Scale positions

[bennyblu]

Hi

Can anybody explain what it means to play in different positions on the bass fretboard. What do positions open, 1st, 2nd, 2rd, 4th and 5th position refer to on the fretboard.

Thanks

[mambo4]

"1st postion, 2nd postion" etc. is classical terminology usually used for the double bass.

If you fret the first 4 frets with your 4 fingers, that's 1st postion.
Slide up 1 fret, that's second, and so on.

so basically each "position" means the fret your index finger is on.

[JTE]

Where your first finger is. 1st position is first finger at the first fret.

John

[HaVIC5]

Note that in classical double bass terminology, this is not the case. There is a convoluted system of half positions and such if you go by Simandl, and if you go by Rabbath there are six. On electric bass, it's whatever fret you're on.

[JTE]

Yeah, I assumed electric bass (based on the OP's use of the word "fretboard". I never studied double bass so I don't know the system there.

John

[bennyblu]

Thats great guys, that clarifies it for me. I was refering to electric bass yet I had read about the "half position" system and was getting a little confused, as I was always under the impression that the positions were as you guys have stated.

Thanks again