Cello Grade 6: Technique

What you'll learn

1. 1

   Imagine your cello is a friendly giant. To play high notes, you slide your hand up the neck — that's called shifting!

2. 2

   What do we call sliding your hand up the neck to play higher notes?

3. 3

   Let's shift from 1st position to 4th position together on the A string.

4. 4

   Practice shifting: start on D string in 1st position, then slide to 4th position.

5. 5

   When you shift from 1st to 4th position, what happens to the pitch?

6. 6

   Now try shifting back down from 4th to 1st position on the A string — keep your thumb relaxed!

7. 7

   Which finger helps you feel where 4th position is?