Playing Above the 12th Fret
As can be seen from the above photos, there is a significant change of left-hand position when playing above the 12th fret. Photo A shows the normal shape and angles of the first finger (as explained on page 31) as it plays at the ninth position (C#) with chromatically positioned 2f 3 and 4 ready to play. Photo C shows the first finger having shifted to the seventeenth position (A). Notice how several changes have occurred:
In Photo C, the elbow has moved away and the left wrist and forearm have dropped, along with the thumb, which still has contact with the heel of the guitar (see page 8).
The shape of the first finger has changed to assume the pyramid shape of the half Bar (see page 81) whilst still pressing on its tip. This is the only first finger shape that allows close left-hand contact, thus allowing the remaining 2, 3 and 4 fingers to reach their required diatonic or chromatic notes. It is important to practice guiding the first finger alone from position 9 (C#! Photo A) to position 17 (A ! photo C) then return to position 9, gradually changing hand and finger position shape. Photo B shows the interim first finger shape at fret 13 as it guides from the normal shape (photo A) to that of photo C.
