Shifting
You may wish to review Left Hand Position, Guide Fingers, and Sequential Preparation
before continuing with this lesson.
Shifting is the act of moving from one Left Hand Position to another. When a guide finger is available, that finger moves up or down a string and establishes the new Position. When there is no guide finger, the first left hand finger required in the new Position establishes that Position.
The key to efficient shifting is maintaining a common left hand position throughout the shift. Check the thumb after shifting to ensure it has kept its placement between the 2nd and 3rd fingers.
It is quite common to experience "Thumb Drag" or "Hitchhikers Thumb" when executing an ascending (towards the bridge) shift. As the hand shifts up the neck, the thumb drags behind it and ends up out of placement when the new position is established.
Another common problem is the one fret shift. The left hand thumb may have a tendency to stay in the same place on the neck. Because it is only a one fret shift, the fingers may be able to reach the new notes, but the thumb is out of placement and this stresses the fingers and makes future movements more difficult.
before continuing with this lesson.
Shifting is the act of moving from one Left Hand Position to another. When a guide finger is available, that finger moves up or down a string and establishes the new Position. When there is no guide finger, the first left hand finger required in the new Position establishes that Position.
The key to efficient shifting is maintaining a common left hand position throughout the shift. Check the thumb after shifting to ensure it has kept its placement between the 2nd and 3rd fingers.
It is quite common to experience "Thumb Drag" or "Hitchhikers Thumb" when executing an ascending (towards the bridge) shift. As the hand shifts up the neck, the thumb drags behind it and ends up out of placement when the new position is established.
Another common problem is the one fret shift. The left hand thumb may have a tendency to stay in the same place on the neck. Because it is only a one fret shift, the fingers may be able to reach the new notes, but the thumb is out of placement and this stresses the fingers and makes future movements more difficult.
I have developed the following two step plan to break down and master shifts:
Step 1 - Take out the shift
In other words, learn the passage all in one position without shifting to a second position. The notes will be not be (or sound) correct after the point where the shift would normally be, but this technique allows you to study exactly how the left hand behaves without the complication of the shift.
Step 2 - Practice False Shifting
Begin in one position and practice shifting to as many other positions as possible. If the shift you are studying is in a higher position, practice shifting to lower positions as well. What you are doing is becoming an expert in the field of that particular shift.
Step 1 - Take out the shift
In other words, learn the passage all in one position without shifting to a second position. The notes will be not be (or sound) correct after the point where the shift would normally be, but this technique allows you to study exactly how the left hand behaves without the complication of the shift.
Step 2 - Practice False Shifting
Begin in one position and practice shifting to as many other positions as possible. If the shift you are studying is in a higher position, practice shifting to lower positions as well. What you are doing is becoming an expert in the field of that particular shift.
For more information related to Shifting, please see Relative Positioning.
Copyright © 2011 by Thomas Coffey All Rights Reserved Internatonal Copyright Secured
