subject: Learning Guitar Has Never Been Easier [print this page] In this quick but veryhelpful tutorial I will show you how to master the fret board with these five easy steps, and the best part is that anyone can do it. It does not matter if you started playing guitar last week or 15 years ago. This system will sky rocket your progress if you follow it closely.
You may already be familiar with this system; it is referred to as the caged system. It is based on the open chord shapes of the guitar. The C chord, the A chord, the G chord, the E chord and last but not least the D chord. Essentially all you have to do is start each chord in there open position and then slide the pattern down the neck.
It can be a little complex the first time you try this exercise. You will need to bar the previously open string with your index finger as you slide down the guitar fret board using the various chord shapes. Let us start at the open C shape which you would play using your second finger, your ring finger and your pinky. This may feel strange at first but you will need to play the chord this way in order to enable you to bar the previously open string with your index finger as you work your way down the neck.
Pay particular attention to the root note of each chord, this is not just a finger exercise. The goal of the caged system is for you to see the notes and chord shapes that are available to you, over the entire fret board.Take your time with this exercise; paying close attention to what notes you are playing and how everything fits together, it is crucial to your progress. Not only will your fingers become more limber but you will also increase your knowledge of the note placements up and down the entire fret board.
The next step is to move to the to the A major chord shape, first playing in the open position and then sliding the pattern down the neck as you did with the C shape. Once again you will be using your index finger to bar all the strings that were previously open as you slide down the fret board. You should find this shape a little easier to fret as you experiment with the various chord positions.
The next chord shape is the G major chord pattern and I think by now you should be getting the idea of what is coming next. Once again you will use your index finger to fret the open notes up and down the fret board. Once you feel comfortable with this pattern move on to the E shape and D shape. This exercise will be quite a challenge for you the first time you attempt it. But resist the urge to give up. It will become easier for you in time.
Well there you have it, the caged system taught by guitar instructors all around the world. I suggest you incorporate this exercise into your practice routine starting today. In a few short weeks you will notice a dramatic improvement in both your playing and the way you see the notes up and down the fret board.
