Double Bass Positions

elow, you will see pictures to help you learn the different positions of the Bass. On the left, you will see a picture of what it looks like to play in each position, and on the right you will see a fingering chart that shows the notes in each position. Click on either picture to see a bigger version.

Reminders:

• In any position, you will always have at least one finger on a tape. In some positions, you will have 2 fingers on tapes.

• There are notes in between most tapes.

• Your 2nd finger will stay halfway between your 1st and 4th fingers, no matter which position your are in.

• As move to higher positions, the notes get closer together, so the space between your fingers will get smaller.

• Your thumb should always be behind your 2nd finger, no matter which position you are in.

Most of the time, your 1st finger will be on the red tape, and your 4th finger will be on the blue tape.

This is First Position

With your 2nd finger on the red tape, you are in Half Position

With your 2nd finger on the blue tape, and your 4th finger on the white tape, you are in Second Position

With your 1st finger on the white tape, and your 4th finger on the gold tape, you are in Third Position

With your 1st finger on the gold tape, and your 4th finger on the silver tape, you are in Fourth Position

With your 2nd finger on the silver tape, you are in Fifth Position

In 5th Position, the 4th Finger will be directly across the fingerboard from the end of the neckblock

With your 1st finger on the silver tape, you are in Fifth-and-a-Half Position

In 5th and a half Position, the 2nd Finger will be directly across the fingerboard from the end of the neckblock

When you are playing notes at the black tape or higher, you are in Thumb Position