Picking Directions and Playing Positions

Let’s review strumming recommendations for different rhythms.

Quarter notes will generally be played with downstrokes so learn to synchronize your foot with the downstrokes of the pick.

Eighth notes will be played with a combination of downstrokes and upstrokes. Use alternate picking whenever possible.

Eighth-note triplets (just as a quarter note can be divided into three equal parts called a triplet, an eighth note can also; resulting in a three sixteenth-note triplet) will be played with down- and upstrokes. Alternate picking will necessitate playing some upstrokes on strong beats and some downstrokes on weak beats, if there is more than one group of triplets.

Eighth-note triplet subdivisions will be picked using alternate picking. Count all three parts of the beat.

Sixteenth notes will generally be played using alternate picking. In any type of sixteenth-note rhythmic figure, all four parts of the beat should be counted.

Rests do not change pick direction. Always see the rest as part of the rhythmic figure and pick accordingly.

Hand Positions

We’ve briefly discussed hand positions in previous lessons. There are a variety to master so let’s start with the fifth.

Most melodies can be played in the middle area of the neck called the fifth position. The fifth position assigns each of the left hand fingers to a single fret generally; though notes found on the fourth and ninth frets are also included in the fifth position and these pitches can be played either by the hand moving out of position or by a finger stretch involving the first or fourth finger. It’s here that intonation is better and the tone fuller.

Since music often contains pitches that are higher or lower than the range of the staff, we add ledger lines to temporarily extend the range. The range of the guitar typically extends below the staff by three ledger lines to the low open E string, and above the staff by five ledger lines to the high B at the nineteenth fret (sometimes higher, depending on the particular instrument).

The fifth position encompasses a large part of the guitar’s range and most standard melodies can be read and played from this area of the neck.

The Open Position

Open, or first position works a range from the open strings to the fifth fret. It contains the lowest notes playable on the guitar with each finger having a fret position. The open strings are used instead of a first-finger stretch and the fourth finger working both the fourth and fifth frets.

All the notes found in open position can also be found in the fifth position – except for the notes on the sixth string. These will be the first notes that we learn in the open position: E below the third ledger line, F on the third ledger line and G below the second ledger line. So, when playing the notes A, B and C in the open position on the fifth string we would play A on the open fifth string, B at the second fret, and C at the third fret.

When playing the notes D, E and F in open position on the fourth string we would use the open fourth string for D, the second fret for E and the third fret for F. When playing G and A we similarly play G on the open third string and A at the second fret.

Now, some music exceeds the range of the fifth position for one or two notes and we could simply respond by temporarily extending our fingering range and then returning back to position. This happens often in the fifth position with the note D written above the staff. Technically, this note is not part of the fifth position, but it’s legal to jump up for the note and then move back into your position. This same applies to low G, written below the staff which could be reached from the fifth position if we temporarily jump downward and then return.

Twelfth Position

One of the easiest ways to learn the notes in the twelfth position is to pretend that you are still in open position. All the notes are one octave higher, but otherwise are identical. However, the hardest part of learning the twelfth position is losing your place inside the higher ledger lines. You’ll be wise in memorizing these lines but in the meantime develop the technique of tracking your eye across the third ledger line – E on the first string, twelfth fret – then place an imaginary staff across that line to see the higher notes.

8va or Octave in Fifth Position

The symbol 8va is an abbreviation of “ottava,” or octave used to indicate that a part should be read one octave higher than it is actually notated. This symbol is written above the staff that it affects and generally remains in effect until the word “loco” appears. Loco is an Italian term that means “in place”.

Second Position

The second position is located halfway between open position and fifth. It can be used as a bridge between these two popular positions. Second position does not officially contain any open strings; however, they are often used for that effect.

Second position can be thought of as a sharp-key reading area. Timbre is a word that defines quality of tone. Notes or phrases can have a dark timbre, or a bright one. Using open string in the second position can give a note or phrase a ringing, sustaining or bell-like timbre.

Choosing a Playing Position

How do you decide when to use a particular position on the guitar? Unfortunately there is no clear-cut answer. Here are a few general guidelines:

Ultimately the way we want to express a musical phrase should determine our fingering and position decisions, and experience is the best guide. Remember, there are many guitarists who can sightread but very few who can do so musically.

Final Notes

So, for you aspiring guitarists of the world, use these lessons as a base for your launch into the world of harmony, fretboard execution, more theory and sightreading. This will help you build up your confidence and round out your musical education. And as with any new skill, it requires practice.