The Violin Fingerboard — Understanding Second Position
Once you feel comfortable in first and third position, the next step is learning second position. While it is used less frequently than third position, second position helps connect notes smoothly between positions and can be useful in certain passages and scale patterns.
In this lesson from Violin Theory Simplified, violinist Dayna Bee explains how second position works and how your hand shape stays the same even as you move up the fingerboard. You can follow more of her work here: Dayna Bee on Instagram.
What Is Second Position?
In second position, your first finger moves to where your second finger was in first position. Even though your hand shifts slightly up the fingerboard, your overall hand shape and finger spacing remain the same.
This position helps you reach certain notes more comfortably without stretching and allows smoother transitions between first and third position.
Why Learn Second Position?
- Reach notes smoothly without large shifts
- Connect passages between first and third position
- Maintain a stable hand position during certain melodies
Just like in first position, you will still use Low and High finger placements to adjust pitch within the position.
Watch the Lesson
This short tutorial, taught by Dayna Bee, explains how second position fits naturally between first and third position so you can move across the fingerboard more confidently.
If you’re learning from the Violin Theory Simplified book, this video expands on the QR code lesson and helps you visualize how shifting changes note placement.