Position V will gently fill a gap in your learning so far. It has some remarkable (and memorable) symmetries (as described in the section “Know Your ABC's and Poor Middle B”), and you already know half of its layout from the overlap with position VII. The problem with position V is how to handle “Poor Middle B”.
To play the B in the middle of the staff in position V, you either have to stretch higher with your pinky on string ④ or stretch lower on string ③ with your index finger. Some players always make the same choice. Others try to remain on the same string as the previous note, so descending uses the index finger and ascending uses the pinky. There is also a slight difference in sound between the two choices, though that hardly matters when sight reading. But you will have to make a choice quickly.
Remember to find fifth position “with ease” using “first finger E on the second string.”
Scale 14. The A-minor pentatonic scale (easy: no B).
Scale 15. Diatonic two octaves, as in position VII but not as convenient.
Scale 16. This scale should help you decide how to play “Poor Middle B” (it has 24 of them).
The boxes below automatically keep track of which exercises you've seen in this group (you get a white star for each exercise you visit). And clicking on a box will take you to that exercise (you can see the exercise number by hovering over a box and looking at the url displayed). So all this lets you pick up where you left off in your last session, or go on to some random exercise you haven't seen yet. Courtesy of your browser history.
