POSITION (Lat. positio, from ponere, to place. from *po-, down, Gk. eur6, apo, Skt. apa, off + sincre. to allow). In music, a term hav ing reference to the arrangement of the different tones of a chord. A chord is said to be in fundamental position when its fundamental tone is in the bass. In its first inversion (the third in the bass) it is in its second position; in its second inversion (the fifth in the bass), in its third position. Thus a. b, e, are first. second, and third positions, respectively, of the C major chord. (See Cilont).) A chord is also said to be in close position (close harmony) when all its tones arc placed so closely together that it is not possible to introduce another note belonging to that chord between those notes, as: A chord is in open posi tion ( open or extended har mony) when its several tones are spread out so that one or more tones be longing to that chord can be introduced within the compass of the chord, as (See HARMONY.) On the
violin the word position has reference to the sev eral systems of fingering. There are seven positions generally recognized (although for the highest tones use is made of the eleventh and even thirteenth position). The first posi tion is that, when the lowest tone of the lowest string (G) is played on the open string. using the first finger for a, the second and third for b and c, then passing to the open D string. using the three fingers for e, f, g; then to the open A string, etc. The third position begins with the first finger on b (G string). the second, third, and fourth on c, d, e, respectively; then passing to the D string with f produced by the first finger, etc. (See VioLt.N.)