When to shift on the violin?!

There are 3 main reasons why a violinist would choose to shift: to play a note that’s not possible in the current position, to avoid string crossings, and to create a certain tone color. While learning where to shift comes with time and practice, here are some basic guidelines to follow when determining where to shift.

Number One: To play a note that’s not possible in your current position.

This is the most straightforward reason a player would shift. Say you’re playing in first position, and suddenly you come across this note:

This is a high D, which is impossible to play in first position! In order to play this note, you would have to shift up at least third position, as this can be played as a fourth finger on the E string. When determining what position to shift to, consider the notes that follow. If this is the highest note in the passage, then you can stay in third position. However, if there are higher notes, you will need to shift to a higher position.

This is also true when it comes to lower notes. Say you’re playing in third position, and this note pops up in the passage:

This is a low A, which is only possible in first position! To play this note, you must shift down to first position.

Reason Number Two: To avoid string crossings.

String crossings are challenging, and should be avoided at all costs! I’m half kidding, but if the player can avoid string crossings by shifting, they most likely will, especially in fast passages. Say you come across a passage made up of (mostly) these notes:

It would be easier to play this in third position because these notes can all be played on the same string (A). If you stayed in first position, you would have to cross strings. In my opinion, this is the reason that takes the most time and practice because it can be hard to recognize at first.

Reason Number Three: To invoke a certain tone color or character.

Every string on the violin has its own unique sound, and the sound of each string changes depending on which position you’re in. For example, playing a passage in first position on the A string is going to sound vastly different than playing the same passage in eighth position on the G string. Players can pick and choose when to shift based on the sound they’re looking for in certain passages.