Basic Rule of Thumb (finger):

ALWAYS LOOK FOR WHERE YOUR INDEX FINGER WILL BE

• Look for a passage that has a range of four or sometimes five frets. That’s one position (example A)
• Notated slides often signal a position shift of the hand. You will often stay in the new position for at least a few notes (B).
• Look for chords (stacked notes). They will show where your index finger is (C).
• Bends will usually be the ring or pinkie finger (C). That can clue you to where the index finger and the hand position is.
• Look for a scale pattern that can allow you to reach all the notes in a familiar way (D).
• When a new note is ahead or below the 4-5 fret range and repeats, that usually signals a movement to a new position (E).