How to Achieve Other Finger Positions for the Cello

The basic finger position for a beginning cellist is first position. Once the cellist has mastered first position, the half position, second position and third position are the next finger positions she should learn to increase her fingering skills.

Instructions

1. Sit in a firm chair with the cello's endpin resting on the floor, the scroll to the left of your head and the instrument balanced between your knees and slightly angled to the right. Hold the bow in your right hand.

2. Place your hand in first position with your thumb approximately 2 inches up the neck of the cello.

3. Move your hand towards the pegs about 1 inch so your hand rests higher on the cello than when in first position. Even though you are physically moving up on the neck of the cello, a half-step is musically one half-step down from first position. If you picture numbers on the neck of the cello, the half-step is between 0 and 1, so it is lower than first position.

4. Place your hand down from first position to that your first finger rests where your third finger would be if you were in first position. Second position is a half position above first position.

5. Third position is a whole step above second position. To get to third position you should place your thumb where the third finger would usually be if you were in first position.

6. Continue practicing these position. In all there are 7 regular positions for the cello with more fingering options that a cellist generally learns with experience. Knowing the basic fingering positions creates a solid foundation on which to base your cello skills.