Position

When playing stringed instruments such as guitar, violin, mandolin and so forth, the left hand is continually moving so that the fingers may fall into the appropriate places on the fingerboard, thus producing a different series of notes. Each of these locations is called a position. In guitar playing, where it is possible to solo in so many places on the fingerboard, players are particularly aware of positions (i.e. first position, second position, etc.). For instance, a solo in the key of A minor played in the first position will sound quite different than one played in the second or third positions farther up the neck.