Quick Trick for Left Hand Position - Mandolin Lesson

[@mendyviola]

As a long time violist, play around with thumb placement to reach higher with the pinky. It might have to be more centered around your 2nd-3rd finger. That would mean reaching backwards for the first, and a change in the arm position.

[@rjtumble]

This is a great exercise. Do you have one for helping to stretch the middle and ring fingers?

[@rjtumble]

When I do this exercise, I can stretch to the 7th fret, but while on it, the rest of my pinkie finger is covering/touching the other strings. So if I were to pluck the D string, it sounds a bit like a chop or it's buzzy. Is that ok, or is it something that I can exercise to get to a point where I can touch with the pinkie and not cover the other strings?

[@davistucker3713]

Great exercise. Thanks.....

[@darrenlivingston5572]

I will try it. Thanks. My left hand goes numb after I play for a while. The first three fingers will go numb and I’ll have to shake out my hand after five or 10 minutes of playing.