Position Shifts

The trick is to do them when you’re playing an open string (typically a D, but possibly an A). That gives you the necessary time.

For instance, to play an octave (in the key of D) from A on the 2nd string up to the top A and back:

1) Play A, B & C# on the 2nd string.

2) Play the open D, and at the same time shift to the 4th position (i.e. 4th fret — this is guitar terminology not violin terminology, which is comparatively bizarre).

3) Play the E on the 2nd string, 7th fret (with your pinkie) and the F# on the 1st string 4th fret (with your index finger).

4) Play the G with your 2nd finger and the A with your pinkie.

Reverse the process going down.

It 𝘪𝘴 possible to do seamless position shifts without using an open string, but it takes considerable practice.


Likewise, if you need to go up to B, shift instead to the 7th position when you play the D, and play E-F#-G on the 2nd string.

All of this does of course requite a little planning ahead, unless you can think like greased lightning.


Tijn Berends I've been using position shifts more and more the past few years. Anything past the fifth fret is a pain to reach, and I've found that most tunes have got a high D or middle A somewhere that gives you a split second to move your hand. If you move to third position (index finger at the 7th fret), you can play a scale from middle A to high C# without stretching - for many tunes, that's enough for the entire B-part.



found at Irish Bouzouki Facebook Group