Your Classical Guitar Input Here

1st, 2nd , 3rd...etc positions

I do not understand what 1st position , 3rd position, 5th position etc. means. Been playing guitar forever, by ear and tabs. Just now learning to read actual guitar music and I don't understand what is means by "Position" Can't find a good explanation anywhere on the web either. Am I just being stupid? Can you answer this simply for me?

Befuddled in Fort Bragg

Hi!

By first position it just means your index finger is located over the first fret. Similarly if you're in the 2nd position, 3rd position, 4th position etc your 1st or index finger is located over that fret.

The other fingers of the hand are either on the next 3 frets or in chord combinations that might be on similar frets. It's just that you name the position by where the first finger is located.

The different playing positions have implications regarding different keys or playing a similar key further up the fret board. Indeed, certain pieces sound different in different positions although you're playing the same notes (sometimes exactly). The piece actually sounds better in terms of timbre and sometimes even dynamics.

I hope this has been of help.

Kind regards,
Trevor M.