How would you play this?

[cam]

So here I am, guitar player of over 30 years getting to grips with his first mando. I'm a little confused as to what the best way of fingering passages in the first position might be. I've posted a little section of St.Anne's reel here to illustrate what I mean. Going by the rule of two frets per finger plus the seventh fret to be played by the fourth finger, I guess the way to play it is the first fingering I have written out under the tab. But what about the second possibility? Any advice welcome.

[Tom C]

That's fine to me -shifting up on the open note. I'd do that if I was going to stay in that position a bit longer or if the the pinky slowed me down too much when playing with others. Some people avoide the pinky, but I'd practice using the pinky.

[London Al]

I played guitar for 15 years before I tookup the mandolin in '91. I started from scratch and with the help of some friends who were educated violin players, I learnt to sight read music, not tab. For what it's worth my advice would be to get some help from a violin player about fingering if you can.
I've just had a go at that piece and your first fingering is the one to me.
I may be wrong but I think a violin player woul give you a funny look if you suggested your second option
A good tune to strengthen your little finger is an Irish tune called "Pigeon on the gate" in O'Neils.

[John Flynn]

I think the first set is probably the most "proper" and common. However, the point I wanted to add is that shifting positions more like the second example gives you greater possibilities for quick slides up to and down to notes. I think that is a technique that done right, can really make one's playing more interesting. My instructor, Curtis Buckhannon, is a master of this. He can work his pinky just fine, but often he prefers to use his first and third fingers and pick notes to slide back and forth between, much like a good fiddler (as opposed to a violinist) would. These slides are very subtle. Sometimes you don't actually realize that's what he is doing, but the notes "jump out" more than if they played without the slide. Of course, you can do slides without changing positions, but the shifts can really facilitate it. Just a thought.

[gibby24]

Use the pinky. Horse can't race on three legs and you need to use that fourth finger. I might change the fingering if the tune was going to go up the neck or if it made a chord more convenient etc.

[London Al]

I can't dissagree with what Mando Johnny says here, but I think solid foundations are ivery important to the technique we develop. Get the engine firing on all four cylinders!(hot rod it later).
Al