Lesson 59: Positions

"The CAGED System" - the Major Scale

Let's look at C major. The most important positions for C major are:

• I - the open position
• II - the A form
• V - the G form
• VII - the E form
• X - the D form
• XII - the C form

These positions are commonly referred to as "the CAGED system". This comes from the open position chord forms C, A, G, E and D. There are always five good positions for any given scale + the open position. The open position is a very special case or as Mick Goodrick put it - a totally "different instrument unto itself".

Fingering for the Open Position

Open:  

Fingerings for the Other Five Positions

A form:

G form:

E form:

D form:

C form:

"The CAGED System" - a few comments

• The system can be easily modified for harmonic and melodic ( "Jazz") minor as well as for pentatonic scales
• When a tune modulates, one of these positions for the new scale/ mode can always be found in the same place or at most one single fret away, up or down
• A problem is that real music doesn't fall very well into position playing. Take a look at my lesson on targeting/ enclosure and you'll see what I mean...
• Playing up and down one string, up and down the neck and moving between positions is very important and should be practiced a lot

Fingerings for the A Minor Pentatonic Scale, Open + the Other Five Positions

Open:  

A form:

G form:

E form:

D form:

C form:

© 2005 Tomas Karlsson. All rights reserved.