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Six Strings

Seeing the whole neck

CAGED connects the shapes you know.

  1. The CAGED systemFive open chord shapes, moved up the neck, cover every chord everywhere.Builds on: A-shape barre chords, Major keys and diatonic chords
  2. Triads on every string setThree-note major and minor triads on the middle and lower string sets, in all inversions.Builds on: Inversions and voice leading, The CAGED system
  3. Arpeggios across the neckChord tones one at a time: major, minor and minor 7 arpeggio shapes that connect.Builds on: The CAGED system, Chord-tone targeting

Ear training

Hear what you play.

  1. Ear training: recognising intervalsLink intervals to tunes you know, then use them to find notes by ear.Builds on: Intervals and root notes

Theory in practice

Modes, form, extended chords and how chords relate.

  1. Modes: Dorian and MixolydianSame notes as the major scale, a different home, and two modes you will actually use.Builds on: The natural minor scale, Major keys and diatonic chords
  2. Lydian, Phrygian and LocrianThe remaining modes of the major scale, each heard over a drone.Builds on: Modes: Dorian and Mixolydian
  3. Song structure and formLabel the sections of a song and count the bars in each.Builds on: Progressions and transposing
  4. Harmonic function and secondary dominantsGroup chords by what they do, and borrow a dominant to approach another chord.Builds on: Seventh chords, Major keys and diatonic chords
  5. Chord extensions: 6ths, 9ths, 11ths and 13thsKeep stacking thirds past the seventh, and choose which notes to leave out.Builds on: Seventh chords, Harmonic function and secondary dominants

Advanced rhythm

Odd meters, polyrhythm and moving a phrase across the beat.

  1. Odd meters: 5/4 and 7/8Count and feel bars of five and seven by grouping them into twos and threes.Builds on: Accents and syncopation, Song structure and form
  2. Polyrhythm and rhythmic displacementThree against two, the 3-3-2 grouping, and moving a phrase across the beat.Builds on: Odd meters: 5/4 and 7/8

Practical checkpoint

Module 6 checkpoint: see it, hear it

Choose a key and play its I, IV and V chords in two different CAGED positions each. Then have a friend (or a piano app) play random intervals and identify them.

You are ready for the next module when you can honestly say:

  • I can play a major chord in all five CAGED shapes for one key.
  • I can name the CAGED shape of any open chord when it is moved up the neck.
  • I can identify perfect 4th, perfect 5th, major 3rd, minor 3rd and octave by ear at least 8 times out of 10.
  • I can explain how Dorian and Mixolydian come from the major scale, and label the form of a song.

11 lessons in this module are not complete yet. You can still attempt the checkpoint whenever you like.