Position
Position of the hand on the fingerboard.
What it means
Position designates the placement of the left hand on the fingerboard. In first position the first finger stops the note that lies a whole tone or semitone above the open string; in second position the whole hand moves one step higher, and so on. Every position offers four fingers and thus a certain stock of notes on all strings. On the cello, above fourth position, thumb position is added, in which the thumb is placed on the strings as an additional stopping point.
In the notation
Positions do not appear as signs of their own in the notated text but result from the fingering. A number above the note says which finger stops it, and from that the position follows. Roman numerals in some editions additionally designate the string, occasionally also the position itself. Where such indications are lacking, the player decides.
Musical use
The choice of position is not a mere matter of convenience but influences the sound. A note in a high position on a low string sounds darker and denser than the same note in a low position on a higher string. Composers and editors therefore sometimes prescribe a particular string, for instance sul G, to fix the colour. The connection between notes also plays a role: within one position, notes can be connected without hand movement, which makes legato passages calmer.
Performance practice
Learn the positions through fixed reference points rather than by counting: you find third position at the transition to the body, and the octave on the open string is a reliable anchor. Practise scales within one position across all strings before playing them across several positions. Take care that the thumb follows the hand and does not lag behind, otherwise the hand shape becomes distorted. Plan the fingering of a passage so that as few position changes as possible fall at tricky spots — better a change in a rest than in the middle of a melodic arc. Note down the chosen solution in the score.