Unleash Your Fretboard....
However well we might improvise, the basis of all the best music is harmony. On the guitar understanding that harmony helps you to make better solos as well as cool riffs in support of other musicians. On this page I am going to explain the CAGED system of chord knowledge over the next few weeks. For now, all you need to know is that CAGED comes from the names of these chords:
C Major:
A Major:
G Major:
E Major:
D Major:
So, for lesson 1 on the CAGED system of fretboard knowledge, practice all of these chords until you can change them without thinking about it. Practice them first with the regular fingering, fingers 1, 2 and 3. When that is easy and the shapes are really imprinted, try playing them all using only fingers 2, 3 and 4 of your left hand (point your index finger at the computer screen - that's it). Some are easier than others - E and A are pretty easy, D is OK, C and G are difficult! Please note this is only suitable for more advanced players - those of you with smaller hands might just want to stick with the normal fingerings.
More later, so practice and watch this space....
CAGED - Lesson 2
A little delayed due to illness, but here it starts:
Beautiful isn't it? This is the A chord over 14 frets.... Now each position is a different colour and some notes overlap so they have two colours. I would suggest you learn each colour/shape first as a chord, then each string as a tapped or legato arpeggio. Now do you see how chord knowledge can affect lead playing? Don't forget to learn the note names. It gives you an edge!
More later!