CAGED System Basics | 3 | C Shape
Added 2021-07-05 15:02:01 +0000 UTCWhere to Start • Lesson Archive • Recommended Lesson Plan • Book a Private Lesson
Hi Everyone,
In this third installment of my CAGED Basics series, I show the similarities and differences between the D Shape and the C shape and how they are linked together to create an awesome map of roots, thirds, and fifths. We also work through some homework together AND I show some fun examples of how to practice the surprising variety of voicings you can play to a chord progression between these two shapes.
Here is the Jam Track: A Major I IV V IV Also attached below in mp3 form.
Once you're familiar with the relationship between these two shapes, move on to the A shape.
Post your homework and questions on the community forum and please post some audio or video of your practice sessions if you find some voicings of C and D shapes that you enjoy!
More from this course:
Other helpful links:
Scott's Recommended Lesson Plan
Searchable Lesson Archive
How to Join the Community Forum
Scott's Jam Tracks
SPJ Live YouTube Channel
Scott's Main YouTube Channel
Comments
The homework page where you specify just a root and require us to then fill in the “x” shaped triad is super useful. I need more practice like this
Erin
2025-05-28 22:03:14 +0000 UTCMy friend and I made it together
Scott Paul Johnson
2025-05-02 21:33:53 +0000 UTCHello, Scott. What computer program do you use to see and display the notes you hit on guitar ? That helps a lot
Pablo Marques
2025-05-02 20:25:50 +0000 UTCHi Convex - hmmm. I'm sorry to hear about this. I'll look into it and report back!
Scott Paul Johnson
2022-11-14 17:20:59 +0000 UTCHi Scott, I wanted to post something on the community forum. It did work the last times. But now, if I try to login via Patreon I get a authorization error. It throws: “Authorization timed out, or you have switched browsers. Please try again.” I tried it several times. Logged off, logged in, terminated the browser but nothing seems to help logging in.
MJ
2022-11-14 17:00:08 +0000 UTCThanks for your reply. On the bottom of page 2 of the D shape pdf, you show 5 voicings for 1,3,5 of the D shape. I was hoping for the same for the other shapes. I can figure most of them out, but sometimes I just dont see it. If I missed it on the C pdf, my apology. Bill
william rubenstein
2022-08-20 12:35:53 +0000 UTCHmmm - could you explain in more detail? Did you see the PDF downloads at the bottom of the post?
Scott Paul Johnson
2022-08-20 03:36:41 +0000 UTCThanks Scott, this is just what I want to work on. I really liked the sheet that was on the D shape with the different voicings. It would be nice if you included that in the C shape (and beyond?) You used the voicings but I liked it spelled out.
william rubenstein
2022-08-19 13:38:18 +0000 UTCJust wanted to say again that you are really a great teacher. It sometimes feels as if you would pull into my head and bring order to the chaos ^^
Escanor
2022-04-21 17:06:13 +0000 UTCGlynn - yes. But if you learn the fingerboard by making CAGED shapes all over the place, you'll be learning both simultaneously. Just print off some note name scratch paper and carry that around with you for a while.
Scott Paul Johnson
2022-03-25 13:53:38 +0000 UTClooks like you need to know the fretboard really well and then use the shapes to quickley find the triads
Glynn Korrel
2022-03-25 11:42:39 +0000 UTCScott, I just wanted to commend you on the superb quality of your course materials. It's obvious to me you put in considerable thought to all aspects from video production, PDFs, branding, and of course the content. Your videos on YouTube stand out from the vast majority of the music theory and practical videos, which is what lead me here in the first place. I've never seen such crisp production, multiple split screens showing the narrator, their guitar (with their hand GHOSTED OVER THE STRINGS), and their iPad content all at once, and such carefully edited final products. The titles/graphics you overlay over the notes you play must have taken a while to synchronize - I just haven't seen anyone take this much care before. I'm sure you've attracted loads of students by now because of this. Hats off to you - you don't see this type of thing very often. Seeing this much quality is inspiring. Thank you!
Kfir Alfia
2022-02-23 14:08:51 +0000 UTCI'm really enjoying these lessons!
Jay Marvin
2021-10-07 04:25:09 +0000 UTCDude. Yes. There is more, too. I'm working on a extension of this series
Scott Paul Johnson
2021-07-28 13:52:20 +0000 UTCI thought I had a handle on the Caged system before. Now I know I really am grasping the full understanding of how this theory lives and breathes.
LoungeActor
2021-07-28 08:01:36 +0000 UTCThis is very useful practice for really driving home the CAGED shapes & notes, Scott, and also great knowledge for composing. I can't tell you how many times I've tried to figure some songs out and struggled to figure some chord changes, when in fact it would be the same chord with a different voicing, and this is what they do! So cool.
Bill MacDonald
2021-07-07 13:57:51 +0000 UTC
