, I highly recommend Rick Mooney's Position Pieces (Book 1), which contains great target practices and tunes specifically for shifting between 1st and 4th position.