15 How to Practice Tips for Fifth Position

Want to improve your fifth position playing skill set? Read on for 15 how to practice tips for fifth position.

Learning fifth position on the violin can be a breeze with these 15 tips. These fifth position practice tips are divided into five categories:

  1. How to Build a Strong Fifth Position Foundation
  2. Intonation
  3. Position Exercises
  4. Tone
  5. Proper Posture is the fundamental technique for all of violin playing. Never underestimate the importance of posture. Need help with left hand posture for the violin? Read “Left Hand Posture for Violin” blog post here.

A discerning ear is imperative for intonation practice and if your study of fifth position is not guided by a discerning ear, than no amount of practice will help you master fifth position. How to develop a discerning ear? Read “Every Pitch a Pearl” blog post here.

Building a Strong Fifth Position Foundation

  • BE SURE TO MASTER READING FIRST POSITION

    Fifth position on the violin reads exactly like first position but over one string. So, if you have a difficult time reading notes in first position, I wouldn’t suggest moving to any other position until that is mastered.

    Need more first position training? Check out Online violin Education’s Book and E-Course, “Strengthening Exercises for First Position.” 

  • GOOD TO KNOW THIRD POSITION BEFORE STUDYING FIFTH

    It is always a good idea to learn third position before fifth position. Why is this true if fifth position reads like first position? Well, third position is half way between first and fifth position on the violin. Third position allows you to feel how it is playing outside of first in a relatively comfortable posture. Fifth position, the intervals get even smaller and the left elbow has to come under the instrument more to allow comfortable playability on the G string.

    Need help studying third position? Check out Online violin Education’s book and E-Course, “Mastering Third Position.”

  • STRONG LEFT HAND FINGERS TO DEPRESS THE STRING - STRING HEIGHT IS HIGHER

    Fingers need to be able to come down strong like hammers while being relaxed without tension.

  • VISUALLY, AURALLY AND PHYSICALLY KNOW WHERE THE FIRST FINGER BELONGS IN FIFTH POSITION

  • REMEMBER TO BRING THE LEFT ELBOW UNDER THE INSTRUMENT FOR THE G STRING

Developing Good Intonation

  • ALWAYS CHECK WITH OPEN STRINGS WHEN POSSIBLE AND CHECK PITCHES IN FIRST POSITION FIRST

  • KEEP IN MIND INTERVALS BECOME SMALLER THE HIGHER YOU GO ON THE INSTRUMENT

  • KNOW YOUR HAND FRAME (DISTANCE) BETWEEN FIRST AND FOURTH FINGER

  • DON’T CONFUSE THE DIFFERENT COLOR OF THE PITCHES FOR CORRECT INTONATION. ALWAYS LISTEN FOR THE SPARKLE.

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FOURTH FINGER FITNESS for Fifth Position exercise E-Book is for you if…

  • Your Fourth finger is consistently out of tune in fifth position.
  • Your fourth finger is considerably weaker than your other fingers while in fifth position.
  • You devise crazy ass fingerings to avoid the fourth finger at all costs.
  • Octaves are hellish nightmares.
  • You want a 100% Immediate Downloadable position exercise book.

Fifth Position Exercises

  • PLAY SCALES IN FIFTH ACROSS THE INSTRUMENT SAYING THE NOTE NAMES

  • PRACTICE SHIFTING TO FIFTH FROM FIRST AND THIRD POSITIONS WITH THE SAME FINGER AND WITH DIFFERENT FINGERS

  • STUDY ETUDES IN FIFTH POSITION

Tone

  • BOW NEEDS TO BE CLOSER TO THE BRIDGE WHILE PLAYING IN FIFTH

  • STUDY STRING CROSSINGS BECAUSE OF THE HEIGHTH OF THE STRING WHEN ONE STRING IS DEPRESSED THE OPEN STRING WILL FEEL HIGHER

Master Fifth Position with Finger Patterns

Position Exercise E-book

Looking for an excellent 100% immediate downloadable position exercise book devoted specifically to mastering fifth position with finger patters? Be sure to check out Master Fifth Position with Finger Patterns – Strengthening exercises designed specifically for becoming fluent in fifth position. These exercises WILL transform your fifth position skills, with practice of course.

100% Immediately Downloadable

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Please share in the comments below which fifth position tips you found to make the biggest difference in your practices sessions.

Happy Magical Practices,

Heather is a classically trained concert violinist residing in Bulgaria. She received her BM violin performance degree from CU-Boulder, studied with top teachers including Rachel Barton Pine. Heather has held leadership positions with multiple orchestras in the Greater Chicago-Milwaukee area. She has instructed millions of violinists globally via Youtube videos, online academies, group coaching and one on one sessions. Heather’s students have won multiple awards, concerto competitions, held concertmaster positions in orchestras and even performed in Carnegie Hall. Heather is an advocate of a holistic violin lifestyle – putting one’s mind, body and spirit as a violin journey priority.

Please share in the comments which above tips you will be implementing into your daily practices sessions.

6 replies
  2. Christine Guilbert
    Christine Guilbert says:

    Hi there Heather
    My son is currently working towards his Trinity grade six violin exam and is age 13.
    Some of his scales requires quite a bit of sixth positions and he tends to struggle with this as his fingers have hyper mobility issues and bend the wrong way. I am trying to encourage him to practice slowly and try to correct this which he can do if he really makes an effort. Is it right do you think to persevere with trying to correct, or do you think if he can produce a scale in tune at this level with fingers bent the wrong way to leave it?
    many thanks

    Reply
    • Heather Kaye
      Heather Kaye says:

      Hi Christine!
      Thanks for commenting. I would have him continue on fixing the issue. Does it only happen in sixth position? I would definitely inspect his overall posture and set up to be sure his left hand feels truly supported by his elbow in the upper positions. It is difficult for me to give to much feedback without being able to see him. It is an issue to definitely fix.
      All my best,
      Heather

      Reply

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