Guitar technique · Position shift
Position shifting on guitar: why changing position slows you down
In short
A position shift doesn’t cost the same depending on the finger carrying it and the direction. Sliding up with the ring finger has neither the same path nor the same pressure as sliding down with the index. To improve, compare the speed of a fingering with and without the shift, find the finger and direction that cost the most, and work on them with a guide finger and eyes ahead of the hand.
Shifting position along the neck is often where a fast line falls apart. The passage is clean in each position, but the move between them costs you the tempo, or lands your hand one fret off.
What makes a shift hard
A fast move along the neck is a ballistic motion: the hand is launched, then has to brake to stop exactly on the right fret. Accelerating is easy; precise deceleration is what takes practice.
In legato, the shift is often done with a slide: one finger keeps pressure on the string throughout the move so the note keeps ringing. Holding that pressure is harder for weaker fingers, and it combines with the rest of the pattern.
The finger and the direction matter
Every shift has a carrying finger and a direction. Sliding up with the ring finger, sliding down with the index, carrying the ascent and the descent with two different fingers or with the same one: these are distinct motions that don’t cost the same.
That’s why the RIFFLEX report asks “Which finger and shift direction costs you the most speed?”, comparing your speed on the same fingering played without a shift, then with the slide.
Common mistakes
- Your eyes arrive at the same time as your hand: without looking ahead, the hand hesitates or lands on the wrong fret.
- Pressure drops during the slide: the note dies and the legato breaks.
- The thumb stays stuck: the hand twists instead of moving as a unit.
- The arm doesn’t follow: only the fingers stretch toward the new position.
Exercises for smooth shifts
- Guide finger: keep the sliding finger in contact with the string throughout the move, easing pressure just enough to slide.
- Eyes ahead: look at the target fret before your hand leaves.
- Move as a unit: thumb, hand and forearm travel together.
- Isolate the move: repeat only the slide and the landing, with a slow metronome, before putting the full pattern back together.
- Work both directions and several carrying fingers: your weak spot is often one finger in one direction.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I land on the wrong fret after a shift?
Most often your eyes don’t anticipate the landing and the deceleration hasn’t been practiced enough. Looking at the target fret before leaving and practicing the move alone, slowly, clearly improves accuracy.
Should I look at the neck while shifting?
Yes, but ahead of time: your eyes should be on the target position before the hand leaves, not following the hand during the move.
Which finger should I slide with?
It depends on the fingering, but it’s worth practicing several carrying fingers in both directions. Many guitarists have one finger in one direction that’s clearly weaker than the rest.