ABSTRACT
This chapter provides the prospective string teacher with a basic understanding of the following concepts: left-hand finger patterns, fingerboard geography and the ability to create basic fingerings for the beginning cellist. It focuses on the finger patterns used in the lower positions because beginning and intermediate cellists use that range of the instrument with the greatest frequency. Fingerboard geography refers to the locations of pitches along the fingerboard. The location of the player’s first finger determines the position in which the cellist is considered to be playing. Personal preference, the individual’s proficiency on the instrument, and musical context all guide fingering choices. In closed position, the fingers are spaced equidistantly so that one semitone falls between each finger. The technique for transitioning the left hand from closed to extended position is called an extension. There are two types of extensions: forward extensions and backward extensions.
