CAGED System Part 2 – Scales

Imagine being able to hear a note and find every position where it is located on the neck of your guitar. With the CAGED system, you can do just that. This system is used for two purposes – scales and chords – and this article outlines the reasoning behind using the CAGED system for scales. See the previous article for an explanation of the CAGED system and chords (CAGED System Part 1 – Chords).

It is helpful if you have some previous knowledge about major scales and steps, but if not, don’t fret. Below is an explanation of a few scales and the basics of roots and steps to get you started, namely the C, A, G, E, and D major scales.

Major Scales (C A G E D)

In order to understand the meaning of these bizarre patterns of numbers, you must understand how roots and steps of notes progress. Hang on for a brief crash course! The root note is the key of the scale you are using. For example, in an A major scale, the root note is an A. Now, as for the steps of these notes, all scales are merely notes starting from a root note and going up a maximum of 12 steps (the chromatic scale). But there are more than 12 notes in a scale, you say? This is true only because the process repeats itself, making the next note (number 13 if you are counting) another root note or 1st step. If you still don’t understand how to follow the steps from root note to root note, you might want to read up on scale basics before continuing.

If you finally understand steps and roots, the rest should be a breeze. Just like when using the CAGED system for transposing chords, use the exact same method for transposing scales; choose any position and slide it up three frets. The main difference between chords and scales is that scales are a little more difficult to remember than chords. It is extremely helpful if you commit to memory each major scale ASAP.

Now, let’s say you want to transpose the C major scale all the way down the fretboard. It really is simple once you get underway:

•C Major in A Shape – Take the open A major scale and slide each finger position up three frets.
•C Major in G Shape – Take the open G major scale and slide the position up 6 frets.
•C Major in E Shape – Take the open E major scale and slide the position up 9 frets.
•C Major in D Shape – Take the open D major scale and slide the position up 12 frets.

If you transposed the scales correctly, it should look something like this:

| 3 |-4-|---|-5-|---|-6-|---|-7-|-R-|---|-2-|---|-3-|-4-|---|-5-|---|-6-|---|
| 7 |-R-|---|-2-|---|-3-|-4-|---|-5-|---|-6-|---|-7-|-R-|---|-2-|---|-3-|-4-|
| 5 |---|-6-|---|-7-|-R-|---|-2-|---|-3-|-4-|---|-5-|---|-6-|---|-7-|-R-|---|
| 2 |---|-3-|-4-|---|-5-|---|-6-|---|-7-|-R-|---|-2-|---|-3-|-4-|---|-5-|---|
| 6 |---|-7-|-R-|---|-2-|---|-3-|-4-|---|-5-|---|-6-|---|-7-|-R-|---|-2-|---|
| 3 |-4-|---|-5-|---|-6-|---|-7-|-R-|---|-2-|---|-3-|-4-|---|-5-|---|-6-|---|

This scale will allow you to play notes in a selected key all the way up and down the fretboard. Now you can improvise for hours and hours! Take all that you have learned about the CAGED chord and scale systems and transpose all 5 notes into every position possible.

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