The Higher Frets on All Strings: Vol. 2: Guitar, Methods, Book

Sholle's Volume 2 bridges the critical gap between first and third position work with studies that feel like genuine music rather than exercises. The progression respects the physical and mental demands of shifting while maintaining engaging melodic content that keeps students motivated.

The studies maintain a lyrical quality even as they introduce technical complexity. You'll find straightforward melodies that encourage singing through the instrument, making the shift work feel purposeful rather than mechanical.

This book serves guitarists ready to move beyond first position work, typically students in their first or second year of study. It's equally valuable for classroom guitar programs and private studio instruction where methodical position development matters.

• Establish a consistent hand position before each shift; mark your fret shifts in pencil so students know exactly where the first finger needs to land in third position.
• Work through each study slowly enough that the shift feels natural rather than scrambled; rushing this stage undermines the foundation Volume 2 is meant to build.
• Isolate the shift patterns in segments, drilling the transition between positions before playing full passages at tempo.
• Listen actively to intonation in third position; this register can easily go sharp if students aren't matching the pitch center of lower positions.

Use this as your core text during the phase when students are solidifying first position and preparing for expanded range work. The systematic approach pairs well with ensemble playing that stays primarily in lower positions, letting students apply new technical skills in varied musical contexts.

• shifting from first position to third position with accuracy and minimal position noise
• reading and playing in third position across all six strings
• maintaining consistent tone and intonation during position transitions
• understanding intervallic relationships across the higher frets
• developing finger independence and strength in upper positions